The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-03-04
A Little Farm Well Titled.

ftnI-Fa TTTFL
ment of Agriculture in New England,
is the propensity of the farmer, the
mania--l might we'll call it, to own
more land than he can ill to advantage.
And il is thus that we see scattered O.
yer the country large tracts of sterile,
unproductive land, which under good
cultivation, would yield bountiful and
valuable crops. No only the dictates
ofsound philosophy. but numerous facts
drawn from experience, are constantly
and loudly calling upon the farmers:
from every quarter, 10 occupy small
farms and cultivate them well. | wish
that this admonition could be Numbered
into the ears Of the agricultural popu.
lation of New England, until a com.
plete revolution should be produced in
the farming system.
This great truth is already beginning
to be understood in other countries, and
is attended with corresponding advan.
tages. The densest population in Eu-
rope may be found in Flanders and
where the land is divided IN
to small farms, and, being thoroughly
titled, produces abundant food for the
inhabitants. And the experience Of a
quarter Of a century in France, proves
that, by the occupation of the country
under small working farmers, the land
is producing one.third greater than
when it was possessed in large masses.
The law is universal--it applies to
every country-that the secret success
in agriculture consists in the thorough
cultivation of q small piece Of ground,
which, we'll MANFRED and we'll worked,
yields up its treasures in prodigal profu.
sion. In almost every part ofNew Eng
land, capital error uns through the
whole system offarming. A great deal
o monsy is invested inland, and q very
little money employed in its cultivation.
And it is sad to see the owner Of a
farm pride himself on the number
of acres he possesses, and undertake to
cultivate the soil without sufficient
means. Such a man has been happily
TO a merchant, who expends
all his capital in building for his own use
a large roomy store, and is afterwards
seen gazing with %complacency on his
bare walls and empty shelves.
He had chaIked out to himself a hard
lot, and voluntarily enters on a state Of
servitude than Egyptian bondage.
His work is never accomplished. He
tolls at all hours and yet is never ahead
Of his work, and his work is never half
jone. He had not time to accomplish
anything thoroughly. His house is out
If repair-his barn dilapidated-his cat
lie poor-his fences in ruins--his pass
ures overrun with bushes, and acres
which, under proper cultivation
night be made to yield a rich harvest,
ire but little removed from barrenness,
perhaps dotted with mullen, burdocks,
o. filled with %sorrel, white weed
md other noxious plants which root
'ut the grass and eat up the life of the
'oil, without afording nourishment to
nan or beast.
What a harressed, unhappy being
must be the owner of such a farm! He
las no time for recreation or mental i'm
,rovement. He is doomed to the tread
nil for life; with his spirit depressed
dependency stamped upon his haggard
inemeants,and the worm of discomfort
,nawing at his heart, with him there
ire no pleasant associations with the
'ast-the present is full of anxiety, cars
ind hard labor--and dark clouds rest
'pon the future. He reminds me Of
touching "Song Of the Shirt"
md it may be well said or sung Of him:
es91 Work-work-work!
From weary chime to chime
Work.-work---work!
As prisoners work for crime--
Plow, and harrow, and hoe!
Hoe, and harrow, and pillow!
Till the heart is sick and the arm benumb'd
And misery stamp'd on the brow.
Such q man has little reason to pride
on his extensive possessisns;
nd paradoxical as Il, ma appear. he