Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-23
EAST ST. JoHNsBURY FARMERS
CLUB,

Subject Of diseussIOnt " How we make
Farming more Attractive
L. l.. Hovey Since suggested this ques.
ton l have thought that perhaps we should
first have spoken upon the fact that farming
is already the most attractive occupation,
and afterwards discussed the present subject.
The farming community are laboring under
dissatisfaction resulting from a nisappre.
hension of what their true condition is, aud
this is one Of the strongest reasons why farm.
ing appears at a disadvantage 10 the commu-
nifty. As man is an animal dependent up
on food for his physical existence no small
amount of happiness results from the grat6.
cation Of his appetite. The cultivated field
supplies these wants in the most perfect man.
ner. Here he has right at his doors nearly
every variety Of food in the purest and most
desirable form. In some respects those liv.
ing in cities have more convenient access to
intellectual qualifications, such as lectures
and the pleasures afforded by the fine arts,
but the farmer is not entirely destitute of
these, and this greater independence, and
more serene temperament largely make up for
these deficiencies. Even ignorant men have
a sort Of animal ease and unconcern when all
their physical wants are supplied, that is Of
no small account, aud which | sometimes
think is superior to the more demonstrntive
pleasures OF passion. TO make farming more
attractive, let every one consult his own Pc
cuiar disposion and temperament, and then
use every accessible means to crafty his
legitimate wishes If he delights in nice and
convenient buildings, he should use his re-
sources in furnishing them, even to an extent
uncalled for by necessity, aud IL sha de trees
about his house are desirable for his gratiA-
cation aud the pleasure of others, he should
not be afraid Of spelling few rods Of ground
by allowing them to grow.
A. Huse When we look around We see
there are two classes Of farmers the gentle.
man farmers--the man OF means, who can
govern circumstances for his ease aud pleas
ure, and those just commencing, without
much capital, and perhaps in a suppressed
condition. The former apparently has a
better chance to make farming attractive,
but the poor man can have a happy home
aud bring up family of children under as
sociatious that will have lin gering charm
through life. When my broth er, who lives
in distant city, comes to see me, he always
says Come Sim, let US go and look the
old place over" II is nothing but a pas
ture now--nothing very attractive about it
apparently, but the old buildings still remain
reminding us Of our boyhood days, and the
happy home we once had there even while
our parents were striving with poverty. So
We 60 aud visit the familiar places, and
drink from the same spring once more.
My brother tells me that he doubts II his
children, living as they do with greater con-
veniences, really enjoy as much as he did
when boy upon the old homestead. So l
advocate making home happy with pleasant
associations by giving children every legiti-
mate enjoyment, and doing everything to
make them cOntented with necessary circum-
stances. This will tend to make farming at
tractive to the poor as we'll as the rich.
There is no place like rural residence for
promoting the sweet influences Of home,
Men in all other occupations by which per.
haps they make money faster, yet when they
have a competency, they always have de-