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and graft； every hill of melons； row of corn； or quickset hedge； all
he has done； and all he means to do； stand in his way； like duns；
when he would go out of his gate。 The devotion to these vines and
trees he finds poisonous。 Long free walks； a circuit of miles； free
his brain； and serve his body。 Long marches are no hardship to him。
He believes he composes easily on the hills。 But this pottering in a
few square yards of garden is dispiriting and drivelling。 The smell
of the plants has drugged him； and robbed him of energy。 He finds a
catalepsy in his bones。 He grows peevish and poor…spirited。 The
genius of reading and of gardening are antagonistic； like resinous
and vitreous electricity。 One is concentrative in sparks and shocks：
the other is diffuse strength； so that each disqualifies its workman
for the other's duties。
An engraver whose hands must be of an exquisite delicacy of
stroke； should not lay stone walls。 Sir David Brewster gives exact
instructions for microscopic observation： 〃Lie down on your back；
and hold the single lens and object over your eye；〃 &c。 &c。 How much
more the seeker of abstract truth； who needs periods of isolation；
and rapt concentration； and almost a going out of the body to think！
2。 Spend after your genius； _and by system_。 Nature goes by
rule； not by sallies and saltations。 There must be system in the
economies。 Saving and unexpensiveness will not keep the most
pathetic family from ruin； nor will bigger incomes make free spending
safe。 The secret of success lies never in the amount of money； but
in the relation of income to outgo； as if； after expense has been
fixed at a certain point； then new and steady rills of income； though
never so small； being added； wealth begins。 But in ordinary； as
means increase； spending increases faster； so that； large incomes； in
England and elsewhere； are found not to help matters； the eating
quality of debt does not relax its voracity。 When the cholera is in
the potato； what is the use of planting larger crops？ In England；
the richest country in the universe； I was assured by shrewd
observers； that great lords and ladies had no more guineas to give
away than other people； that liberality with money is as rare； and as
immediately famous a virtue as it is here。 Want is a growing giant
whom the coat of Have was never large enough to cover。 I remember in
Warwickshire； to have been shown a fair manor； still in the same name
as in Shakspeare's time。 The rent…roll； I was told； is some fourteen
thousand pounds a year： but； when the second son of the late
proprietor was born； the father was perplexed how to provide for him。
The eldest son must inherit the manor； what to do with this
supernumerary？ He was advised to breed him for the Church； and to
settle him in the rectorship； which was in the gift of the family；
which was done。 It is a general rule in that country； that bigger
incomes do not help anybody。 It is commonly observed； that a sudden
wealth； like a prize drawn in a lottery； or a large bequest to a poor
family； does not permanently enrich。 They have served no
apprenticeship to wealth； and； with the rapid wealth； come rapid
claims： which they do not know how to deny； and the treasure is
quickly dissipated。
A system must be in every economy； or the best single
expedients are of no avail。 A farm is a good thing； when it begins
and ends with itself； and does not need a salary； or a shop； to eke
it out。 Thus； the cattle are a main link in the chain…ring。 If the
non…conformist or aesthetic farmer leaves out the cattle； and does
not also leave out the want which the cattle must supply； he must
fill the gap by begging or stealing。 When men now alive were born；
the farm yielded everything that was consumed on it。 The farm
yielded no money； and the farmer got on without。 If he fell sick；
his neighbors came in to his aid： each gave a day's work； or a half
day； or lent his yoke of oxen； or his horse； and kept his work even：
hoed his potatoes； mowed his hay； reaped his rye； well knowing that
no man could afford to hire labor； without selling his land。 In
autumn； a farmer could sell an ox or a hog； and get a little money to
pay taxes withal。 Now； the farmer buys almost all he consumes；
tin…ware； cloth； sugar； tea； coffee； fish； coal； railroad…tickets；
and newspapers。
A master in each art is required； because the practice is never
with still or dead subjects； but they change in your hands。 You
think farm…buildings and broad acres a solid property： but its value
is flowing like water。 It requires as much watching as if you were
decanting wine from a cask。 The farmer knows what to do with it；
stops every leak； turns all the streamlets to one reservoir； and
decants wine： but a blunderhead comes out of Cornhill； tries his
hand； and it all leaks away。 So is it with granite streets； or
timber townships； as with fruit or flowers。 Nor is any investment so
permanent； that it can be allowed to remain without incessant
watching； as the history of each attempt to lock up an inheritance
through two generations for an unborn inheritor may show。
When Mr。 Cockayne takes a cottage in the country； and will keep
his cow； he thinks a cow is a creature that is fed on hay； and gives
a pail of milk twice a day。 But the cow that he buys gives milk for
three months； then her bag dries up。 What to do with a dry cow？ who
will buy her？ Perhaps he bought also a yoke of oxen to do his work；
but they get blown and lame。 What to do with blown and lame oxen？
The farmer fats his； after the spring…work is done； and kills them in
the fall。 But how can Cockayne； who has no pastures； and leaves his
cottage daily in the cars； at business hours； be pothered with
fatting and killing oxen？ He plants trees； but there must be crops；
to keep the trees in ploughed land。 What shall be the crops？ He
will have nothing to do with trees； but will have grass。 After a
year or two； the grass must be turned up and ploughed： now what
crops？ Credulous Cockayne！
3。 Help comes in the custom of the country； and the rule of
_Impera parendo_。 The rule is not to dictate； nor to insist on
carrying out each of your schemes by ignorant wilfulness； but to
learn practically the secret spoken from all nature； that things
themselves refuse to be mismanaged； and will show to the watchful
their own law。 Nobody need stir hand or foot。 The custom of the
country will do it all。 I know not how to build or to plant； neither
how to buy wood； nor what to do with the house…lot； the field； or the
wood…lot； when bought。 Never fear： it is all settled how it shall
be； long beforehand； in the custom of the country； whether to sand；
or whether to clay it； when to plough； and how to dress； whether to
grass； or to corn； and you cannot help or hinder it。 Nature has her
own best mode of doing each thing； and she has somewhere to