Leaks In The Manger

Were I oalled upon ts preach an agricultural sermón, I know of do better text than one auggested to ma some years while examiniiig a horse belonging to a neighbor. The horae was said to be ailing trom some unknown cause, and would not thrive though well fed. ♦ After carefully looking the animal over aud becoming saúsfied that the ia uit was not in the horse, I examined the stable and manger, and in the latter found the cause of this apparently alarming disease. In one corner of the feed-box was a hole worn through the bottom, so that the horse seldoin realized two-thirda of a meal, although apparently well fed ; of course I was not long in prescribing a remedy, the substance of which was the text referred to, - " stop the leak in tlie manger." This is not only applicable in this particular case, but in all agricultural oper ations. How many farmers buy costly reapers and mowers, and after harvest leave them in the field until wanted the next season, and then, warped and rusted, they fail to perform the work satisfactorily, and the farmer complaina of the manufacturar, and says the machine does not work as recommended ! The consequeuce is, another $150 or $200 must be invested in a new machine, whereas if a little care had been bestowed upon the oíd one, a leak in the manger would have been stopped. Farmer A. prepares a piece of ground for wheat, plows deep, manures heavy, and cultivates thoroughly, but fails to 8ow clean seed ; the consequence is a erop of inferior grain and a low price, wheD, if a little pains had been taken in preparing the seed, the quality and price would have been enhanced, his reputation as a farmer increased, and another leak in the manger closed. In short, if we would be successful farmers, we must strive to do everything in the best possible manner ; sow good clean seed, keep our farm implements woll housed when not in use, and last but not least, " stop