The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-01-27

study and in attending the meetings of
farmers clubs. A library, however, is
not always found in farm house, and
few farmers have the means to purchase
more than few of those technical books
which they ought to be we'll acquainted
with. In reading the agricultural
journals one meets with many illusions
and reference to established principals
that ought to be familiar to every farm.
er. The application Of those principals
to his daily work is of the greatest ad
vantage to him, and unless ne is familiar
with them much that he reads in the paper
is not fully comprehended. It is neces-
sary, therefore, that he sho'-ld be we'll ac-
quainted with at least dozen or score
Of good standard agricultural books.
These ought to be owned by every farm.
els' CLUB, and be found in every township
library in the country Where there IS
no farmers club a dozen farmers might
Join together, procure those books. and
circulate them among themselves, chang
ing them every month or two until they
come around all to where they originally
belonged. A more extensive library
might be gathered in course oftime by a
farmers Club at the cost of SIS to Ss25
yearly. But there are some books that
every farmer should own and keep on his
shelves for daily study and reference.
The possession Of these books would be
one Of the greatest possible incentives to
the acquisition Of practical knowledge.
For instance, there is valuable little
work by Dr.. Darlington, american
Weeds and Useful Plants" which de-
scribes not only the common weeds bat
also those plants which arc of value for
various purposes. Numerous iilustra-
tions serve to identify the various plants,
and we can hardly suppose any lntelli'
gent farmer or farmer son or daughter
who studies this book would rest satisfied
until he or she had procured a collection
OF these plants from the farm Or neighbor.
hood. which would not only Of itself be
of great and considerable acquaintance
with botany as science. The first
dawn of new facts upon the mind serves
to throw light upon number of others,
and a knowledge of these introduces
more and more, which in their turn in.
PRODUCES others. Thus. as the country
dwcller gets an insight into the natural
history Of the world about him the
boundaries Of his knowledge ell
large in every direction. From
plants he will turn to insects, and
Harris "Insects Injurious to Vegetation
will be studied, and the pests Of his Or
chard and crops will be collected, studied
and identified. Thus fair acquaintance
with entomology may be gained, which, il
its turn, will open up other fields of In
f vestigation. The soil beneath his feet
which, he plows and cutivatcs. will be :
grand subject for study. Johnston:
agricultural Chemistry will give ;
very clear and intelligihlc account Of tn
nature of the soil, of the air and water
which give it the power to sustain veg
, etablc life, of the science Of manuring ane
, of growing crops, of feeding crops to cat
tie, of the nature Of animal growth, o
the nature Of milk, batter, and cheese
and Of great number Of valuable exper
!: !ments upon practical agriculture
Warnings draining for Profit ant
, Health will then be read with interest
although the means for carrying tn.
practice into effect to full extent may no
be at hand. Dadd's American Cattl,
. Doctor will be usefully consulted upol
: trated Horse Management will help t,
prevent many Of the troubles which tn
formor will help to remove. "Thc Horse,
. by "Stonehenge," vii. be read with tn
greatest interest by every lover Of tn
noble animal. Bryant's Forest Ire
| Culturist,' read with the interest that i
, cannot fail to excite. would soon help t
{ plant the roadside and the corners Of tn
, farm with useful trees and cnbelish tn
: homestead with ornamental ones
, Josiah Quincy on ''Soi'ing Cattle;
! Youmans' "Household Science Hcnder
c sons Gardening for Pleasure Fuller
r "Small Fruit Culturl>t, and Willard
. Butter Book" will be found hand. book
< of such constant necessity that the won
a der will be how it was possible to &c
: along without them heretofore. Ever
n one Of these books should be owned an
e stadicd by the farmer Who would be We
1 Informed in the matters pertaining to hi
c business. and they are plain pract.ca
a books. easily understood aud thorough
{ trustworthy. The writer's are men wh
j have worked with their hands, and VII
c tell simply what they have thus iearne,
+ When these hooks have been well studio
: others will present themselves. but ;her
! is IN these few matter enough for NOR
2 than one years study. 1t is one of tn
Il purposes of these columns TO help to e,
: plain any difficulty which may arise
a such studies as we have here Indicated
$ and we promise our readers every assis
{ ance that we can give them. \ resel
e ence 10 the inquiries which arc mad
Il week after week would clearly show TO
e many Of them would be unnecessary. an
e how much time and trouble would /
e saved If even the few standard boot
IS here mentcntioned were a. hand to