Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-03-20
5tonse, Garden aud .farnl.
Taking the Hint.

1t is truly surprising to ses how slow
SONS farmers are to take the hi,sf. Il
seems as if the adage held true when
it rained porridge their dish was always
bottom upwards" A wide-awake far
mer will try and see that every opportu-
nifty is improved for self Improvement aud
improvement of his farm. The frost de-
slroys about one-half the blossoms on his
apple trees; everybody prognosticates
the loss Of fruit; instead of that, the
half that remains are larger, and fairer.
and finer favored than usual, and tho
trees, instead Of being exhausted, arc
ready for another crop next year. Why
has not the farmer taken the hint and
thinned out his fruit erery bearing yearY
But no; the next season seos his orchard
overloadod-fruit small and not well
formed; consequently unfit for market.
Yet he boasts of the fine crop of large
ones last year. without pro6ting by the
hints given him by nature; his "dish
was upside down."
A farmer raises the best crop of car.
rots on spot of ground where the wash
of the barnyard ran into it after every
bard shower; did he take the hint and
apply liquid manure? No, not at all,
his g. dish was upside down."
A shrewd farmer, whose dish is right
side up, raises large crops, which were
the admiration of the whole neighborhood
and for years the farm showed the advan.
tages of deep handling but not single
farmer in the vicinity ktook the hint
The farmer sold his farm at high figure,
as they all supposed it was wonderfully
productive farm. His successor at onoo
went back into the old style of surface
scratching, and considers himself cheat.
ed man, as he does not raise any better
crops than his neighbors He was slow
to take the hint his "dish was wrong
side up"
A staunch farmer complained that his
soil was too loose and light. Ashes was
suggested as worth trying. "Well, now
you mention it, believe it will do good.
bought a part of my farm from a man
who was wonderful fellow to save UP
ashes, and around his cabin it lay in
heaps. took away the house, and to
this day notice that when the plow
runs along that spot the ground turns up
moist and dclose-grained. at is strange
tlat his dish acas not right side up."
Here are other things that clearly show
the farmers dish not right side up: such
as running in debt for more land than
can be cultivated to advantage; buying
articlcc, and doing without
those which are necessary; want of econ
omy neglecting the payment of small
accounts till they accumulate in such
manner that as to afford him a "run Of
business independent Of his farming
operations; keeping unnecessary ami.
mails to devour his produce; one dog, If
fed to the full, will cost as much as tUo
children, and he is of very little service
to the farmer. unless he considers having
his cattle and animals frightened and his
nelghbors' sheep bitten and mangled. as
belonging to necessary farm operations;
more horses than can be used to advan-
ta3e indicate bad economy; horses re-
quire more fodder and better than any Of
our domestic animals; hence, if not
profitably employed they are drawback
on the farm.
The farmer who has any reason to ex-
pect good luck must take the hint and
have good pile of wood up to his door
for another year. See that fencing poles
are hauled ready for spring use, so the
cattle may be restricted within the limits
assigned them, lest they become ambitious
and commence .flibustering expedition
to acquire more territory. To have your
dish right side up,take the hints as thrown
ont for you By nature and art be prompt
and let everything be done in good sea-
II. Jowaal Of agriculture.