The Phoenix herald., 1880-10-08
SMALL FARMS.
Farm Life in Western New York
Fifty Years Ago.

Frank NJ. Pixley delivered the an
nual address before the San Joaquin
Agricultural Society, Thursday even
ing, Sept. so, at Stockton, CAL The
Independent of that city publishes it
entire, bat lack of space allows US
only to make The folloWin extract ::
"lIy fathers farm in Western New
York WAS one hundred and fifty
acres of land, upon the banks of a
| beautiful creek in the county of
/ Gcnessre, Its watcr-power afforded
the Opportunity of a saw mill and a
linsced oil mill. Up and down the
creek were other miils-fOr tlou: ing
saving stone, cardlng wool, turning
woods and SO on through all the line
of simple manufacturing industries.
The Bottom land was ri III in grasses,
upon which WAS kept small dairy
Of well bred COWS This land fur
nished clay, from W lIich we burned
ian annual kiln OF brick 10 sell 10 our
neighbors. About forty acres year
was devoted
TO THE CULTIVATION OF WHEAT,
Alternating the crop AMI fertilizing
the soil by rcd clOvet turned under in
the blowing. This clover gave honey
from half 4 dozen hives of bees. Our
orchard bore summer and winter
fruit, great, hard, juicy apples, and
cider, for she winter nights, when
we gathered around the mothers
table 10 study and to read, or 10 in
dulge in the games and pleasures of
"A long, cold, country evening On
this farm. fenced in small fields
with an cid fashioned Virginia rail
fence, the largest rail on top, we
raised oats potatoes and corn. Be
| tween the rows of corn we raised
pumpkins. and from pumpkins,
| pies. We dried the pumpkins for
winter use. Plums, cherries, pears
and peaches were among our fruits.
Thee were preserved and canned.
OF grapes, we had Catawbas and Is
abellas. Our mothers made currant
wine, and jams of strawberries,
raspberries and blacs berries. Caul-
FLOWERS, onions, tomatoes and Gu
cumbcrs were eaten fresh and
piciSled- Corn gave us fet hogs,
and from fat hogs we made ham and
bacon and sausagcs; spare-ribs and
sweet-breads aud scraps in killing
time. We had butter AID cream and
milk and eggs, chickens, turkeys and |
ducks. Ourfew sheep gave us wool |
tor stockings-knit ut homeland |
lamb with mint sauce. Oar work |
ing farm mares were bred 10 blooded |
horses for colts to sell. Our small |
forest gave wood for fires, and maple |
sugar, and syrup for slanjacks. To |
the neighboring mill We sent grists |
of wheat and corn Wheat and oats
and dairy products gave u money |
to buy groceries and clothes and |
books, and to pay schooling and pew
rent, and subscription 70 the Albany
evening journal, the Tribune, Ora
hams Magazine, and Godey's Lady's
Book. For game, We hunted the
coon in green corn and watermelon
time; killed woodchucks and gray
squirrels We had frogs from the
mill pond fish from the creek, We
gathered beech-nu!s, hickory-nuts
and butter nuts, which we cracked
on winter nights, and added to the
feast of apples and cider We had
quilting frolics, and pairing bees, and
candy-pullings. and speliing-schools;
went slei gh-riding with the girls in
winter, and TO picnics in the sum
mcr. We had Fourth of July cele-
braticns, and general training" and
house raisings, and corn huskings.
Our boots were made from home
tanned calf skins by the crossroads
and our clothes by &
seamstress who came to the house
The girls wore Merrimac calico, al
twelve and ii half cents IL yard
seven yards made frock of fast col
ors, and warranted 10 wash, the
hooks and eyes and trimmings :
thrown in This was country life on
4 small farm in Western New York.
IL was n pleasant, joyous life. 1t
was the The type of country life. 1t
made good men and good women. 1t
aught industry, economy-made
good citizens. 1t was good and
community. Children
lonored and obeyed their parents
and parents worshipped God. There
we're no hoOdlums among the boys,
10 prostitutes among the girls.
MARRIAGE WAS a SACRAMENT. I
md divorce unknown. This cduca-
ion gave the Nation scholars and
hinkers, statesmen and patriots. 1t
aid broad and deep the foundations
# the State The ballot box was kept
acred and inviOlate. Legislation was
lCnest. Laws were enforced and
'beyed- Republican government L
ceant the control of an intelligent
All this was the fIuit of
mall farming in Western New
/ ork half Il century ago Il would =
&c tedious to recite the homc-raised
omforts of this kind of farming
life, or cnumerate the variety of
rains, fruits, vegetables, products
f daily toll from field and mil; the
pleasures and frollcs OF ice and snow.
nd the charming pursuits of Sum
ner with gun and rod; the toll dur
ng the school vacations; the chores
+ morning and noon and night,
Fhen attending The district school,
where only English was taught, and
he humbuggery Of the present sys-
en- had not invaded; home that Z
ever knew reasonable want I'M
atisfieG; where father, mother, sons,
nd daughters all toiled where labor !
fas honorable and honored; where
he hired man and the hired maid z
we're called "help," and sat in equal
oGor at The farmers long harvest
able; system which gave TO fifty
thousand acres of land three hundred
nj thlrty-three farms, antt-aVerag-
ng by our family of ten persons
upport, maintenance and education
} three thousand tire hundred and
persons; that gave
village, with churches
nd schools on every square of ten
lilies, AID was the basis, firm and
nchanging, upon which were reared
le trade, the industry, the COM
lercc of the magnificent Empire
tate. Such farms as this would ,
-ansfgure the valleys of the San L
uaquin and Sacramento, The great
lains of Salinas and Santa Clara.
ike the fruitful plains of Lombartly,
estling beneath the Julian Alps,
icy would literally blossom like
lc rose, for fruitful gardens produce D
that ought to be demand
| to make men happy and baild up D.