The Republican journal., 1871-02-16
HOW TO MAKE FARMING PAY IN NEW
ENGLAND.

easy ult OI 1t. lOf all tneV Hit 10 40 WAS " put III
their sails and let the wind blow them along
Very much like this is prevalent idea OF farming
among classes of people otpractically acqualntet
with it. An idea formed partly from newspaper
statements of large crops and partly from painful
practical knowledge of the retail prices Of the pro
vision dealer Farming is seen in the distance, Ell
chantment lending its aid. The whispering
breeze through shady groves" "the rivuet wind
ing by messy banks" the "paintive lowing Of the
cattle, reach and make their impress on the soul,
of the city denizcnS tired with brick walls and the
ostle and hustle of city life. These are all true -
realities TO be enjoyed: but the farmer deals with
facts i'll connection with those which to the city man
rob them of their romance A little girl riding
in the country with her parents, saw with great
delight flock OF sheep feeding IN meadow. With
Imagination all aglow, from pictures and story
books, she sprang from the carriage, and ran to-
wards them; but her ardor was lessened when she
found herself in mire and water, and the sheep in
stead of coming at her call f1ying, frightened away
With romantic ideas and high wrought fancics,
the city man buys farm. doubling not but that
wealth and happiness will naturally flow upon
him. lie buys of Il broker. from an advertisement
skillfully framed and fancitilly worded lie comes
with city tastes IDEAS. and habits, and without any
real practical knowledge of his new business. The
fact is common one, and we are familiar with the
result; we can predict it with almost certainty in
| every ease. If he has money, we expect to see Il
generous outlay on the farm buildings, adding much
to their beauty and attractyeneSs; unstlnted sup
ply of latest improved aud costly farming tools and
machines; fancy high priced breeds of domestic
animals; stylish harnesses and wagons; in short.
| style and fancy everywhere and in everything
necessary, Indispensable, to a successful business
in the city, and not incongru0us, unharmOnious on
the farm; but as moned Investment will not pay.
His crops. from to him Unforeseen and neNplicable
callse fall far short of his expectations; everything
goes wrong, and he finds his capital yearly lessen
| ing. Soon the farm finds its way back to the
brokers' hands, and our friend retreS to the city,
sick and disgusted with farming. Not less so is his
wife, TO whom the quiet of the country, and the
cares of the farm have proved uncongenial to ac-
qured tastes and habits
While we practical farmers deplore the final re-
suit of the city mans farming attempt, cordially
welcome him to our midst. Such is posi-
tive good to the town in which he settles. Not on
ly do his methods and improvements give to farm
ing tnge of romance lifting it above the level of
common drudgery and serve toll, but shrewd, OBJ
servant, practical farmers CLEAN lessons Of wisdom,
and coin gold from his unstintel experiments. And
if in a moment Of disgust and disappointment he
throws his farm upon the market at price less
than its costs. the practical Yankee farmer is not
slow to secure it with its improvements.
Partly from another source are erroneous ideas of
farming engendered and red,-the writings
and speeches on farming from men who have no
practical knowledge of it. Thus that Il
prominent y. York paper calls man to take charge
of its agricultural department who canlidlv admits
at the outset that he knows nothing of farming
yet he assumes the position of instructng practical
farmers! Would any one in questions of law seek
or accelt the opinion OF Il man who never opened
4 law book? Does the merchant or the banker con-
SIT the clergyman in matters of ventures and in
lestments: Rather does not common sense teach
us that Il mans opinion of what he has no know
ledge is vaueless: Why then shall farmers be eX-
pccted TO look tor advice 10 instructor of this
class. At our agricultural fairs, the orators, be
they lawyers, polit:' ians. or men of other profess
>ionS almost invariably dwell on the dignity, hon
or, and i'll general terms. Of the profit of farming.
The Samcness of the Oft repeated dose eXctes
nausea. and but little are we really instructed !!
" hat would he thought of man who should ad-
dress body OF merchants, on the dignity and pro-
nt nt tnI&I
clans in regard to the honor and profit of their re-
spective professions: little tattery ;asionally
if dccatey served. is not unpalatabe; hut farmers
are not all so ignorant and gross As to accept it
wholesale; and if any desires to instruct us,
shall be happy to hear him on any point in
farming on which his knowledge is superior TO ours.
