East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-11-22
Che Gonrier.
Thursdav. november az. 1899.
EQUlvoCAL FARMERS.


Fair in October last, prevented our
giving that attention to the admirable
and thoroughly practical address Of
Hon. JABRz G. SUTHERLAND which.
its merit, both in literary and utili-.
tartan point Of view, deserved. In
the whole range of productions Of Ike
character which have fallen under our
Z observation, not excepting, even, that
/, most appropriate and scholarly ad.
dress Of the late General CAss before
| the State Agricultural Society, at De-
troit, some years since, we have seen
nothing more apt pertinent, judicious,
or in better taste for the occasion. We
mako this notice, at this time, for the
purpose of referring especially to that
portion Of the address which rclates
to "equivocal farmers" class who
cannot too seriously consider the facts
therein presented
Farmers are too frequently demora-
lized when they live in the neighbor.
hood Of lumbermen and saw, mills, and
especially if they are so unfortunate
as to have few pine trees upon their
farms, or otherwise become the own
ers Of material for saw-logs and shin
giles. They. are informed that money
is offered for these, and they reason
very plausibly to themselves, that q
few days work bestowed upon their
own material, will enable them to real
ize mo ey in hand, to larger amount,
than they can derive from their farm-,
ing; that they will not be compelled
to wait for the slow approach of the
harvest, nor be affected by the freaks
of weather and insects, that now and
then bring their labor to naught. In
nuenced by such considerations, we
see multitudes Of farmers annually
leave their plows, and withdraw their
care and industry from their farms
Year after year, these present nearly
the Same appearance, exceptthat grad
ual decline and dilapidation Of build
ings and fences, and that luxuriant
growth of noxious weeds, which mark
the neglect Of tho half-hearted FARMER,
who lacking faith in his proper call
ing, seeks his bread, and strives to in
crease his substance by some other
means.
These equivocal farmers are like al
other equivooal characters, in respect
to thrift. Whoever will take the trou-
bic to inquire after this class of per-
sons, will find that they have not ma
terially improved their condition DUR
ing the whole period through which
they have given their divided atten-
ton to numbering and farming. Re-
peated failures to make their plans
successful, in many instances have sour
ed them; and the increase of their self
imposed burden. of labor, broken them
physically; while the persevcring and
undiverted farmer is picture of health
and cheerflluess, his ncigbbor who
had an equally fair beginning in life,
but who has thus halted, ,vacillated and
run after strange gods, is prematurely
old-roady almost to abandon himself
to discouragensent and poverty. ,;.
s This demoralization has sapped tho
foundation Of private comfort aud
prosperity in many household; and
it has been nlmosta a public calamity.
boeh exeiuartery &c. 1 tfe1~s.a.af-1AGn-
time of their settlomcut here, to clear
ing and cultiyating their farms, eiectr.
ing buildings, ornamenting their resi-
dences, opening highways, organizing
primary schools, they would have
eviuced their earnestness, conteIitment
and public spirit, and they would havc
wrought most happy change in tho
general appearance Of our county
Visitors in quest Of places to settle,
would have been attracted by the pre-
vailing evidences of thrift, and hast
ened TO emulate the example Of our
farmers, by becoming Of their number.
If the number of farmers had not been
thus augmented, they would have
made, more considerable opening in
the forest. and contributed more en-
couraging statistics to the agricultural
record Of the State, 1t, is probable,
that at all events, agriculture by such
means would have so advanced, that
tho present demand of local consum-'
ers could have been satisfied from tho,
abundance Of our home prodncers.-,
That is consumption greatly to DO
wished. When wc reflect ON tho
change that such a condition implies,
the condition to the population Of
the townships, the stimulus to the sale
of farming land, and the consequent
appreciation Of its value, we cannot
fail to be reminded that we have not
in the past made the most OF our or
portunitics. s,t.
MANUAL LApoR--Hugh Miller, than
whom mono knew better the strength
and weakness belonging to the lot OF
labor, stated tho result Of his expert
once to be, that work, even tho hard
est, is full of pleasure and materials,
| for sclf-improvement. He held hon.