East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-10-11

PitnciPai triputaries OF the Saginaw.
SO late as 1860, we find by consult
ing the official statistics of the county
there were only 564 farms, that these
contained an average of l04 acres, OF
which ~ were improved. Upon these
farms, there were 357 pair of horses,
423 pair OF oxen, an average of three
cows to farm, but less number OF
sheep than cows. The principal pro-
duce of the preceding year as reported
consisted of SO bushels of wheat,
lib bushels of corn, IS bushels each
OF oats and pototoes and III tons OF
hay, from each farm. These were the
staple products.
1t must be acknowledged it was a
pretty small stock to supply the de-
mand OF a population numbering then
had nothingg" 10 sell, while a few had
a large surplus, it was not more than
equal to a deficiency which others had
to supply by purchase.
Those that raise only such amounts
Of grain and vegetables as suffice
for their own wants and do not derive
any income from butter, poultry, or
their flocks must be supposed to meet
the other necessities of their families
by working for wages or to obtain
the means otherwise than by farming
This suggests the real cause of the
slow progress Of agriculture in our
county, its failure to accomplish its
true and proper mission; since the
salubrity OF the climate, the elevation
of the surface above highwater mark,
and the fertility of the soil, are no
longer doubted.
The common resort to collateral
methods Of making money is induced
by no pressure of necessity; it is a
yielding to an insidious temptation,
owing to want Of faith. and ignor-
aDce of sound economy.
1t requires faith to be good far
mer; indeed, it is essential in every
department of business, capacity to
comprehend the results of preparation
aud patient confidence to wait for
such results, whether they may be
anticipated at once, or after tho lapse
of time. When he deposits seed in
the ground, he must of course exercise
faith that from her ample stores ma
ture will produce harvest, in her
usual course, but this is not all he
is required to have such reliance on
his business, that if he is tho owner
of farm, though small, and posses
ses a team and implements Of hus-
bandry, and these are beyond no
mans reach, he can feel an animating
conviction that by diligence he may
not only provide for his family, but
rapidly improve his estate, and with
greater Incidental pleasure in his
labor, BY giving his exclusive * !.s and . un:
by fitful pursuits of the rewards of
tillage and sundry other employments.
He needs faith that his calling will
afford him livelihood F.; that steady
industry, devoted intelligently to the
cultivation Of farm, will bring am
pie and renumeratiye returns. 1t
would not seem to be faith very
difficult to cultivate; for every instance
Of such endeavor is success.
Farmers are TOO frequently demora-
lized when they live in the neighbor-
hood Of lumbermen and saw mills
and especially if they are SO unfortu-
nate as to have few pine trees upon
their farms, or otherwise become the
owners of material for sawlogs and
shingles. They are informed that
money is offered for these and they
reason very plausbly to themselves
that few days work bestowed upon
their own material, will enable them
to realize money in hand to larger
amount than they can derise from
their farming T; that they will not be
compelled to wait for the slow ap.
proach of the harvest, nor be affected
by the freaks of weather and insects
that now and then bring their labo,
to naught. Influenced by such con
siderations, we SEQ multitudes Of far
mers annually leave their p!ows, ant
withdraw their care and industry from
their farms. Year after year, thes'
present nearly the same appearance
) except that gradual decline and di
: lapidation Of buildings and fences
and that luxuriant growth of noxiou
5 weeds, which mark the neglect of tn
2 half hearted farmer who lacking faitl
in his proper calling, seeks his bread
D and strives to increase his substance
I by other means.
S These equivocal farmers are like al
other oquivocal characters in respec
to thrift. Whoever will take the trou
t ble to inquire after this class Of per
Q sons, will find that they have not ma
t terially improved their condition dun
e ing tho whole period through whic
they have given their divided atter
= ton to numbering and farming. Rt
peated failures to make their plan
q successful, in many instances, ha,
/ soured them; and the increase Of the
:, self-imposed burden of labor, broke
@ them physically; while the persevel
n ing and undiverted farmer is n pictul
Oh ucuitil uuu uCuccIlulltsS, HIS HtlH
d Dor, who had an equally fair begil
h ming in life, but who has thus halte
e vacillated and run after strange god
If is prcmaturely old, ready almost
s. abandon himself to discouragemel
l. and poverty.
re This demoralization has sapped u
RS foundation of private comfort al
A. prosperity in many a household al
III it has been almost public calamit
ir Had oil of the 564 farmers of l8,
l. been exclusively devoted, from Il
o. time of their settlement here, to clea
'e ing and cultivating their farms, erct
lg ing buildings, ornamenting their re'
III dences, opening highways, organizii
" primary schools, they would ha
Sc evinced their earnestness, contentme
mt and public spirit, and they would ha
re wrought most happy change in Z