Oxford Democrat., 1877-04-17
agricultural.
HOW TO KEEP THE BOYS
on THE FARM.

The April number OF ScribRer con-
tains paper by the welI-known agrieul-
tural author, Colonel George b. Waring
OF Newport, on the interesting subject of
Farm Villages" The writer has been
active in urging the adoption of improve
ments in American farming for many
years, and has had good opportunities for
studying the needs OF American agricul-
ture. Familiarity with the life and work
OF European farmers, where 1t Is usual
for those who cultivate the soil to live IN
villages, suggested TO Kim the idea
that the condition of our own agricultural
population could be much ameliorated by
a similar concentration into communities
where the material and moral benefits OF
better social relations could be secured.
The paper considers ;he way in which
land may be divided so aS TO secure the
end in view with the least Inconvenience
to the men who have 10 ill the fields. and
with the least drawback to the business
OF the farmer. Two cases are considered
l. When it is question OF the the set
tlement OF new lands. ,. Where farm
houses are already scattered over the
country, each on It's OWE farm. In both
eases it is attempted 10 show how the
details OF the plan may be regulated So
as 10 cause the least annoyance and loss
OF time 10 the men, to compass the great
est convenience ana comfort OF the
women, and to provide the best advan
,ages tor the younger members Of the
community. These two schemes are
illustrated by sufficient diagrams. which
indicate the way in which the farming
land and tie village trac! should be
divided.
Suggestions are also given as 10 the
| laying on, OF The village green, the care
Of roads. paths. grsss ground, and oiher
open spaces. SO far as such suggestions
are appropriate in this connection.
Tie way in which the proposed change
would sflect the work OF the farmer, his
wife, his hired men. and his teams. is fully
considered and it seems 10 be demon
sirated-while it IS admitted that in i'm
mediate money-making there may be
some Sigh, disadvautage-that on the
whole and in the long run the general
prosperity OF our agriculture would b'
advanced by the change.
Considerable space is given 10 the
comparative ,nec; Of the lie Of the iso-
lated iarm house and OF The more sociab!e
/ lie Of the village on the character OF the
farmer and his family, aud. therefore, on
Lhe future farming people of the country
The following quotations Indicate he
line OF argument:
'It may seem strange doctrine - be
advanced by somewhat enthusiastic
/ farmer. but j. IS doctrine that has beer
slowly accepted alter many years oOser-
yS,icn,-s conviction that has taken pos
session OF Al unwilling mind,-;bat the
/ young man who takes his young vile to
an isolated farmhouse dooms her and
himself and their children 10 an INV to.o-
some, unsatisfactory and vacant exist
euce.-4n existence marked by TIC AZ
seEce OF those more satisfy ing and more
cG.,iya;iug irilueucoS which the best de-
yeiopment ol character ard intelligence
demand 1t Is common experience
Of farmers wives to pass week after
week Without exchanging n word or
ook with a single person outside OF ,hei-
own family circles.
The yoiag people START bravey. and
ith . determination 10 Struggle asa.Gs,
| be habit OF isolation y hiyh marks their
class; but this habit has grown from Inc
necessity OF the situStion; aud the neces-
| sites Of their own situation bring them
sooner or later within lis bonds. During
the first lew years they adhere to their
resolution and 60 regularly 20 church, to
the lecture, and to the social gatherings
of their friends; but home duties increase
with time, and tue eagerness for society
grows dull with neglect, and these who
have started out with the frmesl deter
minAtion 10 avoid the rock on which their
fathers have split. give up the struggle
at last and settle down 10 u humdrum,
uninleresting and uninterested perform
snce Of daily tasks.
In saying sll this-and | speak from
experience. tor have led the dismal lie
myself-it is hardly necessary 10 disclaiD
the least want OF appreciation of the ster'
ling qualities which have developed in
the American farm household.
III American agriculture has an Ut
satisfied need. it is surely the need ior
more intelligence and more enteIp.isiDg
interest on the part OF its working men
aud women. From Que end OF The land
to The other, its crying deleci-recOgnized
I By all-is that its best blood-or. in other
words, its best brains and lis best en,rg,
is leaving it 10 seek other fields Of
/ labor The Influence which leads these
best of the farmers sons to other occupa-
lions is not so much the desire TO make