Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-01-07
-.s,lcastrr fntflIige11rer.
FRIDAY EVENING, JAN. z, 1881.
The Farm us a Permanent Home.


Germantown Telegraph.
The American fal mer, in the main, is
very unstable character. He is too much
on the move becomes too easily dissat-
isfied ard discontented with his lot, with
himself. Oh his neighbors, or his surround
ings. Hence, he takes but little or no In
tcrest in his place, makes no improve
meEts. just scrapes along from hand to
mouth as it were and sells out at the first
opportunity.
There are lots ard lots Of farmers Of this
class-more than one would think there
would be-and the legitimate result of
their lack OF interest and discomfort is
this Their farms and homes become poor
er every year their children grow up and
leave them, and when they die their farms
arc run out and deserted. know of more
than a dozen farms in this county now in
this sad condition, waiting for race OF
young farmers of more pluck, energy and
stability.
There is another class-small perhaps
that might he called Speculative iarmels.
They buy to realize on their investment,
and sci, as soon as the coveted opportunity
offers; consequently not a dollar is laid
out for fertilizers or extra dressing no re-
pairs Of consequence are made, and no
permanent improvements effected. know
of !. farm in this vicinity, considered once
one IF the largest and best in the township
all cut TO pieces and sold off, and nearly
ruined by the different parties through
whose hands it passed since the original
owner became dissatisfied and moved
away. Tie la 1 purcha,els-two brother
-Eave lived ON u remnant of the old farm
for several years, but not one dollar has
been laid out for repairs Or improvements
and yet they ask more for the place now
than when they bought it four or five
years ago.
There is another class who buy, not to
speculate upon, but to make all the money
they can from tie farm Will, as little out
lay as possible; and they cannot be made
to see that the coarse they pursue is
ruinOus one both to themselves and to
their children AS an instance. l will re-
late briefly what actually happened: About
twenty live years aroa man of iron con-
sti,u:ipn and iron nerve, purchased one of
the largest and best hay and fruit farms in
this ncishborhooi for the sum OF seven
Thousand dollars. think, or nearly that.
He vas al hottest, hard working man, All
early riser, and one who never let the
grass grow under his feet; and if any
man could possibly make anything or get
anything out of Il farm he could. When
the farm passed into his hands it was
in excellent condition, and produced an
Muals from seventy i've to One hundred
to.s q: hay. In good years he would sell
from $500 10 $1,000 worth Of hay. 1t was
naturally s;,;,:.,!id 1IasS ilnd. hut he was
SO greedy OF gam that lie wouIi put little
OF nuthin;; back. and the consequence was
he soon rode :. free horse to death. In
other words. he rUa the aiority of the
!arin ali out and when he died. making
no will, the f.,ln had to be divided among
the hc;rs-threc boys and two girls. More
than one, half of the land, though not the
best, had to be sold to pay OFF the claims of
two of the SONS while the remainder, in
cludin. TIC buildings and what is left OF
the orchard, i, in the possession of the
other son and two daughters. But the
land is terribly run out the buildings are
in !. shabby and neglected condition. and
the orchard nearly gone. a large and
beautiful fruit and vegetable garden has
entirely disappeared. Such is the comdi-
tion. :::jd the parties now owning want to
Sill, hut cannot that is they cannot easily
find purchaser to take the farm at their
price. $500. The old gentleman had the
name OF beng \ TREMENDOUS worker, and
the son is a good deal like him. smart and
active, but terribly slack and slovenly in
his style Of farming never lifts his finger
to saw out Il dcad limb from All apple tree
or a sucker rom around the trunk. When
the tree topples overhe will re move it, il it
be in the way Of the moving machine.
do not wish - farm in any such way ::
What little | do am determined TO do
well To make some Improvements every
have some definite plans and to carry out
those plans each year as far rs possible.
and hope to i.'avc for those who come
after me q i,cttcr inheritance