Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-01-25
farm Copies.
THE ECONOMY OF NEATNESS.

Half an hours drive through almost
any agricultural district is sufficient to
show that some farmers, at least, esteem
as lost all time which is spent in putting
things to rights about their buildings and
premises. Farm implements lie exposed
to the weather wherever they chance to
be dropped. Fences exhibit dilapidat-
ed and intirm appearance, and some, per-
haps, are wholly broken down and use
less. Shingles and clapboards hang or
flutter in the breeze, and chimneys are
sometimes seen which are only kept from
tottering to their ruin by makeshift stays
and braces.
A state of things more or less like this
sometimes exists where the crops are
found to be well-tilled and harvested,
with the uniform result of good profit.
Happily, cases of such extreme slOvenl-
ness are not frequent, but they are by no
means unknown, and the tendency to
neatness and systematic care is still so
far from universal that word or two up
on the subject may not be amiss.
In the first place, the prudent farmer Is
not to suppose that time spent in these
matters is pecuniary loss to himself. 1t
is only the poorest economy which allows
farm tools to lie out in the fields or else
where, exposed to the weather. There
is no surer road to the wrong side of the
balance sheet than the neglect of needed
paint and repairs upon buildings. Does
not the wise old adage teach us that ga
stitch in time saves nine"
Rubbish, so often allowed to collect
about the place to a most unsightly de-
gree, might often be turned to some ac-
count by the careful farmer. Thrown
upon the compost heap, burned for ashes
or sold for old junk, it would both turn
itself into money and vastly improve the
appearance of things by its absence.
Vegetable matter of all sorts belongs, Of
course, in the manure heap. The old
Junk, such as worn out tires, superannu-
ated tools and implements, old bolts,
shoes and chains, all old metals, rags and
bottles in short, would add a modest pen
ny to the pocket money of the farm lads
if they were stimulated to collect and sell
them. Other refuse could mostly be re-
duced to ashes and put upon the kitchen
garden or the flower beds.
Shade trees ought to be planted about
the grounds, and some Towering shrubs
also, to make the home more attractive
Weeds should never be allowed to grow
, and mature their seeds about the house
= or barn, any more than in the cultivated
fields. All buildings will repay theil
owners well for being kept weather
, proof by suitable and timely repairs and
painting. Fences should be either up OF
down-no half way in the matter, GER
i. tainlv. can be economical.
Riding this summer through portions
OF Berkshire county, Mass, where the
: scrupulously kept estates of wealthy
: New Workers are so numerous, we were
: much interested to see how many of tn,
farm lads had found out the use of tn,
, lawn mower: and that many pleasan
farm house was made doubly attractiv,
by we'll kept turf in front. There was
, too, an air of neatness about these place
e and an evidence of an awakening sens
of the beauty and desirableness of shrub
e and Towering plants and well kept walk
I quite pleasant to note.
J. There is chance, we are convinced
i for some good missionary work here
e One farmer who keeps things clean an
ship shape about his place may cause tn
t reform in time of a whole neighborhood
J. The influence of quiet example is grea
and is, doubtless, often underestimate
-1Cor. y. Y. Press.