Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-09-13
Agricultural.
Farmers should Visit more.

American farmers work too hard. Our seasons
are 30 short, help 80 scarce, and there is so much
10 do, that it is almost impossible 10 lind time to
attend TO mental improvement, and tho cultivation
OF social feelings. "All work and no play makes
Jack dull boy" 1t is so with those who have
alta ned to ripper years. We all need relaxation,
and we all take 1t one way or another. Would
i; not be well to find Il by visiting little more
among our brother armersP 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 agricultural plans
and prospects. Look at tie crops and the stock,
and you will be almost sure to get some hint
that will prove useful.
II you see anything particularly good, say so.
That will encourage your friend and stimulate
him to renewed exerons. your own crops are
better THAI his you will feel none the worse for
knowing the fact. Don 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 astonlshed with how much more spirit y u 20
10 work the next morning. Things which had
depressed yon Tor days and weeks will put on
different aspect We can all accomplish much
lAore than we do II We only thought 30, and had
courage TO 20 systematically to work. A little
relaxation, a conversation with one who has the
same trials and labors, gives us new courage, and
we attempt to accomplish with ease Kings which
before oppressed US with their magnitude.
This ia not mere theory. We have felt the
beneficial influence ola visit to neighboring
farm. The other evening, though hardly knowing
(which thing to do first We rode up to our good
farmer friend A., about Two miles west ofus. We
found him examining piece OF turnips recently
sown. Dry as was the weather, they were lust
coming up. He had sowed them broadcast, and
we jokingly told him that vas not the way to
raise Swede turnip.. "Well, don't know" he
replied, which, being Interpreted, means, 81
guess 1 shall rate Us good as you will" "Come
aud look at my wheat" 1t is fine field of
"weevil proof" ripening for the harvest. lie
thought il would grow thirty bushels per acre
and sitting there on the fence we figured up how
much it would bring at twenty shillings pei
bushel, and discussed thu probabilities Of getting
three dollars. lie is an old farmer and a yer,
successful one. Has brought up and educated !
large family, and has everything round his house
that IA convenient and comfortable. We particu
larry admired large handsome walnut tree tha
stands over his well At the side door towards tn,
barn yard. :" | brought the nut of that tree" h
said, thirty years ago in my pocket from thu
borders Of Conesus Lake" 1t is now nob
tree, pleasant to behold, and affording grateful
shade, and as We looked al it we could no, hell
thinking how many pleasing associations Of lh
past thirty years must lnser around that tree
A boy was pumping water for the cows whicI
had Just been mixed. used to have an opel
trough TO carry the water" he said, but five o
SIX years ago | saved barrel 10 two and put tn
two halves in the ground, one near the pump an,
the OF er in the barn-yard, aud connected then
With a., old pump log" The one barrel near tn
pump and the connecting pipe are under ground
The water never freezes, and he can at ali time
supply his stock with little trouble.
"Cone and see the garden" What spendi
corn, and how much finer your beets are tina
ours Hlving more tomato plants than "
needed this spring we gave hietd a. dozsn o
so, and here they are growing finely and gyin
promise Of large crop, They beat those 10 GU
own garden! We would not admit that b
had gwen them any better care and culture lha
we had, but explained their superiority on tn
ground that his garden is lhroughiy sheltered
while ours, at present, is exposed TO the We.
winds.
We compared notes about oats and bare,
We had nsi'her Of us anything to bras Of Ii
bad found the sprog quite "a wet and unpropitiou
rs we mad, but would not wait why, SIR" h
said, the boy in dragging 10 the oats in yond,
hollow had to ride on the harrow and il ver
clear under water out Of sight" OF course III
crop was ligb, in the low places but on the Who'll
will be better than il he had waited as we did, Ii
the whole field was in good order.
Nov, was The hali.hour spent on this farm, los,
Admitting that there was ching particularly
see, NJ. IL not pleasant 10 talk over wha, we ha
done and what we proposed 10 do We are SUI
that we accom- plshed much more during n
remainder Of the week than il We had .tsid
home. Farmers should visit more-no, 20 to n
city, many go there too oitsn--but Wit est
other, not at the village grocery, but at ca,
others homes. Cenexe Farmer.