The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-15
written for the Boston Journal
EVERY pAY THOUGHTS ABOUT EVERY
DAY WORK.
ry q Young Farmer.

MetllIU HU htuiduidHCo ~ tn6 uepOl
few days ago, he remarked that he had
been reading my contributions to The Jour
nal lately, I'D he thought that had had a
bad touch of "lhe blues" this fall. &C
knowledge it, though had not intended to
make it manifest in these columns; but if
it is noticeable in past communications, l
may Is well make clean breast of it, and
perhaps | shall feel better after | have had
my grumble out. This has been one Of the
most severe seasons for farmers that has
been tiucc [ have been ia the business, and
as / am upon this farm and in this locality
this year for the first time, it has been pc
culally trying for me. The cold aud wet
spliug hindered early farm work, and also
hindcred very much the growth of such
crops as were put into the ground early,
This farm is rather wet and cold at the best,
needing n thorough system OF underdrain-
ing very much. When the drouth comes
severe enough to dry up the surface springs
then it is dry enough, ard the plowed land
is apt TO bake hard e not kept thoroughly
worked. 1t needs, or would be benefited
by an application Of sand. | am not sure
but it would pay to draw sand mile if it
could not lie got easier, to use for mixing
with the stable manure yard and Cellar, to
be afterwaid USED as top-dressiDg for
grass. or az manulc for crops. In some
parts Of il / would expect az good results
the first year from a tOp-dressing of clear
sand as from the same amount of stable
manure and loan, go ] have been app'yIn
i! this fall.
But l did not start to tel what is the
trouble with the farm, but what is the mat
| TIT, \ 1,to ,F in l,a
spring, followed by long dro1th, accom-.
panied by most vigorous growth Of weeds,
which made great deal of extra labor nee.
essary, have made my harvest light where
had hoped for something litlle extra.
Then the failures Of the pastures made il
necessary to feed corn fodder green that
had hoped 10 save for winter, and even then
to put the COWS in the barn early 10 Octo
Der, although the weather has been such
that they might have stayed out until the
middle Of November, il had had the priv
ilege of turning them into the moving
fields after the pastures gave out, which
think would have been benefit to the fields
in some parts at least, but which the owner
does net see as do. Even with the feed
which have given and am now giving,
have not been able TO keep the production
of milk up to more than half what it should
expenses Add to that the general low
price Of fam produce and dull market,
which has made il about as much work to
sell crop - t. grow it. Il went out a
few days ago, with load OF turnips. and
worked hard all day, myself and team, to
sell less than three dollars worth, not quite
an average days work, but several days
have not been much better, snl | think
YOU VIII not wonder that the indigo showed
, through in spite Of me. And | am not sor-
ry now to tell Just how ii is, for farmers.
like merchants and manufacturers, will
have some unfavOrab'e tcas MS and some
hard luck, sud as have said considerable
about the possible profits and pleasures OF
? farming, it may do now for Inc to acknowl-
, edge possible loss and unpleasant failures
in it. 1t is well for those who are in the
, business, and those who think of going in
to it, as many are now doing because of
= hard tunes in other business, to know thai
there is also chance Tor hard times in
farming, and those who have a decent liv.
ing at il this year are very fortunate ex.
/ cepiion3 to the general rule, fear.
e # il sad that "misery likes company
I and if / am miserable because have not
!, been more prosperous this year | have
/, plenty Of company in it. Onc OF nay old
= neighboIs who is on farm where he has
4 been five years, and a farm that is undei
-, lgoo& cultivation aud well supplied with
stock and tools of the best, which he hires
at moderate rent, told me that he scarcely
c expected to come out square this year. The
e man who took the farm which left las
- spiing is reported to have lost as much as
If he la done nothing this year, and from
: many others better situated than / am,
), hear similar reports. But there will no
= be Likely to be any very heavy failures
. among farmers, though some must put of
- for more favorable season much desire
: improvements, and others may find them
o selves incumbered with debts which il viii
take the profits of more than one good sea
> son TO clear up. And it is possible tina
i farmers have averaged as profitable a sea
u son at farming as those in other business
e The profits of the successful farmer arr
small compared to thoie of the successful
merchant or banker, but the losses and risk
/ of loss are also small. The farmer is rea
S sOnably sure of enough to eat and comfort
u able clothing and shelter, and the million
q are can have but little more though he ma,
have better quality. Though disappoint
ed this year | nun not quite discouraged no
Il disguised with farming, ard if q little blu
d at times my grit is good yet and | hope 70
"better luck next time"