Middletown transcript., 1875-03-13
Aaritultural.
Does Farming Paw.


farmers clubs, in farmers conventions,
and BY writer's in the agricultural pa.
pers, and it seems to be answered in the
affirmative in the minds of the major.
ity, if we are to judge from their talk
and manner Of procedure. That farm
ing is poor business, would be the ans.
wer of nine-tenths Of those engaged in
it.. if the direct question were put te
them. Hence we find discomfort, and
a desire to sell on the part of many.
In this vicinity many advertise to sell
yet no one appears to buy | have al
ways, until within few years, known
men who wanted to buy farms; those
which we're well located and desirable
found ready purchasers-the demand
was fully equal to the supply. But ol
late it has not been so. l do not know
to-day Of person who wishes to buy
farm, or to invest money in land for
agricultural purposes, nor would any
farm about here sell for its real value
If offered. There is no doubt that
many who are now anxious to sell, will
live to rejoice that no one appeared to
buy. 1t is that only which will save
them from financial ruin. The desire
to invest the proceeds in something
which shall pay large interest, and live
an easy life without labor, is the idea.
Large rates Of interest are attended
with corresponding risk, and the ma
jority would seek such investments as
would in short time leave them PEN
niless. Il il q blessing to them that
their farms cannot be sold. The time
will doubtless come when man who
owns farm free from debt, and home
for his family. will think himself well
off. Speculation and the proceeds Of
money invested will not always prove
the greatest blessing In times of com
mercial distress these are often not to
be trusted, while the farmer who owns
his farm has not much to fear.
Farmers do not live up to their priv
ileges. They may have as good e
living as those 10 towns who spend
three or Eve thousand dollars year for
that purpose. Their tables may be
better supplied with greater variety
and much better quality of articles.
Fresh vegetables, butter, milk, cream,
eggs and fruit, a horse and carriage,
more leisure taking all these things
into consideration reckoning the articles
consumed BY the farmers family at the
price paid BY his city friend, We shall
not fad 30 much difference as one
would suppose. It would be more ap-
parent than zeal. Looking at it in this
light, We should be better contented
with our lot.
It is the few in any occupation that
acquire fortunes where one succeeds,
multitudes fail And perhaps as large
) proportion Of farms gain in property
as in any other business. Certainly
no one will deny that the small farmers
are better of than any other class Of
equal means. If people would live as
economically as formerly, probably as
much money could be laid up as at any
previous time. Habits Of extravaganza
have done much to bring the business
into disreputs, and it is apparent in al
most everything. We see it in houses
and furniture, clothing, carriages and
harness. A stable-keeper recently told
me that he formerly found ready sale
among farmers for his second hand car
riages, after running them for couple
Of years Or 50. now he makes no sales
to farmers-ths best have become none
too good for them. This is true in re-
gard to almost everything else. Our
easy means Of communication have
brought the country and city into closer
relation and the result has been that
many have become diseontented with
the slow but sure grains Of agriculture;
and haste to become rich has done much
mischief to the rural population.
If people would view the matter as
it is, ! think they would find that the
farmer has IS many advantages as men
Of any other calling on closer ex-
animation might find that farming
paid.-W. BroWn, Rockingham Co.,
~. IT., in Country Farmer