Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-11

In former days the farmer VS. not unlike
that class Of men Who ere denoninated Jack
as-all t1ades. When the farm vas little
seif-supporsing empire. al kinds Of stock
kept, all kinds Of crops grown, and al sorts
Of work and domestic manufactures carried
on, indoors and out. the farmer had to car
~ on many lines Of work and turn his hand
TO variety Of occupations. His aim Vas to
produce ell that would be needed in . large
family, hence many thinss we're looked out
for and much work done in direc-
tons In which the farmer himself
could not be called N expert. Every
thing vas made TO contribute to the general
purpose, but there vas no attempt at any
one line - leading specially over any
other. Mixed farming vas the rule. But
ter, cheese. eggs, apples, wheat. meats,
sheep. colts, steers, cows, and all products
and crops we're grown because all we're
needed, and is vas no part Of the yearly
plan TO buy what could be raised. Every
thing must be turned to account, and there
vas . sturdy economy such a. 10 far too
seldom pfacticed in these days. What vas
true in regard to management in Geld
and barn. vas also true pertaining to the
homestic economy Of the farmers house
dold. The farmers dwelling was not only
. home, it was . manufactory. Almos,
everything vas nade-little vas purchased.
Clothing for all members Of the family
vas = regular branch Of the domestic man
sfacture; candles we're dipped; soap made
wool carded, spun and woven; meat smoked
and cured, and many other branches of do
nestle sconomy regularly attended to. We
don't know - the farmers wife ever sighed
to be done with all this household bother"
or that the farmer himself ever thought
be would give up farming and go to raising
colts, or making" milk, manufacturing
butter, or growing berries. But in course
Of time the change was evolved which we
see about Us now-all the domestic condi-
tons transformed, and in the line Of out
door work. specially found everywhere.
We do not now pretend to say il these
conditions are better, it is probably true
that few il any would be willing to return
to those former practices, unless they
are exceedingly "old fashioned" The
old duties Of the farm house.
wife are unknown to modern country |
homes. and it is only in exceptional cases
that the farm still retains its old indepen-
dence. So mu,h is purchased by the |
farmers of to-day, that we do not know
hat scores Of them would do nov IL they
were obliged to grow everything. raise all
kinds Of crops, and keep different kinds of
stock as the farmers Of fifty years ago did. |
1t would be unwise to say that the modern
ways were not better-they are. They al
low great personal freedom and give
vide scope to individual choice. 1t
10 no use for some farmers to
raise colts, and there are many
who are exactly adapted to this line of
stock breeding. Some are successful with
sheep; others just fitted for the care of
cows and the handling Of dairy products
Then the orchard, small fruits and truck
crops have . real charm to many. The ap-
pie orchard, notwithstanding some adverse
years Of low prices, is yet to be great farm
industry which will always well reward