Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-03-29
How to Keep the Beys ON the
Farm.

Inc April NUMBER OF CCRlBNkR contdins
paper by the well known agricultural author,
Col George B. Waring of Newport, on the
interesting subject of ''Farm Villages" The
writer has been active in urging the adoption
of improvements 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 it is usual for those
who cultivate the soil to live in villages, sug-
gested to him the idea that the condition of
our own agricultural population could be
much ameliorated by similar concentration
into communities where the material and NOR.
al benefits of better social relations could be
secured. -
The paper considers the way in which land
may be divided so as to secure the end in
view with the least Inconvenience TO the men
who have to till the fields, and with the least
drawback to the business of the farmer. Two
cases are considered: 1. When it is ques.
ton of the settlement of new lands. 2.
Where farm-houses are already scattered over
the country, each on its own farm. In both
cases it is attempted to show how the details
of the plan may be regulated so as to cause
the least annoyance and loss of time to the
men, to compass the greatest convenience and
comfort of the women, and to provide the
best advantages for the younger members of
the community. These two schemes are IL
lustrated by sufficient diagrams, which indi-
cate the way in which the farming land and
the village tract should be divided.
Suggestions are also given as to the laying out
of the village green, the care of roads, paths,
grass grounds, and other open spaces, 60 far
as such suggestions are appropriate in this
connection.
The way in which the proposed change
would affect the work of the farmer, his wife,
his hired men, and his teams, is fully consid-
cred, and it seems to be demonstrated
while it is admitted that in immediate money
making there may be some slight disadvan-
tage-that on the whole and in the long run
the general prosperity of our agriculture
would be advanced by the change.
Considerable space is given to the compars-
tive effect of the life of the isolated farm
house and of the more Rociable life of the vii
lage on the character Of the farmer and his
family, and, therefore, on the future farming
people of the country. The following quota
tions indicate the line of argument
ssIt may seem strange doctrine to be adyan-
ced by a somewhat enthusiastic farmer, but 1t
is doctrine that has been slowly accepted al
ter many years observation,-a cosvlctlon
that has taken possession of an unwilling
miud.-that the young man who takes his
Young wife to an isolated farmhouse dooms
her and himself and their children to an un-
wholesome, unsatisfactory and vacant exis
tence,-an existence marked by the absence OF
those more satisfying and more cultivatlng In
fluences which the best development OF char
>acter and intelligence demand. 1t is com
mon experience of farmers wives to pes'
week after week without exchanging word
or look with single person outside OF their
own family circle.
"The Young couple start out bravely, and
with determination to struggle against the
! habit of isolation which marks their class;
but this habit has grown from the necessity
of the situation; and the necessities OF their
own situation bring them sooner or lateI
within its bonds. During the Grst few years
they adhere to their resolution and go regular.
ly TO church, to the lecture, and to the social
gatherings of their friends; but home duties
| increase with time, ard the eagerness for so
ciety grows dull with neglect, and those who
have started out with the firmest determina
tion to avoid the rock on which their fathers
have split, give up the struggle at last ant
settle down to humdrum, uninteresting anc
uninterested performance of daily tasks.
''In saying all this-and | speak from expe
rience, for have led the dismal life myself
| it is hardly necessary to disclaim the leas
want of appreciation of the sterling qualities
which have been developed in the American
| farm household
| ''If American agriculture has an unsaiisne'
need, it is surely the need of more inteil'genc
and more enterprising interest on the part
| its working men and women. From one en-
| of the land TO the other, its crying defect
recognized by all-is that its best blood-or
| in other words, its best brains and Its 6es
| energy-is leaving it to seek other fields OF Ia
! Dor. The influences which lead these pes
| of the farmers sons to other occupations
| not 80 much the desire to make more money
I or 70 find less laborious occupation, q It !
the desire to lead mere satisfactory life
life where that part Of u has been develops
by the better education and better civillzatio
fer which in this century we have worked
hard and 20 well, may find responsive com