Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-09-24
= "a
Farm ann houseboIn.
The Progressive and Antl-Progressive
Farmer.

At glance one can see the vast differ
enee between the progressive and anti
progressive farmer. Look at the farm
under the control of the man who scorns
modern inventions, and sticks to the old
notions OF his fathers. Suppose he looks
with equal contempt on moral and intel
lectuai improvements; look at this slack,
siipshod farmers premises. The gate is
unhinged and fat in the mlre: the fence
leans over as though it intended to follow
the gate, there are four windows In the
mt that he calls his home. and only one
gass, and that is glass bottle. The
chimney, like its owner, seems ready to
take drop. In the pasture, which is
grubbed down TO the last notch. a horse.
or rather borse-frame. being high of
bones and low of flesh. Oats wanted;
inquire Within" might be written on his
ribs the crows make him a subject of crit
ici>m. and hover about the premises, call
lug impauently for his carcass The pigs
have the streak of lean. without the streak
OF tat, and their hungry squeal Is enough
10 move the heart of poor master-not
their master. FOR he makes pig of himself.
Ia the barn there is not hay enough for a
decent sized hens nest, and when the wind
blows the shingles fly from the buildings
in every heavy wind-the fence is used
Tor fuel, and there IS no wood where the
wood pile ought TO be. The plowed field
i only loosened three or four inches below
the surface, and the same soil has been
scraped over and over 50 frequently. be-
sides it has been fattened bv the rains
and baked in the sun so often. the roots of
the grain and the grass cannot penetrate
II. The unfortunate workman scatiers his
seed upon baked floor, and he may look
IN vain for an abundant harvest.
Now glance at the premises occupied by
farmer Tidy, a man who reads and strives
+ Keep up with the times. His fences
sand upright and are all that the law re-
quires. The gates swing easily, the house
IS in good trim. and well painted 10 pre-
serve it from the weather. and out build
inC> 10 make Il convenient. The wood
pile is huge one, and Jack Frost is but
little dreaded by the housewife. The cell
lar is well filled with provision. and the
barns and granares show signs not to be
mistaken, ofthrift. Now look at his fields
and meadows, and you will see why he
can afford the modern Improvements. and
why he is so prosperous. Why do his
grass and grain grow better than his
neighbours and fling their shadows defiant
IL on farmer Stacks barren acres: Just
this; ne has an improved pillow; he plows
deeply deep blowing kills the weeds and
drains of the sour water, and turns up a
fresh surface 10 feed the growing crops
upon. 4 wise man knows that an exhaust
ed farm will yield slender crop. No sane
farmer would expect his cows TO give rich
milk, his sheep TO yield heavy ileeces, his
swine 10 be fit for the scales if he did not
feed them. II he would have good crops
Of wheat. corn, oats, and potatoes. he
must feed the soil bountifully, and then he
has moving machines, hay forks operated
by horse power and what intends to save
labor, the progressive farmer obtains. and
keeps up with the times, while farmer
Stacks keep along in the Old beaten path.
and up hill all his life.-fJ. l.. Hersey In
Dirigo Rural.
Tuftonborough. y. II.