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with a slight quivering winnowing sound and carrier haste； or from
under a rotten stump my hoe turned up a sluggish portentous and
outlandish spotted salamander； a trace of Egypt and the Nile； yet
our contemporary。 When I paused to lean on my hoe； these sounds and
sights I heard and saw anywhere in the row； a part of the
inexhaustible entertainment which the country offers。
On gala days the town fires its great guns； which echo like
popguns to these woods； and some waifs of martial music occasionally
penetrate thus far。 To me； away there in my bean…field at the other
end of the town； the big guns sounded as if a puffball had burst；
and when there was a military turnout of which I was ignorant； I
have sometimes had a vague sense all the day of some sort of itching
and disease in the horizon； as if some eruption would break out
there soon； either scarlatina or canker…rash； until at length some
more favorable puff of wind； making haste over the fields and up the
Wayland road； brought me information of the 〃trainers。〃 It seemed
by the distant hum as if somebody's bees had swarmed； and that the
neighbors； according to Virgil's advice； by a faint tintinnabulum
upon the most sonorous of their domestic utensils； were endeavoring
to call them down into the hive again。 And when the sound died
quite away； and the hum had ceased； and the most favorable breezes
told no tale； I knew that they had got the last drone of them all
safely into the Middlesex hive； and that now their minds were bent
on the honey with which it was smeared。
I felt proud to know that the liberties of Massachusetts and of
our fatherland were in such safe keeping； and as I turned to my
hoeing again I was filled with an inexpressible confidence； and
pursued my labor cheerfully with a calm trust in the future。
When there were several bands of musicians； it sounded as if all
the village was a vast bellows and all the buildings expanded and
collapsed alternately with a din。 But sometimes it was a really
noble and inspiring strain that reached these woods； and the trumpet
that sings of fame； and I felt as if I could spit a Mexican with a
good relish for why should we always stand for trifles？ and
looked round for a woodchuck or a skunk to exercise my chivalry
upon。 These martial strains seemed as far away as Palestine； and
reminded me of a march of crusaders in the horizon； with a slight
tantivy and tremulous motion of the elm tree tops which overhang the
village。 This was one of the great days； though the sky had from my
clearing only the same everlastingly great look that it wears daily；
and I saw no difference in it。
It was a singular experience that long acquaintance which I
cultivated with beans； what with planting； and hoeing； and
harvesting； and threshing； and picking over and selling them the
last was the hardest of all I might add eating； for I did taste。
I was determined to know beans。 When they were growing； I used to
hoe from five o'clock in the morning till noon； and commonly spent
the rest of the day about other affairs。 Consider the intimate and
curious acquaintance one makes with various kinds of weeds it
will bear some iteration in the account； for there was no little
iteration in the labor disturbing their delicate organizations so
ruthlessly； and making such invidious distinctions with his hoe；
levelling whole ranks of one species； and sedulously cultivating
another。 That's Roman wormwood that's pigweed that's sorrel
that's piper…grass have at him； chop him up； turn his roots
upward to the sun； don't let him have a fibre in the shade； if you
do he'll turn himself t' other side up and be as green as a leek in
two days。 A long war； not with cranes； but with weeds； those
Trojans who had sun and rain and dews on their side。 Daily the
beans saw me come to their rescue armed with a hoe； and thin the
ranks of their enemies； filling up the trenches with weedy dead。
Many a lusty crest waving Hector； that towered a whole foot above
his crowding comrades； fell before my weapon and rolled in the dust。
Those summer days which some of my contemporaries devoted to the
fine arts in Boston or Rome； and others to contemplation in India；
and others to trade in London or New York； I thus； with the other
farmers of New England； devoted to husbandry。 Not that I wanted
beans to eat； for I am by nature a Pythagorean； so far as beans are
concerned； whether they mean porridge or voting； and exchanged them
for rice； but； perchance； as some must work in fields if only for
the sake of tropes and expression； to serve a parable…maker one day。
It was on the whole a rare amusement； which； continued too long；
might have become a dissipation。 Though I gave them no manure； and
did not hoe them all once； I hoed them unusualy well as far as I
went； and was paid for it in the end； 〃there being in truth；〃 as
Evelyn says； 〃no compost or laetation whatsoever comparable to this
continual motion； repastination； and turning of the mould with the
spade。〃 〃The earth；〃 he adds elsewhere； 〃especially if fresh； has a
certain magnetism in it； by which it attracts the salt； power； or
virtue （call it either） which gives it life； and is the logic of all
the labor and stir we keep about it； to sustain us； all dungings and
other sordid temperings being but the vicars succedaneous to this
improvement。〃 Moreover； this being one of those 〃worn…out and
exhausted lay fields which enjoy their sabbath；〃 had perchance； as
Sir Kenelm Digby thinks likely； attracted 〃vital spirits〃 from the
air。 I harvested twelve bushels of beans。
But to be more particular； for it is complained that Mr。 Coleman
has reported chiefly the expensive experiments of gentlemen farmers；
my outgoes were；
For a hoe 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 0。54
Plowing； harrowing； and furrowing 。。。。。。。。。。。。 7。50 Too much。
Beans for seed 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 3。12＋
Potatoes for seed 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 1。33
Peas for seed 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 0。40
Turnip seed 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 0。06
White line for crow fence 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 0。02
Horse cultivator and boy three hours 。。。。。。。。。 1。00
Horse and cart to get crop 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 0。75
In all 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 14。72＋
My income was （patrem familias vendacem； non emacem esse
oportet）； from
Nine bushels and twelve quarts of beans sold 。。 16。94
Five 〃 large potatoes 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 2。50
Nine 〃 small 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 2。25
Grass 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 1。00
Stalks 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 0。75
…
In all 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 23。44
Leaving a pecuniary profit；
as I have elsewhere said； of 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 8。71＋
This is the result of my experience in raising beans： Plant the
common small white bush bean about the first of June； in rows three
feet by eighteen inches apart； being careful to select fresh round
and unmixed seed。 First look out for worms； and supply vacancies by
planting anew。 Then look out for woodchucks； if it is an exposed
place； for they will nibble off the earliest tender leaves almost
clean as they go； and again； when the young tendrils make their
appearance； they have notice of it； and will shear them off with
both buds and young pods； sitting erect like a squirrel。 But above
all harvest as early as possible； if you would escape frosts and
have a fair and salable crop； you may save much loss by this means。
This further experience also I gained： I said to myself； I will
not plant beans and corn with so much industry another summer； but
such seeds； if the seed is not lost； as sincerity； truth；
simplicity； faith； innocence； and the like； and see if they will not
grow in this soil； even with less toil and manurance； and sustain
me； for surely it has not been exhausted for these crops。 Alas！ I
said this to myself； but now another summer is gone； and another；
and another； and I am obliged to say to you； Reader； that the seeds
which I planted； if indeed they were the seeds of those virtues；
were wormeaten or had lost their vitality； and so did not come up。
Commonly men will only be brave as their fathers were brave； or
timid。 This generation is very sure to plant corn and beans each
new year precisely as the Indians did centuries ago and taught the
first settlers to do； as if there were a fate in it。 I saw an old
man the other day； to my astonishment； making the holes with a hoe
for the seventieth time at least； and not for himself to lie down
in！ But why should not the New Englander try new adventures； and
not lay so much stress on his grain； his potato and grass crop； and