The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-10-02
MARCUS WATSON, Printer.
asrituItarul.
THE FARM AND GARDEN.

mon ON the moral uses OF rainy Gays. The
heavens have been preaching 50 much in th'
same strain the past three or four months
that the topic will at least be seasonable.-
They have come in season and out of season
40 that the farmers who had not had fore
cast to provide for them, have had occasion
to complain Of lost time.
The farmer, OF necessity, rurSues tho
most of his laborS under the open skies and
unless he can supply his boys and men with
employment under cover, rainy days must
be lost Some, indeed, work mon and cat
tie through all weather, bat the practice is
inhuman and impolitic. Both teams and
men are often disabled where the practice Is
persevered in. Rainy days, if rightly i'm
proved upon the larm, aside FROM their aSen-
cy in watering the earth, will be reckOned
among the farmers richest blessings. They
bring TO the manager Of the farm little
breathing spell, when he may contemplate
the progress already made in his work, and
lay his plans for the future. At this sea-
son, when every thing is pressing, they arc
particularly important. Of q dozen thugs
that need to BE- done, 1t requires alittle time
TO select the piece OF work that will suffer by
delay.
But the boys must have something TO DO
in rainy days. Fishing should not bc the
invariabe recreation. If the farmer has q
toolshop, and workbench, both boys and
men will be furnished with profitable en-
plOyment when it rains. \ few tools are
quite common upon the premises Of a Yam
kec farm, and the number might be : rOiita-
bly, enlarged. The influence fthe frequent
use Of the saw, the hammer, The bit, and
the plane, in making boy happy, is incal-
culable. One sees the contrast when the
ignorant European laborcr is pu, down up
on an American farm. He knows that kind
Of labor to which he has been trained, and
is extremely awkward at everything else
The boy Of the American farmer. if he has
workshop to grow UP in, can adapt him.
self to any kind Of mechanical labor ith
the utmost case. His arms and fingers are
supple, and he becomes an adept IN all that
he undertakes. ...
This kind of physical education which
makes boy ingenious in planning, and
skilllul in the execution of his plans, is
worth FAR more than any pecuniary fortune.
1t makes man comparatively Independent,
in whatever circumstances he may be placed.
Put him down in the wilderness, and with
an axe, saw and augcr, lac will construct
him comfortable house in few days, to
shelter his family from the storm. II he
seeks his fortune in the city, he will 10 rea-
dy for any kind OF business that turns up
and il the bcst mode Of conducting it Is not
already adopted, he will quite lik,,, dscOy-
or il.
Every farmer, then, who has boys grow
ing up around him, should have q snug
workshop, well lighted, aud, in winter, well
warmed with stove. The building need
not be separate one. \ room in the crib,
carriage. house or barn may be fitted up at
small cost for this purpose. Some farmers
turn their kitchen into a workshop, and
there, ON rainy days, manufacture their
yokes, ox.whips and whifletrecs. But this
is hcathenish practice which no good
housewife ought to tolerate, and We are
quite sure no considente husband will coun'
teuance it. Woman has her rights, and
those which we are particularly disposed to
yindicate are her rights to rule in the house
The workshop should be by itself, and order
should reign throughout. There should b
tool chest for the smaller and nicer arti
cles-thc Lit.s,ock, and the sets Of augcr
and bats Tor holes Of all sizes, from one incl
downward to the smallest gimlet hole fol
the planes, the fine saw, the screw driver
the tack hammer, the screws and tacks, th'
chisels, the rule, tho spirit-level, and tn,
measuring.tape.
The larger tools, the axe, saw and augers
which are more lrequently used, should hav
places to hang or stand, so that they may b
found in the dark, IL necessary. Nea,nes
and system IN the care of tools and othe
articles are learned only in youth. The
are invaluable habits, and often lead to sue
ccss in life. Upon one side of the roor
should Be workbench, on which board
ten or twelve feet long may be planed.
should be furnished with vice or woode
screw, in which all small articles may b
held fast for the purpose Of using the plan
OF shaving knife.
With such a room fitted up and furnishe
with fifteen or twenty dollars worth OF tool
the boys will never be at a loss for amus'
ment, and the men will never lack FOR en-
ploymcnt ON ralny days. ItwOuld paw ic
itself every year aside from its influence
training the boys to skillhl labor and il
dustriou- habits. If tooth or bow of
rake is broken, John can easily mend it,
II the hOe.handle breaks, he has piece
ash, well seasoned, that Will maze anolhe
If the cart ladder gives out. he knows no
TO put in new slat. There will be hni
drvds OF items Of expense saved every yea
by workshop. With adjunct Of ths iarp
rainy days VIII bc greater blessings to d
farmers sons than 70 his aeres'--Go,Sard
d. p,,cls Rso,xf,r . u.