Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-03-16

How 10 make Farming Pay in New
England.

How 10 make Farming Pay in New
England.
An oil Lady once said. that sailors
must have an easy time of it. for all they
had 10 10 was to put up their sail, and the
wind blew them along" Very much like
this i a prevalent idea of farming among
classes Of people not practically acquainl-
Cd with II. An idea formed partly from
newspapers statements OF large crops. and
partly from painful practical knowledge
"i the retail prices OF The provision dealer
taruin. j. seen in the distance. enchaut-
ment lending is aid. The whispering
breeze through shady groves, ..the rivu-
lct winding by messy banks. the .plain-
tive low las of tho cattle" reach and make
their impress on the souls Of the city dcul.
zens. tired with brick walls aud the iostlc
and bu> DE of city life. These are all true
realities 10 he enjoyed; but the farmer
deals with facts III connection with those
which 10 10 city man rob them of their
romance \ little girl once riding in the
country with her parents. saw with great
delight i fOck 81 sheep feeding in ,nea-
Jos. With Imagination all a.low. from
pictures aad story BOOKS, she >prang from
tae carriage and ran towards them; but
her ardor was iesscned when She found
herself ii lnirc and water. and the sheep
instead OF coming ~ her call, ayins
frightened away.
VITA romantic ideas and high wrought
Iauce>. The city man buys a farm, doubt
ing not but that wealth and happiness
VIII naturally flow upon him. He buys
%! hoAer, from an advertisements
sklfully framed and fancifully worried
lie comes with city tastes, ideas and hab
l,~. aaI WitAOut any real practical know
|.a.tr.# az f.i~ ur.X trAif,.. RI.
common one and Nc are familiar with the
l,>ur ~ can predict IL with almost Ger.
Itinty il every ease. If he has money. we
expect t. seq a generous outlay on the
I3ftn buildings. adding much 10 their beau
Va aub at-raclYcue>>: uustiuted supply
%: latest improved and costly farming
Tools AMI machines; fancy, highpriced
breeds D. domestic animals styli,h har-
hcs>-> aL4 wagons; in short sivle and
lansy every where and in everything; nee
ts-4Ty- Inal> pcu>abie. to q successful BUSH
nr~~ iiriae city. and not .incougruons. un-
--afHoI!au- un Tie farm but a. a monicd
investment Hlll not pay. His crops, from
" hlsn Unforeseen ana inexplicable cause.
isll far short OF his expectations; every
thing goes wrong, aud he finds his capital
yearly lcssening. Soon the farm finds its
Nay back 10 the brokers' hands. and our
irieId ielIres 10 the city. sick aud disgust
al with farming. Not less so is his wife.
% WHOM HE quiet OF the country. ana the
cares oi Tic farm have proved uncongenial
% acquire tastes and habits.
" Au, We practical farmers deplore the
tina, result vi The city mans farming at
Tempt. We cordially welcome him TO our
midst. such an one Is 4 positive good to
Tie town ia which he settles. Not
only do A,> method, and improvements
-lEc 10 farmers a tisge Of romance. liftin,
IL above The level OF common drudyery and
>eryIle tpN, but shrewd, obseryant, prac-
iical farmers CLEAN lessons of wisdom. and
coin gold from hl> un>tinted experiments
AId II IL moment OF disgust and diSaD-
pointnent lie throws his farm upon the
market at price less than lis cost. the
practical Yankee farmer j, not slow 10 sec
ure it with its improvements.
Partly from another source are erron-
cous ideas OF farming engendered and fos-
tcrcd.-lhe writings and speeches on
farming from men ho have no practical
knowledge Oft. Thus we see that a
prominent y. York paper calls 4 man To
take charge of it, agricultural department
who cau4ldly admits at tie outset that he
knows nothing OF farming. vet he assumes
the position Of instructiBg practical farm
er>, " ouid any one in questions of law
seek or accept the opinion of a man who
ms-er opened law book: Does the mer-
chant OF the banker consult the clergyman
in matters of ventures and investments 2
Rather does not common sense teach Us
thai mans opinion Of what he mas no
knowledge j. value.ess: Why then shsl
farmers be expected to look for advice "a
an instructor vi this class. At our agricul-
tural fairs. the orators, be they LAWYERS,
politicians or men OF other professions
almost invariably dwell Oh the dignity,
honor, and in general terms, of the profit
of farming. The sameness of the OFT re-
peated dose eXcites nausea, and but little
are we really instructed. What would be
thought of a man who should address a
body of merchants, on the dignity and pro.
lit Of mercantile business. OR of LAWYERS
or physicians IN regard TO the honor and
profit OF their respective professions
a little fiattery occasionally, if delicately
served, is not unpalatable; but farmers
are not all so Ignorant and gross as to ac-
cept it wholesale and if any one desires
TO instruct US, we shall be happy to hear
him on any point in farming on which hi.
knowledge is superior to ours.
From these different causes the publ,
mind i to-day agitated with the questions
Does farming pay. and how to make farm
ing pay IL seems singular that the pub
lie miIId should have fixed and definit.
ideas of every profession and line of bust
ness except farming. Strange however a.
il may appear about this it seems to bs
completely befogged; and the question,
above stated are reyolved over and over
looked at on both sides, discussed-an,
still various and conflicting opinions pre-
vail The matter is looked at by differen
classes from different standpoints, ant
though various lights. My standpoint i.
this born and bred on a farm, ancestor.
farmers as far back as my knowledge
reaches. in purely farming community
my associations were with the farm, ant
farming was ever to me a source Of pleas
ure. Commencing on my own account al
the age OF twenty-one, ON few acres oil
land, and in circumstances near the bot.
tom of the ladder, and now though only
twelve years trial, my experience and OBJ.