earth, in a dry state—and of preventing its escape, from stables and yards, by a daily strewing with dried peat, lime, or plaster.

The superiority of unfermented manure which has just been mentioned is by many doubted. But the very facts on which these doubts rest only prove its efficacy; for, they say, "I have always found fresh manure to be attended with little effect the first year, while it yet remains fresh; but afterwards, when fermentation and decay had taken place, the benefit was great and striking." But here is the proof at hand that, not until the rich, soluble, and gaseous parts had well penetrated and been absorbed by the soil, was their powerful and invigorating influence exerted upon the growing plants. Fresh manure is generally in a state not readily mixed with soils. It is thrown into large lumps over the surface, some of which are ploughed in, and others not; but none of them prove of immediate use to the crops. But, on the other hand, fermented manure, from its ready pulverization, admits of an easy admixture. Let fresh manure be thoroughly ground down, and worked into the soil by repeated harrowings, and two or three ploughings, and its influence will be like magic.

Swamp muck has often been spoken of as manure; but those who expect great and striking results from its application will be disappointed, as the writer has been. Even with ashes, it is much less powerful than stable manure, not only because it possesses less inherent richness, but because it has less soluble parts, and, consequently, imparts its strength more slowly to growing plants. But this quality only makes it the more enduring. By decoction in water, vegetable mould loses a small portion of its weight by solution; but, if the remaining insoluble part is exposed to the air and moisture a few months, another part may be again dissolved. Thus, peat, muck, and all decayed vegetable fibre, become a slow but lasting source of nourishment to plants. But it is when shovelled out and dried, to be mixed with farmyard manure, as a recipient for its evanescent parts, that peat or muck becomes preeminently valuable.

All neat farming, all profitable farming, and all satisfactory farming must be attended with a careful saving of manures. The people of Flanders have long been distinguished for the neatness and excellence of their farms, which they have studied to make like gardens. The care with which they collect all refuse materials which may be converted into manures, and increase their composts, is one of the chief reasons of the cleanliness of their towns and residences; and were this subject fully appreciated, and attended with a corresponding practice generally, it would, doubtless, soon increase, by millions, the agricultural products of every State.]

104. What accounts ought a farmer to keep?

It is the reproach of American farmers that very few can tell what is the cost of the articles they raise, and hardly any of them keep books from which they can learn whether, in obtaining the market price for their corn or potatoes, they have obtained more or less than the cost of production. Here and there may be found one methodical farmer who keeps books of accounts such as merchants and manufacturers consider absolutely essential, and charges each field with what has been expended upon it, the cost of planting, hoeing and harvesting, value of manure, etc., and crediting it with the value of its products. But such systematic bookkeeping is not regarded as practicable by most farmers. Every one, however, in order to prevent confusion and to do all things in their right season, should have a small book to carry in his pocket, having every . item of work for each week or each half month laid down before his eyes. This can be done to the best advantage, to suit every particular locality and difference of climate, by marking every successive week in the season. at the top of its respective page. Then as each operation severally occurs, let him place it under its proper heading; or, if out of season, let him place it back at the right time. Any proposed improvements can be noted down on the right page. Interesting experiments are often suggested in the course of reading or observation, but forgotten when the time comes to try them. By recording them in such a book, under the right week, they are brought at once before the mind. Such an arrangement as this will prevent a great deal of the confusion and vexation too often attendant on multifarious cares, and assist very essentially in conducting all the farm work with clock-work regularity and satisfaction.

105. Finally, what is the principal secret of success and profit in Farming?

In all kinds of business where there is much competition, there is only room for others to attain any noteworthy success if they will climb to the top, and there, as Webster said of the profession of the law, there is always plenty of room. A man who knows how to raise one hundred and fifty bushels of Indian corn from an acre of ground, at an expense of less than five cents a bushel in the crib, will find farming a profitable business at all times. This has been done repeatedly and exceeded by some, and what man has done can again be done by man. Those who know how to make hens lay the year through will find a profit in keeping poultry.* Those who know how to make really good butter can get for it twenty per cent. more than the market price of the average butter. Those who have swine that can be fattened on ten bushels of corn will find pork-raising profitable. So of all farming operations, whether raising grain or cattle, poultry or swine, there is profit in the best.

do not run with the hens, and no nest-eggs are left in the nest, the hens will not cease laying after the production of twelve or fifteen eggs -as they always do when roosters and nest-eggs are allowed-but continue laying perpetually. My hens lay all winter, and each from seventy to one hundred eggs in succession. The only reason why hens do not lay in winter as freely as in summer, is the want of animal food, which they get in the summer in abundance in the form of insects. I have for several winters reduced my theory to practice, and proved its entire correctness."

But in order to raise the best it is necessary to use the best seed. It is a law of nature that like produces like, and the principle is as correct in reference to seeds and plants as to man and animals. A poor farmer will dispose of the best of his flocks, herds or grains and retain the inferior for breeding, planting or sowing. A good farmer, on the contrary, will select for seed corn only those ears which are rowed perfectly, fully ripe and golden yellow, with the end tipped or covered with kernels, and only those which grow on a stalk producing two or more sound ears. Of oats for sowing he will select only the largest, finest and soundest grains that can be procured. Of potatoes for planting he will use only the largest and best; and in herding cattle he will obtain thoroughbred sires or at least the best blooded stock within his reach. There is always profit in the best, and by an observance of the principle thus briefly alluded to, there are untold millions of future wealth for the agriculturists of the nation.

[Coleman, in the "American Farmer, Vol. XV.," has cited a number of instances, based on verified statements for premiums, of a product of over one hundred bushels of corn per acre. Fifteen cases in Massachusetts are named, occurring from 1820 to 1831, and varying from one hundred and ten to one hundred and forty-two bushels per acre. Others are given for Madison county, New York, in 1821 and 1822, where the product varied from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy, and one hundred and seventy-two bushels per acre. Several other localities in New York yielded one hundred and twenty to one hundred and forty bushels, and seven certified cases in Pennsylvania, mainly in Washington county, are taken from the Memoirs of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society, ranging from one hundred and eighteen to one hundred and thirty-six bushels per acre. At an agricultural exhibition in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1849, Mr. S. B. Lukens furnished evidence satisfactory to the committee, that he had raised three hundred and seventy-four bushels of corn on three acres of ground, at a cost not exceeding $17.10, delivered in the crib, being less than five cents per bushel.]

CHAPTER IX.

SECRET OF SUCCESS IN THE TRADES.

"He has chosen the right pursuit who has learned what he can do best to serve mankind, himself, and his God.

The parent who does not teach his child a trade, teaches him to be a thief."-BRAHMINICAL SCRIPTURES.

106.

HAT are essential to success in all mechanical pursuits?

Natural aptitude and acquired skill.

107. What is meant by NATURAL APTITUDE ?

A predisposition towards a particular pursuit, with the qualities that are essential to insure success in it.* A natural ear for music is a prerequisite for one who proposes to become a musician.

*Talents for special kinds of work are congenital, and men have often their callings forecast in the very sockets of their eyeballs and in the bulging of their thumbs. Even if we deny the whole doctrine of inborn aptitudes and be lieve that the differences in men's capabilities, tastes and tendencies are the effects of external circumstances, yet it must be admitted that these differences are fixed too

The fact that a young man

early to be removed. Michael Angelo neglected school to copy draw. ings which he dared not bring home. Le Brun, in childhood, drew with a piece of charcoal on the walls of the house. Lawrence painted beautifully when a mere boy. Nelson made up his mind to be a hero before he was old enough to be a midshipman, and Napoleon was already at the head of armies when pelting snow-balls at Brienne.