THE FARMER. INTRODUCTION AGRICULTURE may be defined, as the art of raising the greatest amount of produce from the land, at the least cost, and for the longest period, without exhausting the soil. This is the great object of the farmer, and all his operations should be governed by the plain every-day principle involved in this definition of his art. To attain this object, and to carry on his operations with success, forethought and industry are necessary, and a mind capable of perceiving, and ready to adopt, all available improvements. The occupier of a neglected ill-managed farm, will not unfrequently complain of his poverty, or the poverty of the soil; and if another farm of similar soil, but successfully managed, is pointed out to him, the answer is, "Oh! but it has advantages which my farm has not."-And what in reality are these "advantages?" -Industry, good management, and economy,-it is the steady persevering exercise of these qualities, which has made the swamps of Holland more productive than the rich plains of Italy; and it is only by the exercise of these qualities, that success and prosperity can be secured to the British Agriculturist. In different parts of the country, different modes of cultivation prevail, arising from custom, or local peculiarities; but as a general rule, it may be safely affirmed, that the mode of cultivating the land which yields, and which will continue to yield, the greatest quantity of produce at the lowest cost, is undoubtedly the best. If the land were intended to feed farmers only, a suffi cient amount of produce might be obtained with a small amount of labour: but there are other classes to be fed, and the farmer must give a portion of the produce of his land in exchange for other produce. Hence every individual, of every class, is interested in the due cultivation of the soil; and hence, likewise, the necessity, on public as well as on private grounds, for producing the greatest quantity of food, at the least average cost. The house and offices on a farm, are of much importance, as respects its profitable and convenient occupation. If the house is too small, or in bad repair, the comfort of the farmer is unduly restricted; and if the yards and outbuildings are not sufficient for the stock, and the necessary operations appertaining to the farm,or if they are so arranged as to cause a loss of time and labour, or a waste of provender or manure, the farmer is thereby placed at a disadvantage, from which it is alike the interest and the duty of the landlord to relieve him, by causing the necessary additions and alterations to be made, so as to enable him to make the most of his farm. The size of the farm-house, and outbuildings, must of course be regulated by the size and nature of the farm; but they should be so placed as to economize labour as much as possible, and that every part may work conveniently with the rest. In general, the buildings should be arranged in a quadrangular form, surrounding the yard or yards in which the cattle and pigs are fed, and in which the manure is accumulated. A tank or receptacle for the urine and liquid manure, should be constructed in some convenient spot; and into this covered drains should be carried from the cow and cattle houses and pigsties, and also from the house, unless a separate tank is formed close to it for receiving the slops and washings. The great majority of farms are of a mixed character, comprising both grazing and tillage lands; and where this is the case, the yards and outbuildings must be prepared accordingly. There ought likewise to be cottages on every farm, according to its size, for the labourers and their families, whose comforts should not be overlooked. Young single men, hired by the year as farm servants, may reside in the house with the farmer, who will then be enabled to superintend their conduct-an object of great importance, that has of late been too much neglected. The same may be said with reference to the female servants, to whom the mistress stands in the relation of a parent. The heads of families have a serious duty to perform in these respects, their example and precepts governing in a great measure the moral conduct and habits of their dependants. The farmer who wishes to thrive, must not only be active and industrious in his own person, the first up, the first a-field, and the last in the house at night: but he must also attend most carefully to receipts and expenditure, and keep an accurate account of every transaction, so as to be able to see, at any moment, how he stands generally, and what is the state of profit or loss in each particular department, whether of live stock, corn, or other produce. Full and accurate accounts are the groundwork of success in business. Without these, neither the farmer, the merchant, nor the manufacturer, can hope to prosper. The farmer should likewise keep a Labour Book, in which to record daily the names of his labourers, and how and where each has been employed; and also a memorandum book, for recording, from time to time, observations upon occurrences and matters of interest on his own or the neighbouring farms, such as experiments on manures, or particular modes of cultivation, or anything, in short, calculated to be useful or interesting to himself or others. Such memorandums, if made accurately at the time, may afford important information at a future day. Every considerate landlord, will be forward to assist a good tenant in making improvements upon his farm. The immediate benefits of such improvements will be enjoyed by the tenant, but the eventual, the permanent benefits will belong to the landlord. Both parties are benefited, the one immediately, the other remotely; and both should join in bearing the cost, in such proportions as the circumstances in each case may equitably warrant. The usual mode of dividing the charge, is for the landlord to find materials, and the tenant labour; but this may require to be modified in certain cases, having regard to time, and the nature of the improvements entered upon. But an intelligent landlord will not only be ready to contribute towards the expense of improvements, he will take all opportunities of stimulating his tenant to undertake them, and will aid, advise, and encourage him during their progress. If draining or fencing is required, the landlord's eye will detect the want, and his counsel will point out the remedy. If the farm buildings are defective, or insufficient for the proper accommodation of the stock; if tanks for liquid manure are to be constructed, or a better disposition of the outbuildings is to be made, with a view to economizing labour, and the more profitable occupation of the land, the landlord will not be backward in doing whatever may be requisite on his part. A farm may be compared to a great machine, the value of which depends on its profitable working, and this will depend upon its completeness in all its parts. It is, therefore, most decidedly the interest of its owner to see that nothing is defective about it; whilst the occupier has also an interest in this respect, proportionate to the expected duration of his occupancy, and the amount of outlay he has incurred: for without some kind of assurance or certainty that he will be permitted to reap the fruits of his outlay, a tenant can hardly be expected to incur the risk and expense of improvements. Whether this assurance, this certainty is given in the form of a lease for a term of years, or by the custom of the country, or by such an understanding between landlord and tenant as will relieve the latter from all apprehension on the point, does not appear to be very material; but it is assuredly of the very first importance, that there should be no doubt or misgiving in the matter. The tenant must feel secure, or he will not improve; and the imparting of this feeling, in whatever shape the security may be given, rests with the landlord. - An intelligent landlord may moreover do much for his tenantry in other respects, by imparting information on all matters connected with agriculture-by circulating or distributing useful publications among them, and thus bringing under their view the results of experience in other districts, or in other countries. He may also confer a most material benefit on his tenants, at little risk or cost to himself, by making experiments on the comparative advantages and disadvantages of different modes of cultivation on the qualities of different manures, and the best mode of collecting and applying them on the natures of the several soils-on the best rotation of crops. He might likewise make trial of the various implements from time to time invented, with a view to economizing labour, or the more perfect working of the land; and such as he finds to be worthy of adoption, he might recommend or procure for his tenantry,-all improvements in the mode of cultivation, leading to an improvement in their condition, and virtually to an improvement in his own. The judicious landlord will not fail to pay attention to the stock of his tenantry, and assist them in obtaining the best breeds. Perhaps there is no part of the duty of a good landlord that can be more readily, extensively, and beneficially exercised than this. Bad stock is destructive to the farmer, and yet it is not always within his reach-certainly it is not always within reach of the small farmer-to obtain stock of a better description, which can only be done by a large outlay, or by procuring males of approved breeds at a considerable cost. In such cases, the landlord should assist his tenantry, by procuring for them males of the breeds best suited for their purpose. If this course were adopted by landlords generally, it would in a few years lead to the extinction of all the bad and inferior breeds of stock which are now so frequently seen, to the farmer's injury and the country's loss. A considerate landlord will also attend to the state of the cottages on his property. He is aware how much the health, comfort, and correct moral conduct of the labourers and their families, will depend upon the con |