Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-06-10
ala IIg,nai,rsv ana ,i,s Farmer.

Ola humphrey ana sis Farmer.
Hove to hear Of any man bsing convinced Of an
error but especially obstinate man. Again and
again has it been said that of all people in the world
farmers are the opinionated that they do things
for no better than that of their fathers hay
ing done them generations before that they have
will of their own, and that the whole world cannot
turn them Some such farmers have | known GER
tainy, but still with truth say that number
among my country friends not few OF contrary
kind The other day was in conversation with my
old friend John Ashfeld, of Highfeld farm, man
from whom have learned much though when tell
him So he usually replies The boot is on the 9TH
er leg Mr.. Humphrey the boot is on the other
leg" We were talking over old times together
but you shall have the account that he gave OF hl=
self as we'll as can remember, in his own words.
al have been obstinate ri g headed man IN
Inv time, suppose, ever strobe across a turrow
but the day is gone by now and high time that 1t
had The filth of my plough land, and the sward OF
my grass land, are different to what they used to
| be-
g. Fifty years ago, james Holt my neighbor.-
wiser man than was, ever shall be, was James:
though at that time | did not think so. When wheel
ploughs getting common, he says to me -
Neighbor Ashfed, You falling behind the times;
you must set up wheel plough or two
"'I won't said |. My father never had % wheel
plough on the farm, and why should 2 You know,
Mr.. Humphrey, that farmers were always blunt IN
their speech, and no one than Turner Ash
! field
"When draining came into use. more than it had
ever been before, my neighbor says to me- You are
standing in your own light, in not draining your
lard more than you do; but better late than never
Better legin now.
"' won't says let those cut up their meadows.
aud lay out their money in slough tiles that like; my
meadows shall remain as they always have BEEN
''Well' says he, at any rate trim up your hedg-
es and headland adlands as you call them a lit
tie closer. There's deal of land lost your farm
Trim up your ges and headlands.'
"'I won't, says /. My father as good a
!, farmer as any in the parish he knew what he was
about as we'll as you do and he never trimmed "
his headlands more than do
Soon after this he at me again. Your land
is stiff neighbour says he; would advise you to
try of the fashioned clod crushers, tor you
would find it an advantage
"'I WON'T said I. Such Jimcracks may suit
some people, but they won't suit me; my harrows
break the ground quite well or better than clod
crusher if some folks as could mention. were halt
as fond of work they Of new whims, 1T would
be to their credit
{" Neighbor Ashfeld,' says he, year or two after
threshng machines had come into fashion, you and
must do other people dove must set up
threshng machine
"sI WON'T says I. why should do that, that
e my father never did! And why should take the
D bread out of the mouth of the laboring man?'
o 'But never did see my neighbor more in earnest
than when he to ask me to give something to-
y wards the Sunday Schools. Lend them helping
II hand, said he; for they doing more good IN the
Parish than you think for
: al won't, said l. I'VE never used to have Sun
n day Schools, and plough lads and dairy maids dc
b none too much work it is What they will do il
= you make scholars of them, | can't tell
t ';All this time thought myself wonderOus wise
l. in not being led astray by the tangled notions
e of my neighbors; but at last my eyes wee opened
o for there not farmer In the Parish who hadn't
" better crops than had.
e 81 saw that my neighbor with wheel plough
s could do without driver, and hold the plough tail
It with half the trouble that it cost me- so set uE
# three four wheel ploughs and what | could dc
/, without them now it would be hard to say.
IL "' Keep your land wet at top and dry at bottom,
!, said my neighbour when began to listen to him.
y took his advice, had my meadows well drained, and
never have had cause TO grudge either the expense OF
l. the trouble. He who doesn't drain his farm if it is
), wet one, is draining his own purse by bad manage
IS ment.
o 81 looked about me and saw that | lost an o.
two of ground by my sovenly hedges and headlands
e so set 20 work and had them trimmed up close.
1t was a foolish thing that this not done before.
It 81 was backward enough in venturing heavy
d iron press wheel cod crusher; but when | did.
n found more work done by it, than half dozen pal
e OF harrows would do. No persuade me to Sc
it aside now.
Nobody stood sitter than did against the ,hresh
t. ing machines but for all that, when saw how east
e ly my neighbor could turn hundred bushels da
Is out the straw, while my men humping away wit
H. their fails did so little, gave way at once and set
a. machine myself.
If 'As my neghbor had got the better OF my obstina
cy in many things, it not at all likely he woul
give up trying me again about the Sunday Schools
d. AT last he beat me then, too For many years have
IL supported them and never shall they need poun
n while have TO give
"At the present time, though | am not fond of rur
rs ming neck nothing after every thing, keep
H. eyes open 10 and my open TO hear; quite d
or posed to believe that my neighbors are as wise
IN am. and 10 profit by their Judgment well m
mt own.
o. cit has often surprised me to think, that, after Sc
n, ting my face against wheel ploughs draining cle
re crushers, hreshing machines, and Sunday Schools,
ey should adopt them all, but believe Mr.. Humphre
7c' the real truth to be this, that never the i'll
ar diton of my farm, till pleased God show
ne the evil of my heart This ii that open
&c, my eyes. humbled me. and took away my obsnacy
ai Persons from abroad glancng over list of L
10 towns in the United States, cannot fail to be sru
,r with the great number Of cities-or places styled
and n1fn lly MI oood IN