The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-08-09
SMALL VS.. LARGE FARMS.

the propensity ofihe fsrmsr--the mania
might well call ito o,0a more land
than he can title advantage. And il
IL ,hus that we see scattered over the
country large tracts Of s,eril unpfodue-
tive Isnd, which, under good cultivation
would yield bounuful & valuable crops.
Not only the dictates Of sound phioso.
ply, but numerous facts drawn from ex.
perience, are constantly and loudly call
ing upon the farmer from every quarter
to occupy small farm and cultivate II
well. 4 wish that this admonition could
.be,hundersd into the ears Of the agri-
cultural population ofNew England, un-
ill complete revolution shou Id be pro.
.duced in tho farming system.
This great truth is already beginning
TO be understood in other countries, and
10 attended with corresponding advanta.
.ges. The densest population in Europe
NAV be- found in Flanders and Lombar.
dy, where the land is divided into small
farms, and being thoroughly titled, pro-.
.duees sbundsntffood for the inhabitants.
And the experience Of a quarter OF a cen
stury in France, proves that, by the oc:
,cupation of the country under small
working farmers, the land is producing
.one.third more food working and sup
porting q. s.population one-lhrd greater
than when ii was possessed 10 large
masses.
The law is universal--it applies to
every co1uiry-taat the secret Of sue.
cess in agriculture consists in the tho.
rough cultivation Of a small piece Of
ground, which, we'll manured and we'll
worked, yields up its treasures in prod
,igal profuslon. In almost every part
of New Eogland, one capital error runs
through the whole system Of farming.
A great deal Of money is invested in
land, end very little money employed
in its cultivation. And il is sad 10 see
the owner Of large farm pride himself
on the number of acres which he pos.
sesses, and undertake 10 cultivate the
soil without sufficient means. Such a.
man has been happily compared to q
merchant, who expends oil his capital
in building for his own use. q large
roomy store, and is afterwards seen
gazing with complacency on his bare
walls and empty shelves.
He has chalked out 10 himself hard
10, and voluntarily enters on slate of
servilude worse than Egyptian bondage
His work is never accomplished. Hel
tolls al all hours, and yet is never ahead
OF his work, and his work is never half
done. He has no time TO accomplish any
shing thoroughly. His house is out Of
repair; his barn dilspidated; his cattle
poor; his fences in ruins; his pastures
overrun with bushes; and acres Of lands
which, under proper cultivation, might
be made to yield rich harvest, ere but
little removed from barrsaness, perhaps|
dotted with mullen, burdocks, thistles,
or filled with sorrel, while weeds, or
other noxious plants, which root cut the
egrass, and eat up the life of the sol,
wi,hou, aaording nourishment to man
or beast.
What u harrassed, unhappy bsingl
must be the owner OF such farml Hell
has no time for recreation or mental i'm.
provemeni. He is doomed 10 the tread.
mill for life; with his spirits depressed |
dependency stamped upon his haggard
linaments sndtthe worm Of discomfort,
gnswing al his heart, with him, there
are no pleasant associations with the
past, the present isfull Of anxiety, care
.sad bard labor, and dark cloud rests
upon the future. He reminds me of
Hoods touching Song of the Shirt,
and it may be well said or sung ofhim-
Work-work--work!
From weary chime TO chime;
WORDSWORTH work!
As prisoners work for crime:
Plow, and harrow, and hoe!
Hoe and harrow and plow,
It'll! the heart issick, and the arm
benum bed,
Mnd misery stamped on the
brow.
Such man has little 10 pride himself
on his extensive possessions, and, para.
.doyical as II may appear, he would, in,
mine caeee out of len, add 10 his riches as
well as, to,his enjoyment, by giving a
way one half OF them al least. He is, 10
the true sense Of the word miserably
poor; in sci a slave, and, whe HE
eyes are opened to his real condition. it 10
no wonder that he is glad 10 emanc-
pate himself, by selling his farm for