Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-01-06
COX THE I1ERAl4D.
Y AGRICULTURAL EXPERT
FsNs,E
ScRABBLEToN. Dec. 1869.

ptTicucc is uob IHuCH VI Il succeSS lAuteu
our enterprise is not on the ''fal tide of
successful experiment, Generally, we
don't like to say much about our failures,
and much less do we like to hear others
refer to them The careful mariner, how~
ever, examines his charts, not only to
lind his proper course, but also to ascer-
tain where lie the dangerous rocks and
shoals which are to be avoided. So with
the farmer, his failure should be as dill
gently recorded and communicated to his
neighbors as his successes.
Sometime ago | saw work advertised ),
entitled Ten Acres enough Not being
blessed with a hushness of greenbacks,
and Confederate money not being duly
appreciated in that section Of our happy
country where the book is published, [
concluded to act on the suggestion of the
title OF the book, and dispense with the
valuable contents thereof, and consequent
~ entered into negotiations with my
peightor Sam Post for the purchase of
an undivided half of tweuty (2O) acres
near Scrab bIeton.
Accordingly we went to work last
Spring to convince the world that ten
acres is enough, but owing TO some care
lessness on the part of the clerk of the
weather, We had I'll our rain in the spring,
and when the summer came, with Old sol
pouring his fereest. scolcbing rays upon
the earth, the stock was exhausted, con
sequenty we only succeeded in getting
about two acres ploughed between rains,
and along near the summer solstice, We
got a part of it planted Now we began
to hold up our heads and TO put on airs,
Wasn't we farmers-tiiors of the soil :!
But now cur calamities commenced. We
had repaired cur fences, and put them in
a condition, as we thought, to resist the
encroachueuts Of all such animals as are
usually fenced against.
In this we were mistaken for scarcely
was eur corn llanted, ere our neighbor
PATRICK O'Ghea's hogs scaled our WALL
aud commenced most vigorous pros
peethg fer corn. In this. they were
elninently successful. so we went to work
to repair damages and ike old Grimes, to
build our fence higher. The next enemies
that appeared were the crows, and they
did ample justice to the subject. 1t was
now too late to think Of repairing damages
By replanting with corn, so we resorted
to potatoes. Stimulated by the hope OF
raising good crop under difficulties We
plougbed aud reploughed, applied ashes
&c and rejoiced to see the teuder leaves
expanding and the young stalk shooting
upwardsg, wing an earnest OF bright yellow
Ears in the fall; iut how often are our
dearest hopes b!ighted for scarcely had
our corn began to give evidence of Il
realizatlos, u our hopes by the formation
of ears. cut prenlaturely short. it is true by
the lrouth, than QUE OF our old enemies, the
hog, returned, now reinfr ed ty those
long nosed, slabside specimens of the
swine genus belonging to Bill Seggins.
We are told. that upon certain occa-
sion when evil spirits were cast out of two
Gcrgesenee theee devils requested that
they might be permitted to take possession
of head Of swine, and don't think they
have ever left there since. 1t is true, the
book says they ran down steep place into
the sea and were drowned, but | think
some Of them must have escaped, at any
rate they show evidence of being possessed
of devils. Of all the troublesome pests
farmers are exposed to, usually hogs take
the foremost rank, and When these are
formed in combn alton with Indifferent
fences, they are truly APPALLING,
[ will put those hogs of Scggins and
O'Shea against the hold swinish race.
they can jump higher, Dig deeper, run
faster, crawl through smaller hole and
destroy more corn and potatoes than any
other hogs on top of dirt. They just
harvested that corn. and those potatoes as
Systematically as any harvester you ever
saw-nothing left for the cleaner, | assure
you,
Now I think. Sam Post aud myself are,
by justice and equi y, nttled 10 "A gooaly
share of those hogs. We certainly turn
ished large portion OF the materials for
the fattening process, and we ought to
have share of the pork.
We had also a small vineyard in one
corner of the field, planted about the co a
mencement of the war, but when Mr..
Banks paid US friendly visit in 1867.
his army camped on aud around this little
vineyard, destroying the fence around it
and the larger portion OF the vines. We
had reconstructed the thing since the
war, and were just beginning to look for
ward to an early realization of those fond
hopes so long deferred, when the spoier
came for just as the grapes were almost
ripe enough to gather, the neighbor's
children came, like locusts Of Egypt-des-
troying everything in their way.
When animals destroy our hard earn
ings it is hard to prevent our baser passions
from overcoming the controlling influence
of our better judgement, but when moral
brutes break over the restraints of society
and rob US Of our property, 1t requires
something more than the ordinary exercise
Of judgement to pres erve our eqaanimlty.
But it is poor rule that don't work
both ways, aud if We are entitled t, share
of the hogs that ate our corn, suppose
we are entitled to share CT the rascals
who ate our grapes! Ahem gracious
goodness well, believe if they won't
insist upon our share of the children, we'n
say nothing more about the other hogs.
Judging from our limited experience
in agriculture I am thoroughly convinced
that ten acres" is not only enough. :
but | think its dad burned sight too
much. and Tam going to write book to
prove it; see if don't.
have heard it said that it takes poor
farmer for good agricultural editor, and
If that is the only requisite, | think III
turn editor.
What do you think of the Scrabbleton
Farmer. or the Scrabbleton Agricultural
ReyieE !? they'd sound heavy, wouldn't