The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-29
ON BEAUTIFYING THE FARM.

ON BEAUTlF1lNG IhE rhnm'
Never was a ,ruer thought uttered than
this OF the american dg,ieulturist, ina,
+" The time has come rhen our .fdrnis shou'd
erds. 10 be regarded as mere manufactures of
food and The rdr material Of elohmg." II
/ is commenting on all article IN The NoVem'
ber number of the HOriiculiuist upon
" Parks and Pleasure Grounds to' the Far
mer.r and saws fuTiher,-" Ii is one OF the
ueai wants of our times that these farms
should be turned into attractive Christian
homes, where men and women shali mol
only work, eat, sleep, and die, but where
they shall enjoy life, as social and religious
beings, and by loving and cultivaling the
good and the beautiful Oh earth, I've lifted
for the paradise of God. A man should no
longer be considered a good citizen, who
does no, plant trees enough, and give une
and money enough, 10 make his homestead
so attractive that il shall retain some OF his
children 10 fill his place when he Is gone.
| Mulliiudcs of these old homesteads in the
north are forsaken, mainly because there
was nothing but the siernes, utility about
them in The whole circle Of :he year.
Canno,these iagenious" statistical men,
who tell Us what the effect OF occupation
| is upon the mind and duration OF lie, tell
us, also. what the efFec, is Of the agreeable
and beautiful upon the temperament and
longevity OF the race! |, Is common
opinion that country life is largely conduc'
i've TO health aud happiness, and conse'
Iuuen,ly to vigorous old age. But these
cannot be imputed wholly 10 exercise IN
| the open air, for many other classes enjoy
the same opportunities, and fail TO reach as
many years as the farmer. Is II MOI !alT,
then, 10 suppose ,nat the coastan, impression
upon the mind of the wise and benehceni
provision in the changes OF the seasons, IN
their varied aspects, the ever-varyng Iand,
scapc, occasioned by heat and rain and
frost, the wonderful instincts OF animals,
of birds, and insects, coming TO he view oil
the farmer as they constantly do, have a
healing and saving influence upon his
mindl What orator ever forget the inSp'r.
ations he cot in natures grand cathedral,
the nresi or the lessons in the stones or
running brooks that were familiar TO his
youthful rambles! The mind becomes
deeply imbued by the scenes familiar 10 II
in early life. ii those scenes represent v'o-
lence and vice, the home and habits OF ban
dts and lrectoo,ers, The crop oi ideas
which follow will be likely 10 par'ake oil
the character OF those scenes. On The o'h-
or hand, il the home OF the farmer Is sur,
rounded by something OF the tasteful ana
beautiful, in the way Of lawns, groups oil
trees. shrubbcTy, and occasional paths,
borders and flowers, kindred sentiments
will be established in the minds OF those
mincling in such scenes, will grace and
dignity the fireside, the pulpit, the bar, OF
Senate chamber in malurer life, and awake
in Others a higher appreciation OF the beau
iiful.
There is a taste for the beautiful in every
cultivated mind. The farmer shows II
when he turns out his noble pair OF Dew
ons, or his Jersey heileTs 10 the wondering
gaze of his neishbors: or points out the
graceful curves of his polished plowshare,
or The exact lines OF his recently turned
iurrows. His wife and daughters maniies
their TASTE for the beautiful in the nea
lawn, 10 BY so feet in front OF the house,
The rrouns of NAPLES aud birchcs, the shrubs
and flowers, and the noble elm standing IL
the centre as the presiding genius OF The
whole. A few flowers in the window,
rose. bush under il, or the AmpelopiS or big
monte over the porch. attract and Sladder
The heart of the traveller, so that he goes on
his way with kindly thoughts OF his own
and of ,ha, home where he saw the eviden
eos of n love for the beautiful. Then
i where there is land enough, why no, ex
TEND these ideas, and let them expand owe
l.sveral acres, and call them park, where
,be hes, sheep and cows and calves ma,
lcroz,.-and which will afford equal prof
with any other acres on the Farm, ,--wher,
f,iends may visit, and chitren store mp un
numbered ideas Of the useful aud the beau
,ilul.
,may be urged iha; there is no call 70
the farmes TO plant iores, trees and iou
parks, either TO please :he eye or as pro
lection from sun and wind. But the ohjec
liion would be without force in thousands q
cases. A baleiul Esprit Of utility" spit
. il without, foresight or judgment, has swep
away fine forests in the land. The Cap
ololine Hill,n at Washington, was coyere
with noble and majestic oaks when Wash
inston planned the city, and when the fonn
daiions OF the Capitol were begun. Bu
ruthless hands were laid upon them, an,
, with blind fatri,y, one after another, lhei
towering heads were lcvelled in the dus,
and now il will require n hundred years
, together with liberal portion OF the treas
! ure OF the nation, 10 remedy the evil. )
: on mos, OF our farms, the beautiful !ores
trees were all Gu, where the buildings wer'
, 10 be erected, and in their vicinity, lcavin
, il open, bleak, and fully exposed TO III
/, play OF the elements aud this Is the stu
, alton Of thousands Of our New Enslan'
homcs,cads now. Is there not, then, goo'
reason to introduce about these homes,ead'
something more Of the useful aud beauiitr
combined.-N T.. Farmer.