Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-01
CHANGES IN FARMING.

CHANGES IN FARMING.
No time In the year ls 90 favorable 70
making permanent improvements upoI
the farm as the period Immediately fol
lowing the hsying season. The land i
dry and firm, the teams are In goot
working condition and the men do no.
need the time for recuperstion rs the!
did under the old system OF cutting hay
without the use of machinery. But littl,
grain Is now grown in New England
and the period after securing the ha,
until the corrfis ready for the silo vii
be very profltably employed in fixing az
things about the farm. 1t is the season
when our fathers and grsndfsthers clear.
ed the rocks and bushes from the fields
and the rubbish from the fence corners,
and built the substantial stone walls
which will remain lasting monument
to their industry and interest in their
occupation, as we'll as a convenience ia
all who follow them in the cultivation OF
the old farm.
The men who first settled the farms
of New England were intensely In ear
nest iu making permanent improvement
upon their farms. Forests were cleared
and burned, rocks and stumps removed,
roads made and farm buildings erected
with the expectation that these things
would contribute to the permanent value
of the farm, and would be bequesthed rs
legacy TO succeeding generations. The
hard work required la doing these things
was enjoyed by the farmers and their
sturdy sons as much as the most fssci-
mating exploits are enjoyed by the present
generation, aud they passed away with
the satisfaction that they had not only
made 1.-TWO blades Of grass grow where
but one grew BEFORE" but had caused a
hundred blades 10 grow where there
was an unproductive forest before, and
left what seemed to them the grandest In
heritance-s productive farm, well fenc-
ed and we'll stocked, with substantial
farm buildings, that with care would
last century, and all this the product
of the farmers industry and economy
and that Of the generations that had pre-
ceded him. No successful finsncier In
the larger affairs Of life has satisfac-
ton more complete than came TO those
early New England farmers, as they
called their children around them and
looked back over well-spent life. This
condition could be found upon major
ity Of farms generation ago, and Is oc-
casionally met with to-day but IL the ex-
ception. Farms are generally conducted
with reference TO immediate results, and
with less pride In the permanent i'm
provement OF the farm than formerly,
which has had a deteriorating effect
g. In. - ayvx,-
ers, however, In every town that mani
fest the old-time interest and keep their
farm and stock Ia fne condition from
the recourses OF the farm and their own
efforts. It is refreshing indeed TO meet
one of those substantial, typical farmers
OF generation ago, aud To witness the
same old-time interest In their farm and
farming operations.
We do not wish 70 convey the idea
that successful farmers are as scarce as
are the typical farmers OF generation
ago, bu, on the other hand believe there
are more farmers In New England who
are successful than Ia any previous time.
Their profits may not show in the I'm.
proved condition OF their farm or In their
savings bank account, but they are
found In other directions. They can be
seen In the more expensive method OF
living, in the top buggy and driving
horse In pl.ce Of the thoroughbrace
wagon and the farm horse, In the clothes
they wear and In the society they enjoy |;
Ia the piano and furniture In the house,
and the luxuries that are purchased for
table; In the books and newspapers and
telephones even, that are found 10 many
farmers homes; In the lessened hours
OF labor, and in the more expensive edu-
cation given the children 10 the trips
taken on the railroad, and in the time
spent attending gatherings OF various
kinds OF a social and educational nature !;
In the money and time spent 10 attend
the circus In city thirty or forty miles
away, and the horse trot or agricultural
fair a hundred miles from their home;
In the expense OF storing Ice for summer
use, and In the milk and cream used
without limit; In the butchers bill, the
fishman's bill, the fruit vender's bill,
and a score OF other expenses that might
be named that were unknown TO the
farmer OF two generations ago.
We do not wish TO curtsil single one
Of these II the farmer wants them and
can have them, but when We are CON-
pairing the profits Of the farm to-day
with those Of previous period, IL Is
only fair that the farm should be given
credit for them. The imitation period
following the civil war was responsible
In some degree for the extrsvagsnt mode
Of living that has since per meated every
form OF society and been adopted by
every class Of people, so far as their
income would admit. The labor and
economy that formerly went TO improv-
ing and developing the farm, and among
those not farmers to the savings banks,
Is now more generally used in having
the comforts and conveniepces Of life.
The farmer does not wish TO be behind
other classes In this matter, and what he
fails TO spend in developing the farm Is
enjoyed in other matters and the farm
should be given credit for what IL en-
sbles him to do in these various direc-
tions. A partial return to the old-time
simplicity and farm pride would be sd-
vsntsgeous In many ways.-Mirror and
Farmer.