National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-07-09
An Invitation to Farninu.

side of amateur farming. 1t would
do for other than amateur farmers
to read:
PEEKsLILL. May 27, 1869.
My dear Mr.. Bonner,--I cannot
imagine the reason that a man like
you should stick to the city. 1t is
true you had place in the country
have you sold it !-but that place
had too many owners. You held it
in common with Miasma. Two pro-
prietors ne or do well in running
the same farm, unless they are per-
fectly agreed; and, if 1 remember
Alright, you never lived at peace
with chills and fever. hardly
blame you. There is no moderation
in the thing. Yon are always at ex-
tremes. In fact, Miasma is an un--
pleasant fellow out of doors, and
still less agreeable in the house. If
you have sold out, | congratulate
you.
But because you failed in one
country farm, there Is no good rea-
son why you should not succeed in
another. 90 further away from the
city. Go to the upper part of West
chester county, and somewhat away
from the river, and you shall find
round and beautiful hills, rich inter
walls, pure water, charming outlooks,
and very kind and intelligent pop
ulatlon. 1t is time for you to get off
the pavementS. They grind men
terribly fast. There is no mercy in
them day or night.
Come TO the country. lfyou can
not do better, | will give you an in.
tereSt in my farm. There are thir-
ty-six acres. That is more than |
eau manage and do it justice. We
will carry it on jointly. | will lay
out and superintend the work, and
you shall pay the bills.
BY the way, there is some humor
connected with farming. The news
papers inform me that own IA mod
el farm, and that derive a large
rroht from farming. So | do. But
it is profit in the higher faculties,
and not in the pocket. y gentle
man from Baltimore wrote to me as
| follows:
"Dear Sir,-I see by the papers
that your farm netted to you last
year thirty six thousand dollars. -
Will You tell me what crops you
raise, and what is your methods |
have a farm of two hundred acres
near this city, and have never yet
been able to make 1t pay expenses.
viii you tell me how | can make it
as profitable as yo, y
replied, (though never sent it,
Dear Sir,-Don't change a particle.
Keep on Just as you have done, and
your farm and mine will be as like
as two peas. Your farm is already
just as profitable as mine. Truly
yours
In fact. Mr.. Bonner, the profits
of farming are such that ] am ann
ious for a inoneycd partner. To Il
man who earns a good deal of mon
ey in the city, who is afraid OF grow
ing stingy and wants something to
keep him generous, who takes a lit.
erary pleasure in drawing checks,
and who never looks at a bill except
to see the amount, | can give the ut.
most satisfaction. Yet am obliged
to confess that the chance is not as
good now as it was few years ago.
The improvements are nearly finish,
ed. The rough work is all done.
The orchards and vineyards are
coming into bearing, and who knows
but the farm will make both ends
meet yetg Hitherto everybody has
made money on it, except the own
er. | am often asked, what is youl
surest crop! answer, bills. But
even that crop may fail. In long
rotation may yet raise bills receiv
. able, instead of bills payable. 1t is
only fair TO state these possibilities
lest capitalist desirous Of keeping
pecuniary pores open should be dis
appointed. But this will guaran
tee. If YOU will take hold with me
| will, iftherc is danger of the farms
paying, set on foot such improve
ments as will keep down your pock
cts to any extent.
1t is a matter of surprise how
much money may be buried in {
small piece of ground. Indeed
many gentlemen are rcsurpriscd. Sim
pie as smiling piece of groun'
looks, as it lays before your contem
platiye eyes, it will prove % mattel
/ for You in cunning. To drain il
land every piece of ground wet o
dry should be mdcrlaid with drail
= tile,) to deepen it, (and no farm ex
cept mere sand is well ploughc,
that has not been mellowed eight
cen inches decp,) to gather off tin
stones, to dig out the bouldcrs, AM
blast the rocks, to lay boundar.
= walls, to enrich the whole with abun
dance of manure, but above oil, d
u goodly amount Of grad
will prevent any man froI
boarding his money.
e Then one must take account o
work done twice over aud thrlc
!, over. because you did not know hoy
b. to do it right the first time. Drain
n two feet deep, that must go oow'
.. four feet; trees set down where yo
don't want them either, and movc'
!, again; fancy crops, 10y when