Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-06-20

of coarse Grass. &c. He had applied
mulch in such quantities as to Kill the
whole sward, and make the soil light and
permeable. This is the secret OF sue
cesslul orcharding.
/ In view OF the above statements, we
must admit that mulching is the grand
desideratum OF orcharding. And when
we find such an abundance of vegetable
material about us, we have no excuse
for not applying it.-[LewlSton journal
Greeley's lIacinis for Farming.
The following is the close OF Horace
Greeley's address ut the Texas State Fair:
But not TO treSpaSs on your patience,
let me close with lew maXims, applica-
Die To- cultivation in every cline AMI un-
der all circumstances, whether among
populations dense rs that OF China or
sparse as that of British America.
|. Only good farming pays. He who
sows or plants without reasonable as
surance OF good crops annually, might
better earn wages of some capable neigh
Dor than work for 50 poor a paymasicr
rs he is certain to prove himself.
II. The good farmer is proved such by
the steady appreciation of his crops. Any
one ma, reap an ample harvest from a
fertile virgin soil; the good farmer alone
grows good crops at first. and better
alterward
Ill 1t /, Tar easier to maintain the pro
ductive capacity of good farm than to
restore it. To exhaust its fecundity, and
then to attempt its restoration by buying
costly commercial fertilizers is wasteful
and irrational
". The good farmer sells mainly such
products rs are least exhaustive. Neces-
sity may constrain him tor the first year
or two. to sell grain. or even hay, but he
will soon send of his surplus mainly in
the form Of cotton. or wool, or meat or
butter and cheese, or something else that
returns to the soil nearly all that is taken
from it. \ bank account daily drawn up.
on. while nothing is deposited to its
credit. mus, soon respond mo funds :"
so with farm similarly treated.
V. Rotation is at least negative Fertil-
ization. 1t may not positively enrich
farm; it will at least retard and postpone
It's impoverishment. He who grows
wheat after wheat. corn after corn, for
twenty years. will need TO emigrato be-
fore that term is fulfilled. The same
form cannot support (not endure) him
longer than that. All our great wheat
growing sections Of fifty years ago are
wheat growing no longer while Englan
glCws larger crops thereof on the very
fields that fed the armies OF Saxon Har-
old and William the conqueror. Rota'
ton has preserved these, as the lack of 1t
ruined those.
VI. Wisdom is never dear, provided
the article be genuine. | have known
farmers who loiled constantly from day
break to dark. yet died poor, because.
through ignorance, they wrought to dis
advantage II every farmer would de.
vote two hours of each day to reading
and reflection, there would be fewer fail
ures in farming than there are.
VII. The best investment a farmer can
make for his children is that which sur
rounds their youths with the rational de-
lights of beauteous, attractive home.
The dwelling may be small and Jude, yet
a few flowers will embelliSh, rs choice
fruit Trees will enrich and gladden. it;
while grass and shade are within the
reach of the humhlcst Hardly any labor
done oua larm Is so profitable rs that
which make, the wife and children fond
aud proud of their home.
VIII. \ good practical Education, IN
Guiding 4 good trade, is better outfit for
a youth than grand estate with the
drawback OF an empty mind. Many pa
rents have shaved and pinched to leave
their children rich, when half the sum
thus layiShed would have prohted them
far more had it been devoted to the cult
walton of their minds, the enlargement of
their caparity to think, observe and work.
The one structure that no neighborhood
can afford to do without, is the school
house.
IX. A small library of well-se!eeted
books in his home has saved many youth
from wandering into the baleiul ways OF
the Prodigal Son. Where paternal rig
or and severity would have bred nothing
but dislike and fixed resolve tn abscond
at the first opportunity. good books and
pleasant surroundings have weancd many
youth from his first wild impulse to 30
to sea or cross the continent, and made
him docile, contented, obedient, happy
lmgerer by the paternal fire side. In q
family, however rich or poor, no other
good is so cheap or so precious as
thoughtful watchful love.
y. Most men are born poor, but no
man. who has average capacities and
tolerable luck need remain so. And the
farmers calling, though profering no
sudden leaps, no ready shortcuts to opu-
lence is the surest of ali ways from pow
erty and want TO comfort and independ-
ence. Other men must climb; he tenn.
pelatc. frugal, diligent, proyident farmer
may grow into competence and every cx-
ternal accessory to happiness. Each year
OF his devotion to his homestead may find
ii more valuable more attractive than the
i,-t ord lo.va :, hatlor st;ll