Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-05-13
farm, GarlGn \ 80llsehpld.
TASTE IN FARMING.

TASTE IN FARMING.
There Is one thing in which farmers, take
.he country through, have been sadly deil-
cient, and that is, in a regard for. and cul-
t;vation Of the beautiful, as well the useful.
There are some, tand these are generally
farmers from the city whose ideas all run in
this direction: who have entered upon life in
the country, and upon the care of their farms,
as if they were flower gardens, to be worked
not for the sake OF producing anything that
shall be useful, so much as TO crafty me eye
Or if they undertake to produce anythii ig' II
is something that shall either please the fancy
or gratifv luxurious appetite OF make them
conspicuous among the neighboring farmers.
They do not regard their occupation as one OF
practical utility. Farming is with them am
ornamental branch, very much like worsted
work or embroidery among the ladies OF the
household. This is one extreme. Such far
mers have done great amount of good, but
they have overstraincd an incidental part Of
the matter.
On the other hand those who have depend
cd on farming for living have 600 often
overlooked this part Of the subject. Some
have a perfect contempt for flowers, and
shrubberv. and shaGe trees, and all that would
be regarded as belonging to the ornamental.
They have no plans for beautitying their
homesteads Their houses, and yards, and
gardens are all laid out for mere utility. Net
a dollar is spent Oh anything that will not give
one dollar or more in return. 1t is all labor
and profit with them. This is the other eN-
treme.
We do not see how any man who entertaIns
such views, and works his farm on such prin-
cIples, can open his eyes without feeling re-
buked. He cannot look out upon the world,
unless he is devoid of reflection, without be
ing constantly reminded that he is setting at
naught the great lessons which the Being who
made the earth, and who rolls around the
seasons, and produces the crops by His rain,
and sunshine, and the exercise Of His al
mighty power, is continually teaching. 1t is
the teaching of Scripture, He hath made
everything beautiful in his time, and It is
the teaching of every days observation and
experience. There IS not a crop produced
by the earth in which ,nere is not as much
laid out on beauty as on utility. and even
more. The crops of grain, in their growth,
and even when they wave in golden color for
for the harvest, are almost enough to stir
the soul of statue with admiration. The
orchards, before they ever produce an apEle
or peach, or any other fruit. are gorgeousy
decked out with beauty.
The God of Nature has given us an exam
pie which we ought not to disregard. 1t is not
mere fancy, it is duty to pay some atten-
ton to the appearance of things. The farmer
who leaves his house or his grounds in a sloy-
emily state, who pays no attention to beauty
ing his farm, is doing violence to one impor-
tant element of his nature. It is very easy
to do something toward the cultivation of
taste in farming. a vine around the door
way: bed of well-selected and welltended
flowers: few shade trees and an arbor for
vines: a we'll arranged and we'll kept garden:
a little care in cutting down the weeds by tire |
roadside; a little attention to the appearance
Of the outbuildings and fences; plan in the
laying out of ones fields, &c, would add
largely to the enjoyments Of farm life, and
they would add largely to its profits too. a
farm that is properlytaken care Of, and which
exhibits taste as well as close culture, will
have higher pecuniary value than one which
il used merely for making the most money
out Of it for the season.
Taste in farming is nothing to be ashamed
of, as many seem to regard it, The man who
exhibits it and who cultivates it is a wiser
man, better man, than the one who despi-
scs it. He is cultiyating part of his own ma
ture, which the other man suffers to run to
waste and to be covered with briars and
thorns. He is engaged in a work of benevo-
lence also. He is doing good to others. He
contributes to the enjoyment of every one
who sees and admires the evidence Of his
taste III the improvement and beautifymg Of
his grounds. If "a thing vi J1outy is "A JOY
forever" (which has now become aproyerb,)
the farmer who makes his own place attrac-
tive to the eyes of others becomes public
and lasting beuefactor. He blesses not
merely his own family and his neighbors, but
every traveller who passes his homestead;
while he who makes it his only object to dig
out Of the earth what he can turn to immedi-
ate profit in money is living altogether for
himself-New York OJSerrsr