The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-24

having seriously n
vited the author of
~ this volume to address
them on the occasion Of their next an
nual fair, he wrote the president of that
society as follows:
NEW YORK, June 10, 1865.
DEAR SIR have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt Of your letter Of
the 9Th inst, in which you invite me to
deliver an address before your excellent
agricultural society.
feel flattered, and think will come
Perhaps, meanwhile, brief history of
my experience as an agriculturist will
be acceptable, and as that history no
doubt contains suggestions of value to
the entire agricultural community,
have concluded to write you through
the press.
have been an honest old farmer for
some years.
My farm is in the interior of Maine
Unfortunately my lands are eleven miles
from the railroad. Eleven miles is quite
distance to haul immense quantities
Of wheat, corn, rye and oats; but as 1
iishN IL huy w ubul, w lOJ, dlttI
suffer much on that account.
Ny farm is more especially grass
farm.
My neighbors told me 30 at first, and
as an evidence that they were sincere in
that opinion, they turned their cows on
to it the moment I went off ''lectur-
ing"
These cows are now quite fat. l take
pride in these cows, in fact, and am glad
own grass farm.
Two years ago tried sheep raising.
bought fifty lambs and turned them
loose on my broad and beautiful acres.
1t was pleasant on bright mornings to
stroll leisurely out on to the farm in my
lressing gown, with cigar in my
mouth, and watch those innocent little
lambs as they danced gayly DER the hill
side. Watching their saucy capers re-
minded me of caper sauce, and it oc-
CURED to me I should have some very
fine eating when they grew up to be
''muttons."
My gentle shepherd. Mr.. Eli Perkins,
said, "We must have some shepherd
dogs"
had no very precise idea as to what
shepherd dogs were, but I assumed a
rather profound look, and said:
eve must, Eli. spoke to You about
this some time ago!'
wrote to my old friend, Mr.. Dexter
81. Folett, Of Boeton, for two shepherd
dogs. Mr.. F. is not an honest old farmer
himself, but I thought he knew about
shepherd dogs. BE kindly forsook far
more important business to accommo-
date, and the dogs came forthwith.
3 They were splendid creatures-snuff col
ored, hazel eyed, long tailed and shapely
jawed.
We led them proudly to the fields.
''Turn them in, Eli" said.
Eli turned them in.
They went in at once and killed twen-
ty of my best lambs in about four min
utes and half
My friend had made a trifing mistake
in the breed of these dogs.
These dogs were not partial to sheep.
Eli Perkins was astonished and OBJ
served:
'Waal! did you ever!'
certainly never had.
There were pools of blood on the
greensward, and fragments of wool and
raw lamb chops lay round in confused
heaps.
The dogs would have been sent to Bos.
ton that night, had they not suddenly
died that afternoon Of throat distem-
per. 1t wasn't swelling of the throat.
1t wasn't diphtheria. 1t was q violent
opening Of the throat, extending from
ear to ear.
Thus close their life stories. Thus
ended their interesting tails.
/ failed as a raiser of lambs. AS @
sheepist, l was not success.
Last summer Mr.. Perkins said. 81
think we better cut some grass this sea
son, SIR"
We cut some grass.
To me the new mown hay is very
sweet and nice. The brilliant George
Arnold sings about it, in beautiful verse
down in Jersey every summers so does
the brilliant Aldrich, at Portsmouth, N
II. And yet doubt if either of these
men knows the price of ton of hay to
day But new mown hay is really
fine thing 1t is good for man ant
beast.
We hired four honest farmers to assis
us, and l led them gayly to the mead
oys.
was going to NOW, myself.
saw the sturdy peasants go rount
anceere dipped my flashing scythe int
tho tall green grass.
"Are you ready?" said E. Perkins.
Il am herel"
Then follow u.s."