Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-23
OuR FARMERS, HOMES AND THEl

er. No one writes more forcibly and
sensibly on this subject than Mr..
Greeley, and we hope some heed will
be paid to what he says
| hear with regret, but without sur
prise, that the ADLER and more intelli-
gent of our farm-bred youth dislike
their fathers calling, and aspire to
live by profession, or trade, or specu-
lation in short, by anything else than
farming. | wish it were otherwise-
| hope it may be; but it never will
nor can, without an enlargement of |
the attractiveness of our average Far
mers Homes.
| judge that the estimate woul4 be |
liberal which would make the aver
age cost-one hundred dollars-ot
the embellishments of the homestead,
of our American farmers worth $4,000.
So far as my observation may be trust
ed, weeks work in planting and
protecting shade trees, is more than
has been given. in the average, by our
farmers, who have owned and cult
waited the same farm for the last TWEEN
ty years.
A city man buys place in the
country, and at once begins to adorn
and embellish it. He increases the
number and the variety Of its fruit
trees; he puts down strawberry bed
and some grape vines; he sets shade
trees about the house and along the
highways; and commences to grow as
paragus and other delicate vegetable :;
III short, he makes the place attractive
and habitable to the extent of his
means. The neighboring farmers, II
asked by their children or others,
why they do nothing of the sort, usu-
ally answer, at is very well for b.,
who has lots Of money, and can easily
get more, to cut such dash, but aOe
must live by our farms, and can I at
ford to spend half we earn III orna-
menting them" Those who say this
are often richer than their city-bred
neighbor, and could do all he has
done at halt the expense; they would
do it, if they supposed it would pay.
They resist the contagion of his eX-
ample, aot for want OF means, but for
want of perception, of faith.
: Now | admit that the reward Of
well-doing in the matters above indi-
Gated, is not realized III an instant in.
crease of the farms annual product
The farmer who should spend five
hundred dollars this year in judiciou-
tree planting and kindred improve
ments, would receive no returns IL
this years or next years crop. YET
even he, if buying this very farm
would give enough for it because of
these improvements to defray THEN
cost twice over; and what is true OF
him Is true OF most people. The farm
thus embelliShed is worth more than
1t was; its newly planted trees are
property as truly as the soil is, aue
will in time have a Saleable value Of
, their own. Men often make unluck
i, investments, but hardly anything else
is so certain to pay in the long rul
as judicious Tree-P Planting.
| am contemplating, however, a NOR
= al rather than d material profit on til,
= outlay. profoundly desire that Tar
! merS sons should love their paterna
homes; and, to this cad. | would nav,
those homes made worthy OF PROUD
and fond affection. would hav'
each possess a distinct and individual
. character, rejecting that of the famiI
which inhabits and embellishcs it.
would have its buildings adorned, con
" structed and painted, with referenc
to their peculiar location, elevation
and relation to others within sight, s.
Il as to form a harmonious and pleaSin
p landscape. No farmer is so rich 0
e so poor that he can afford to itav
% his buildings implanted in our climate
" for timber grows dearer twice as fas
!, as paint does. A poor man may hav
II home to love and be proud of-na,
l. he may render a small, cheap bom
{ attractive by beauty without and cou
. fort within. He may do this at yer
g small cost, by devoting to it the Cd
= hours of days broken by inclemenc
Sc or by visits an hour or two each evt
= ming, when not too weary. will 500
=. y tell, if wisely improved. For my ow
:, part | could not sleep through brigh
~ moonlight hours on place as make
1 = and forbidding as many that disGgul
u' each rural township.
a. The love of beauty is universal
d Millions feel who do not clearly re
ne ognize nor consistently defer to it.
~ The man never lived who would nj
SD have preferred tastsfully painted
IN Imprinted farm buildings and far
9u well fringed with judiciouSly chose
- shade trees and ornamental shrubs
ia bleak, bare acres of pasture and t
IF lage. Though too many have sodd(
he their souls in whisky aud tobacco t
aI they no longer recognize and respoI
he to the sense of the beautiful, it st
eI exists, and may be wakened to co
~ sciCus activity. The Goo who crea
u ed flowers and sunshine, waving tire
nc and ripping brooks, adapted hum'
'e' nature to their appreciation and EMO
; ment. Let every rural home be bea
En- titled. though it be a hut, and its on
lu- ornaments a rose-bu8h, a vine, and
es solitary, stately. overshadowing tire
Oh But let nothing be given to orr
ment that shall preclude fit regard
IA making it gladstone and winning vii
he in. To this end let the mind be a
ed, ply fed, though the body should f
ter in consequence to be sumptuous
clad. There is not day-laborer
lis the land, who, unless specially prey
rec upon by sickness or other calami
in may not have cheerful, intellect
The evening freside if he will. A 90
csc Bible, to begin with, in fair sized tyl