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


ment OF Agriculture ia this county, is
The propensity oflhe farmer-ihe mania
might well call ito o,on more lQna
Fhda he can Hiito Advantage. And il
~ thus that we zee scattered over the
country large tracts OF sleri unproduc-
tive land, which, under good cultlvauoo
would yield bounuful & valuable crops.
Not eoly the dictates OF sound phiIoso-
ply, but numerous facts drawn from ex
perience, are constantly and loudly call.
lug upon the farmer from every qnsIter
40 occupy small farm snd cultivate il
well. wish that this sdmoniilou could
Zoe Numbered into the ears of the agrl.
cultural population ofNew England, IN.
et,ll a complete revolution shou ID be pro.
duced in the, farHog system.
This gresltrulh is slready beginning
10 be understood in other countries, and
is siterdod with corresponding advants-
yes. The densest population in Europe
nav be found 10 Flanders and Lombsr.
dy, where the land is divided into small
farms, aod being thoroughly titled, pro.
duces abundant food for the Inhabitants.
And the experience of a quarter Of a CEN
Jury in France, proves that, by the oc.
cupation Of the country under small
working farmers, The land is producing
.one.lhird more food working and sup
porting population one-'hrd greater
than when it was possessed 10 large
masses.
The law is uuiversal---it applies TO
every couniry-tAsl the secret of sue.
cess 10 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 profuson. la almost every part
Of New England, one capital error runs
through the whole system OF farming.
A great deal OF money is invested 10
land, and very little money employed
in ts cultivation. And it is sad 10 see
the owner Of large farm pride himself
on The number Of acres which he pos.
ssesses, and undertake TO cultivate ;he
soil without sufficient means. Such a
man has been happily compared to .
merchant, who expends all his capital
in building for his own use. large
roomy store, and is afterwards seen
gazing with complacency on his bare
walls and empty she yes.
He has chalked out 10 himself hard
lot and voluntarily enters on state Of
servirude worse than Egyptian bondage
His work is never accomplished, lie
tolls al all hours, and ye, is never ahead
cof his work. and his work is never halt
done. He has no time 10 accomplish any
thing thoroughly. His house is out ol
repair; his barn dilspidaed; his cattle
poor; his fences in ruins; his pastures
overrun with bushes; and acres Of lands
which, under proper cultivation, might
be made 10 yield rich harvest, are but
little removed from barrenness, perhsp,
dotted with mullen, burdocks, lhislles,
or filled with sorrel, while weeds, or
,olher noxious plants, which root cut The
grass, and esl up the life Of the soil, :,
without afording nourishment 10 man
or beast.
What harrassed, unhappy being
must be the owner oil such farm! He
ha, no time for recreation or mental i'm.
provement. He is doomed 10 lhelread.
mill for life; with his spirits depressed
dependency stamped upon his haggard
insmeOts and the worm of disconlenlI
gnawing al his heart, with him, there
are no pleasant associations with The
past, the present, is full Of anxiety, care
and hard labor, and dark cloud rests
upon The future. Ike reminds me Of
Hoods touching Song of the Shirt,
end il may be well said or sung of him
Work-work-work!
From weary chime 10 chime;
Work-work- work!
AS prisoners work for crime:
PIow, and harrow, and hoe!
Hoe and harrow and plow,
Till the heart is sick, and the arm
benum bed,
And misery stamped on The
brow.
Such a man has little 10 pride himself
on his extensive possessions, and, para.
doxIcal as i, may appear, he would, in,
nine cases out Of ten, add 10 his riches as
eseii as TO his enjoyment, by giving a
way one half Of Them q, least. He ls, ~
he true sense Of The word misersbly
poor; 10 t scl slave, and, whe he
eyessre opened 10 hsreal condition, il lsI
no wonder that he is glad 10 emanci-
pate himself, by selling his farm for