Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-06-14
9gituIturd 9epartmtnt.
TFrom the American Agriculturalistl
How shall I become a Farmer T?
This question is frequently asked of us pc

This question is frequently asked of us per-
onaly and by letter. The iDquirers are OF
many different classes. Mechanics tired OF
confinement in close workshops, look to the
green fields, and long for the freedom of the
plowman. Citizens who have accumulated
enough for the moderate income, find them
selves straiteued by the expensiyeness of city
life, and see in the economy Of rural habits a
remedy for their perpleXities. With bread
from their own fields, butter from their own
dairy chickens from the poultry yard, and
vegetables fresh from the garden, at only the
cost of raising, they could afford to fare sum-
ptuously every day. and as for the purple and
fine linen that need not be worn in the country.
The school-bOy too, who has spent the happy
weeks of his Summer vacation in frolicking
over the hay field, scampering through the
woods and feastng on bread and milk, is charm
ed with the idea Of being a farmer, and enjoy
ing the pleasures Of the country the whole year
round. From all these and many more, the
question has come, How shall | become a
Farmer 2"
First, word of caution is needed Though
country life is desirable, it is not all o round
of pleasure though its gains are reasonably
certain, they are yielded only to patient, con-
tinued hard a00rk. The plowman sweating in
the blazing sunshine, envies the mechanic in his
shop the economizing farmer sighs for the
quick returns enjoyed by his fortunate city ac-
qaaintance, and the weary boy who follows the
cart with his rake would often gladly exchange
his lot for that of the School-boy who wants to
be farmer. Hundreds are every year delud-
ed with mistaken notions of the pleasures and
profits of farming-they do not count the cost
We fully believe that the benefits are worth
the cost, but we are certain that of every ten
who leave other aVocations for farming, with
out some previous practical experience of the
realities Of farm life, nine will meet with dis
couraging disappointment. The multitude of
places for sale at q sacrifice in the nGighbor-
hood of all our large cities, by men who have
tried the experiment, is proof Of the assertion.
They met with unforeseen obstacleS--the busi-
ness of cultivation of itself difficult enough, was
rendered doubly so to them from want of ex-
perienCe Crops were put i'll at wrong seasons
and in the wrong manner E; the garden would
yield weeds as well as flowers and insects com
pleted the destruction good help was not
Obtainabe, and the year, the accounts proper
ly balanced, wonld read "Cr. by experience
gained, many dollars out Of pocket '--more or
less according to the extent of the experiment.
This too is in addition to the deprivation Of
many privileges which long habit had rendered
necessary to enjoyment. Dark as this shad-
ing is, it need not have spoiled the final picture
had it been seen in time and calculated upon.
A few years, and steady perseverance even
under Encouragement will bring all right, and
he who would make the change proposed, should
enter upon it expecting period Of hard times,
then he will not be disappointed, and many
go on courageously to final success. If you
can stand the toughening process, you can
become a farmer, if not-and it will be severe
don't attempt it.
But we will suppose all this has been settl-
ed, and young man knowing little or nothing
of farming, has fully determined to go through
thick and thin and make soil culture his pro-
fession how shall be best accomplish it He
needs first practical knowledge of the use of
farming implements, and this he can gain by
engaging to work as a "green hand with
some intelligent farmer, upon whom he can
rely for kind treatment and iuGiciOus oversight.
The first season, he must be content with ap
prentice's wages satisfied if he may receive
enough to board and clothe him decently. Let
him learn to handle the plow, the hoe, the
Scytht and make a business of "gctting the
hang" of every tool used in farming. While
doing this, day, by day, let him keep his eyes
and cars open to all that concerns the various
operations, and not be ashamed to ask even
the simplest necessary questions. Occasional
leisure moments will be we'll occupied in study
ing agricultural periodicals and books. At
the years end he will if attentive, know wheat
from barley, be able to plant and hoe corr, and
dig potatoes, TO cut ragged furrow with the
pow, and perhaps a raggeder swath with the
Scythe, in short, will have made beginning {;
and if careful, will find his muscles better able
to perform the increased labor of the follow
ing years. Having in one or more years as
may be necessary, thus learned the first steps,
let him begin to walk alone, by undertaking
something on his own account it would be
well to hire small field, and arrange for time
to work it. Let him advise with Others and
then decide for himself, as to the best crop and
manner of cultiyatiug, and expect but a small
return, and he will, when the crop is harvest
ed, have learned more Of management, than
years of merely working for another would
have taught him. His progress after this will
be easy if he have studied rs well as worked
He may soon, with little aid from others, con-
duct farm successfully, working it on shares
or hiring at stipulated price, and by skill and
economy begin to accumulate capital for the
purchase OF few acres as a nucleus OF his
future farm. This is but mere outline, but
sufficient to indicate what may be done by a
young man in earnest to become a farmer
with ordinay intelligence he can arrange the
details, without it he need not try the expert
ment. We have not space to pursue the sub
ject further, and illustrate how man engaged
in other business, and having family, may
secure home in the country which shall give
give him livelihood, but may recur to the
subject on another occasion.