The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-09-03

The subject before the Ravenna Grange for
discussion at its last session. was. Economy on
the Farm and in the House." Mrs. Sophia P.
Jennings read the following essay:
Econmy may be classed in three parts. economy
of material. economy of labor, and economy of
time. Labor and time are connected, for the less
time it takes to accomplish an object. it is gener
ally done with less labor. Economy is frugality.
We can be frugal of material. time and labor and
yet not be stingy. In some things it is not the
best. economy to be stingy. A farmer may be
stingy ofhis time and labor, or he may not take
enough time and be sparing of labor to prepare
the ground properly for the seed or use too little
fertilizer or seed for the crop he wishes to raise
which shows poor economy. lThere is no econo-
my in negecting the fields after fitting and plant
ing, by not stirring the soi and letting the
be overrun with weeds and grass. or eaten up by
bugs and worms. Better not waste the time. ma
| terial and labor in planting. In keeping stock
on farm. keeping good stock, and keeping them
well is the be st economy. There is no economy
in not feeding stock enough, keeping them thin
| in flesh. By so deing they will depreciate in
value, which will be loss to the owner. The
| labor saving machines on the farm are economy
of both time and labor. they enable farmers to
do work quicker and with less labor. using horses
instead of manual labor.
| I think there is no economy in rising at foul
or half-past four in the morning, and working al
day and till late in the evening. through the Ions
hot days of summer. witho ut taking any rest. L
is wearing to both body and mind. That is one
reason why many farmers are so unsocial fol
they are so exhausted they cannot feel otherwise
There is no economy in overworking and by 81
doing, lose health and strength. Better hir,
through the busy season than to be brought tt
| tbn nj IUha hn1D ho fbo do.
pendence. There is great deal published il
agricultural books and papers, telling how farm
| ers should employ their time through the winte
laying out work for every day, To be sure Their
is enough work to be done for the improvement
of the farm to keep him busy through the shor
days. using lamplight at both ends of the day t,
care for his stock and do the other necessar,
chores. But I think there is more economy il
his taking life easier through the season when al
nature is resting, thereby recruiting his strength
preparatory for the tedious days of summer heat
1t is economy for those farmers who have boy
to have them learn the complications of maehin
cry and the use of tools, so that if there shoul
be disarrangement in any part of the machine
used they could be repaired without sendin
away for some one to repair them. saving la
or half day when time is valuable.
By managing work to make it require the few
IS economy of time and labor.
Household economy takes in everything usefu
in housekeeping fuel. clothing and furni
ture. In cooking. the besteconomy is to max
and cook our food so as to make it palatable, eve
if more material is used. There are many thing
that require the practice of economy in the man
agement of a house so as not to be wasteful. ]
is useless to can fruit, cook any nice thing Q
make anything, and then let it spoil for want G
care. 1t is not only no economy, but waste
material. labor and time. In my mind it is quit
an art to be an orderly housekeeper. and to econ
omise in time, labor and material in the work
the house. In family of daughters there
economy in their learning the use of the needle
and to cut and fit garments for the family.
would be a great help in the family beside
learning them to help themselves, which is tn
greatest economy of all.
In my view of economy there is none in neg
lecting the mental and social cultivation c
farmers and their families, If they do SO the
will never rise above the lower classes of socie
ty. But by study and culture they can take
place with the educated of the land. Th
Grange is one of the educators for them. an
there is no economy in neglecting it, nor i
neglecting or refusing to take up the labors e
its work in all the duties assigned to its mem
bers May we all learn the true art of econom
in all the positions of life in which we ar
placed.