Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-12-08
IhE FARMERS FARE.

tt Ia within the memory OF most or Us
that the farmers table was mainly sup
piled from the farm, at least TO the ex-
tent Of the meat. fruit and vegetables,
and IL would have been considered reck-
less extravaganza to buy any OF these
articles for use In the farmers family.
When a sheep, calf OF pig was killed the
meat was distributed throughout the
neighborhood to he replaced when an-
other farmer Of this cooperative asso-
cistion performed similar act. In the
fall a beef animal and one or more lat
hogs were butchered and the various
parts were salted, picked, smoked,
ground into sausage or frozen, and the
farmers family had variety Of meat,
for four months at least, without patron
ling the butchers cart, and OF far bet
ter quality than they would have had IL
they did. The same general plan In re-
gard 10 other table supplies was adopted
and they had the best OF these things
without noticing the cost as Is the case
when purchased In the market.
All this is changed aud the farmer de-
pends upon the middle man for nearly
all such supplies. Peddlers lind their
way daily into nearly every farming
community with supply of edibles for
the table in almost as great variety as
are 10 be found in the market, and the
farmer has come 10 be about az depend
ent upon them as are the people without
farms. This Is all very convenient, but
IL takes the a-mel's hsrd-t ARIEL cash 10
pay for things that should have been
produced upon the farm or at least some
thing 10 take their place should have
been produced.
IL is all very well for the farmer who
has special crop or special line OF pro-
duction 10 which he is giving special at
teution, and thereby making II profitable
10 such an extent that these supplies can
be more economically purchased, but
this Is not generally the case. The per-
son who is following the diversified
farming, or who Is doing no farming
except to harvest what grows upon an
impoverished and weed-grown farm
cannot afford To purchase all his table
supplies from the peddler's wagon.
The farmer who sells his lambs for -
a head, and pays the butcher S2.35 for a
hind quarter Of the same, isn't doing
to sell his pork for four cents pound
and pay is cents pound for ham
from the same hog few weeks later,
because Il should be a part OF his busi-
ness To know how TO prepare and cure
the ham as we'll as other cured meats.
We cannot afford 10 raise milk and sell
il at two cents quart, and pay the
money for straw berries az twice the
cost OF their production. We cannot
afford 10 sit around the corner grocery
grumbling about the unprotitsbleness OF
farming when we should be growing
some Of the very things that we are de-
pending upon the market man Tor.
Doubtless someone will suggest that the
person who makes specially ol grow
ing these things can grow them cheaper
than the farmer who does not, all OF
which is true, and il a convincing argu-
ment, providing the farmer will produce
something 10 sell that IL more prohtaoie'
and get the money with which TO pur-
chase these supplies.
Although the profits OF farming have
been small in late years. farmer VINO
has the taxes and insurance 10 pay must
do something. lie should not reason as
the man did. Who, when asked II he
raised corn, replied that he did not Tor u
was more profitable 20 raise oats, ana
when the query was put about oats was
forced 10 admit that he didn't raise
them; but he should either grow and
prepare for use some Of these food sup
plies 10 which We have referred, or pro-
duce something that pays better.
la addition 10 the economic reasons
for supplying the farmers table from
his farm and garden, there Is the sent'-
mental side. which Is Of no little impor-
tsnce. No person in the world ever sat
down 10 a dinner, however expensive,
with such feelings OF supreme sstisfac-
ton "a does the tiller OF the soil 10
well-cooked meal from the products OF
his skill and industry, and he can, II he
will. enjoy il every day In the year.
When under these circumstances the
farmer can sit down TO the table with his
family three times day, he needs To
worry but little about those matters
which bring so many business men 10
premature old age. but who can take
With them At the frsl call no more OF
the wealth they have got than the
sturdy old farmer who has found so
much enjoyment in the cultivation OF his
farm. and In his table supplied In so
bountiful and healthful msnner.-Mir-
ror and Farmer.