American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-31
The farmers department.
Farmers Should Visit More.

Our seasons are oshort, help so scarce,
and there is so much to do, that it is
almost impossible to find time to at
tend to mental Improvement, and the
cultivation of social feelings. "All
work and no play makes Jack a dull
boy" It is so with those who have
attained to ripper years. We all need
relaxation, and we all take it one way
or another. Would it not be well
to find it by visiting a little more
among our brother farmers? Do not
make formal visits. Get into your
buggy some evening before dark
and take your wife to visit some good
farmer friend. Talk over your agri-
cultural plans and prospects. Look
at the crops and stock, and you will
be almost sure to get some hint that
will prove useful,
1t you see anything particularly
good, say so, 1t will encourage your
friend and stimulate him to renewed
exertions. If your own crops are
better than his you will feel none the
worse for knowing the fact. Don't
gossip Leave that to those who have
nothing better than personalities to
talk about. Don't stay too long.
Don't bore your friend, or let him bore
you. Be cheerful and pleasant.
Return home early, and you will be
astonished' with how much more spirit
you will go to work the next morning.
Things which had depressed you for
days and weeks will put on different
aspect. We can all accomplish much
more than we do if We only thought
so, and had courage to 90 systemati-
cally to work. A little relaxation, a
conversation with one who has the
same trials and labors, gives us new
courage, and we attempt and accom-
plish with ease things which before
oppressed us with their magnitude.
This is not mere theory. We have
felt the beneficial influence of a Wis
it to a neighboring farm. The 9TH
er evsning, though hardly knowing
which thing to do first, We rode
mp to our good farmer friend a. about
two miles west of us. We found him
examining piece of turnips recent
ly sown. Dry as was the weather,
they were just coming up. He had
sowed them broadcast, and we joke
ingly told him that was not the way
to raise Swede turnips. DWELL, I
don't know, which being interpreted,
means, " I guess Ishall raise as good
as you will" Como and look at
my wheat" 1t is fine field of "wce-
vii proof" ripening for the harvest.
He thoughtit would grow thirty bush
els per acre, and sitting there on the
fence We figured up how much it would
bring at twenty shillings per bushcl,
and discussed the probabilities of get
ting three dollars. He is an old far
mer and a very successful one. Has
brought up and educated large
family, and has everything round his
house that is convenient and comfort
able. We particularly admired a
large handsome walnut tree that stands
over his well at the side door towards
the barn-yard. Il brought the nut
Of that tree" he said, "thirty years
ago in my pocket from the borders of
Conesus Lake" 1t is now a noble |
tree, pleasant to behold and aforjing
grateful shade, and as We look at it |
we could not help thinking how many |
pleasing associations of the past thir-
ty years must linger around that
tree. A boy was pumping water for
the cows which had just been MIXED.
I" | used to have an open through to
carry the water, he said, but five
or six years ago I sawed barrel in
two and put the two halves in the
barn-yard, and connected them with
an old pump log" The one barrel
near the pump and the connecting
pipe are under ground. The water
never freezes, and he can at all times
supply his stock with little trouble.
g Come and see the garden"
What splendid corn, and how much f.
ner your beets are than ours Hav-
ing more tomato plants than we need
ed this spring we gave friend a.
dozen or SO, and here they are grow
ing finely and giving promise of a
large crop. They beat those in our
garden We would not admit that
he had given them any better care
and culture than We had, but explain
their superiority on the ground that
his garden is thoroughly sheltered,
while ours, at present, is exposed to
the west winds.
We compared notes about oats and
barley. We had neither of us any
thing to brag of. He had found the
spring quite as wet and unpropitious
as we had, but would not wait. ''Why
sir, he said, l." the boy in dragging
in the oats in yonder hollow had to
ride on the harrow, and it went clear
under water out of sight" OF course
the crop was light in the low places,
but on the whole, will be better than