Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-03-05
HOW I BECAME AFARMER.


EXPERIENCE OF a MECHANIC TURNED FARMER
Will you allow me little space to record
my experience ?-Hot because il contains aDy
thlbg very remarkable, nor that think il val
uaole because it is mine, but that others who
are situated as was, perhaps, see the way to
realize what they have long been waiting to
secure, home in the country. [ was born
ana reared in New \ ork city, and save an oc-
caslonai visit to fliendS living in the country
| knew nothing of farm life, until within the
| past few years. | learned the cabinet makers
trade, and worked at it steadily for twelve
years During that time found a use for ar
tlcIes OF my own make, to the extent of six
chairs with other things in proportion-four
/ children having fallen to our lot.
! Having no capital, / was obliged TO remain
a aJourHeyman, or do piece work, and any one
Knowing the active competition that has pre-
! vailed IN this business, can readily believe
! that after making both ends meet, at the
years end there was but little left to lap over
with. As my little ones grew up around me,
regard for their health and morals. and anxi-
city to meet increasing expenses, melted me to
Try and secure home in the country.
In the Spring of 1854 | received an offer to
work In village in this county, which |
gladly accepted, as it brought me one step
nearer what [ desired. | looked about for a
place little out of the village where | could
have a piece of land to cultivate believing
work out to the end. l found a comfortable
mousse with two acres of ground attached. at
moderate rent, and it would have done YOU
good to see the delight of the little ones when
we took possession. They had never conceiv.
ed OF such extensive Fairgrounds, having al
ways been confined to a narrow back ward
and an occasional walk in the crowded city
street.
stipulated with my employer for time e.
nough TO work my garden, and made a COM
mencement. 1t was awkward business | as
sure you. My neighbors must have laughed
at my simple questions; but they were very
kind and aiding 10 me | had the satisfaction
OF seeing my own vines and eating their fruit
and the probability of some day sitting under
my own hg tree became quite inspiring. Be-
ing entirely ignorant, l was not afraid to try
what saw recommended, and though was
sometimes laughed at for following the book
as they called it, learned, in time, that print
ed experience was often as valuable as that
learned by word ofmouth-in fact, some of my
vegetables raised in what they called ssnew
fashioned ways were far superior to auv
that my neighbors could show.
To be sure, L had many failures at first
The bugs would destroy the vines, the hens
scratched out some of my finest seeds and
some OF my paintings turned out nothing be-
cause of my ignorance, but at the end OF the
hrSt Summer, L found that by working morn |
ing and evening, with an occasional day when !
the weeds threatened to get the start of me- |
and with only little paid out for manuring, |
piowing and preparing the ground, L had a |
full supply of choice vegetables for the family |
had sold enough to help pay the store bills, |
and had learned sufficient to try gardening on |
a larger scale the next season
then ventured to hire two acres addition
al, in which, besides giving better pasture for
my COW, could plant patch OF potatoes and
another OF corn. 1t was good year with me.
f..rOr ctr, ,I.a,r 1t,
the previous Spring, yielded finely. The fruit
sold at good prices, and brought me nearly
$40. Other products of my garden were even
beyond my expectations. aud the corn and po-
tatoes would have done honor to any farmer.
This was not all. The family was never so /
healthy, and my two boys were becoming quite
expert in the garden, to their advantage and
mine also. We worked hard, but we saw the
fruits Of our labor and we were content.
| now felt safe to invest my little capital of
a few hundred dollars in buying a place which
L could call my own; and the next Spring re-
ceived a deed for ten acres of land, little
more distant from the village, but yet near
enough to enable me to continue my regular |
business. | did not feel quite ready to give
up my trade, at which l could make com
Portable living. though it was becC ming more
and more irksome, and longed for the time
when | could lay down the saw and the plane,
and take hold OF the plow aud the hoe. This
ear niTeu young man TO assist In working
my new land.
1t is not necessary to give further details.
am now farmer, and have arrived at my
dignity one step at time. My place is not
large, only twenty-five acres, but six of those
are in fruit, and | count their produce equal
to all the rest. The great point [ want to
make for the benefit of others, is, that change
20 farming. to be successful, must be made
gradually. There are thousands of discourag-
I'd mechanics that can do | have done, il
hey will but work patiently, and be content
% become farmers by inches If | had bought
twenty-five acres of land the first season, and
depended upon cultivating it for living, am
convinced ] should have failed, with the loss
If my capital and my courage, and gone
,rambing back TO the shop. Now, my wife i,
md feel as happy mortals can ordin- /,
rily, and am prepared to say to my brother ;
mechanics, "go and do likewise,''
Putnam Co., N. Y. GEO. TERREr