From these different causes the public mind is to-
day agtaed with the questions, Does farming pay,
( and How to make farming pay.
1t seems singular that the public mind should
have fixed and definite ideas OF every profession
and line of business except farming. Strange how
ever it may appear about this il seems to be
completely befogged and the questions above
stated are rcvoved over and over looked at on
both sides, discussed and still various and con-
lictins opinions prevail. The matter is looked at
by different classes from different standpoints and
through various lights. My standpoint is this -
born and bred on farm ancestors farmers as far
back as my knowledge reaches, i'll purely farming
community, my associations were with the farm,
and farming was ever to me source of pleasure.
Commencing on my own account at the age of
twenty-one. on a few acres of land, and in crcum-
stances near the bottom of the ladder, and now
though only after twelve years trial, my expert
cncc and observation confirm me in the opinion
that farming is the most healthtul, natural. and
desirable business, and in pecnnlary sense, sure
and reasonably satis;tctory that failures to make
farming pay are due only to want of right
! adaptation of means to the end.
Our city friend tells he cannot make farming
pay. Why? simply because he does rot under
stand the business. and fails to make right adap-
! pf to tbp NH /
laborS under the wrong impression that ANYBODY
can farm successfully. On the contrary it Should
be viewed in the same light with any other bust
ness requiring thorough practical KNOWLEDGE Rut
farming has this exception, it is more difficult to
! master. Three years application to almost any
| other business, will furnish a man with the re-
quiSte knowledge to follow it, but no three years
| will do that on the farm. A little practical nfor-
nation may be sufficient to ensure success in ras-
ing single crop in one season; but the raising and
selling Of varied and successive crops the rearing
or buying, caring for, and final disposition of the
farm stock, the ready practical solution of all
questions from seasons, soils, manures, &c. every
thing in fact coming under the head of farm man
agement involves knowledge and Judgment re-
quiring long years of study aud practice, and
which not life time would serve to make
perfect
One other vital point to success is the choice of a
farm. Our young men look to the west, and many
and constantly increasing number of farms in
New England, wait for purchaser. The civiza-
ton of New England is abandoned for prairie
wildS, destitute of roads, churches, school houses
and home markets. He raises larger crops, and
though at less rate, is successful So would he he
under the same condition here.
| BY going west he escapes whatever evils society
may have thrown around him; frees himself from,
the necessity of keeping up appearances" so call
ed, which means socety's demand for style, show
and extravaganza; there he secures good land at 4
low rate and for house the clog hut" answering
well.
Speaking with Il man not long since who was in
terested in the numbering business in New Hamp-
shire, was surprised at his statement of the cost
OF his steam mill; but learned that the policy was
to put in good machinery and let the covering be
anything that would serve for protection That
mill was successful. The same idea applies to sue
cessful farming. Whatever is to the noint of raa1
value. is to be secured. Toa young man of limited
means, every dollar invested in superluities at the
start is worse than wasted; it helps to roll M a
burden for aching shoulders. Let the young man
then have the moral courage to go ''West" in New
England. returning whatever is of real value in its
civilization, and gradually as the profit of the farm
will admit. beautily his home and its surround
ings.
The tendency of the day is to the city and the
village, throwing farms in the outskirts of towns
into the market. This is the young mans oppor.
tunity. Good fair buildings can be had at low
prices, and for practical farming are worth more
than if situated in the village. The society and
wisdom of those, who habitually, evenings and
rainy days at the country store, are ever ready to
enlighten on claw" town affairs, politics, gossip
can be dispensed with, to say the least not only by
the farmer but by his help.
To the young man then with competent abilities
and practical knowledge, who has secured his farm
with eye to its real value, there remains for him
to follow his business with the same earnestnes.
and devotion demanded for business; he is not on
~ laborer but student; and whatever light anC
Information he may gain is so much invested capi
tai. Agricultural papers and books are not to be
swallowed whole, but read and digested.
Inc remark Is often made to me, and even by
farmers, that farming don't pay" but such per
son never gains credit with me by such statement