The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-06-30

In one of the Legislative agricultural meet
ings which took place at the State House i'm
March last, when the topic under discussion
was that Of Farm Implements" one or more
Of the speakers stated that they thought now
ing machines were profitable on large farms,
but on small ones would hardly pay.
We thought at the time that this was an err
roneous view of the matter, and upon farther
reflection, we think so still. The farmer who
has large farm is presumed to have capital
corresponding with his acres, and to devote
his whole time to the management of his es-
tate. He Is never single-honded and alone.
If sick, or disabled in any way, he has strong
backs and stout arms to depend upon. in his
hired men, still TO carry ON the cultivation of
the crops, or to secure the harvests. He can
even visit the seashore or the mountains, and
be absent for several days, without any special
detriment to his farming operations. His corn
and roots are hoed and kept in flourishing
condition, and his hay, and wheat, and rye
crops, carefully secured, so that he finds load
ed scafIods of golden grain, and bursting bays
of aromatic hay, all safely housed TO gladden.
him ON his return.
II he has used a moving machine. all this
labor has undoubtedly been greatly facilitated,
and the crops have been economically secured.
But suppose he has not awaited himself of this
labor-saving implement--he has had, and al
ways can have, force, In athletic men. equal
to all the demands upon him. If there is any
class of our farmers who can dispense with the
moving machine, and not most sensbly feel its
absence, ii is this that we have described. This.
class may be Independent Of the machine il it
will, but not without loss.
Such, however, is not the case with the small
farmer. His whole SUCCESSES centered in his
own judcions management, aided by his own
muscular power The hard jobs, as well as the
easy, and all the duties that necessarily come,
both late and early, are also his. His sons may
be in the army, factory, or behind a counter,
all but the youngest, who is only fourteen, and
yet has swung the scythe the two previous
years.
Perhaps the farmer is considerably past mid
die life, and although in good health. his cheek
is furrowed, and grey hairs sprinkle his tenn
pies. 1t is true that the grasshopper is not a
burden to him yet, but he does not feel like
cutting his acre before dinner; he stops TO whet
offener than he did twenty years ago, and rests
longer In the shade OF the big appletree! In
fact, his moving machine does not work as it
formerly did. There is plenty of will, but less
power, and the work progresses slowly, while
he looks painfully around to see what he can
call in his aid, to secure the crops which bene-
icent Heaven has matured for the support of
his family
The motring machine comes to such man
as real blessing II enables him TO keep up
with his younger neighbors TO cut his crops
in season, and secure them without loss. He
is relieved, encouraged, and feels comparative
iy young again, because he can carry on his
farm as rapidly and successfully as he did in
his younger and stronger days.
Perhaps the small farmer is in feeble health
not really sick but unable to take the lead
In laborious workout with the aid of now
ing machine and good horse rake, he is more
than "A match for the best five men in the coun-
FRY Rtt this 10 pnt all hsf a..ls