Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-04-16
SPRINGTIMe SUGGESTIONS.


Driving about eight miles through the
country few days ago, just as the snow
was going off, made few observations
AS passed farm yard after farm yard.
Here is the result: Standing in various
fence corners and against the sides of
barns were one reaper, a moving mt
chine, several wagons, a TO d machine
belonging to the Taxpayers of the town.
ship, number Of plows and some har-
rows. These will all be handy to hitch
to when next they are needed. 81 far
the owners consulted their convenience
when they left those tools where they
have been all winter, but will they hold
together, and if they will, what kind of
work will they do? Are they worth as
much by good many dollars as they
would be il they had been properly shell
tered? Few farmers are rich enough to
stand the losses which must come from
so reckless an exposure Of their tools to
the action of wind and weather.
What shall we do about the fruit trees
we bought few years ago, now just
coming into bearing, but not at all the
kind OF fruit we ordered and expected?
The agent is gone, our money ditto. Ii
seems to me the proper thing to do is to
enter into a solemn compact with our
selves not to buy again Of any man
HON we do not know, but rather order
direct from some reliable house, of whom
we can demand and reasonably expect
any and all mistakes to be rectified.
wish all papers were careful what
class Of advertisements they admit. Last
year | sent small order to man who
promised great things for certain kind
of field corn. His advertisement was in
a well-known paper. That was the last
of the money, and the corn never mate
rialized. Such things throw discrediT
on all who advertise, although many
are, no doubt, honest. The dishonest
man causes everybody else to suffer.
How much better a farm looks on
which the fences are all kept up good!
The best and most successful farmers do
not let their fences lie fl It on the ground,
and, further, no honest man will sit
down and let his neighbor fix all the line
fences. He will do his share. Sill, it Is
we'll for US to go "clear around" every
spring. Then we feel satisfied just how
the fences are everywhere.
notice the old story Of how much it
costs to raise the farmer boy is going
the rounds again. It looks to me like Il
pretty small business, holding our own
lads and lssses responsible for every
cent it costs to board and clothe them.
Who in the world can place an estimate
in dollars and cents on the son OF his
heart? 1t is shame, and If were the
son of the man who is cold-blooded
enough to sit down and figure up the
last cent he had paid out for me from
the time | was child born into this
world until was man grown | should
think he placed pretty low value on
me. believe | would do as so many
BOYS do, hurry to get away somewhere.
Talk about the worth of a boy as if he
were nothing but calf or a pig!
1t is good plan every year to make it
a point TO clear up some little spot OF
land on the old place and bring it under
cultivation, if it be not all in such condi-
ton now. On most farms there is more
or less waste land, land grown up to
brush, affording little in the way of feed,
and nothing in the line of a crop. If we
could find time to cut this small stuff of
in very short time it would come into
grass, or some crop might be taken from
it. With most of us we need every
available spot of land to keep up. And
then, the farm looks so much better.
Few of us place proper estimate on
the value of a good garden. | know it
takes great deal of time to keep it
properly weeded out, but il we knew
how large part of our living through
the summer comes from the garden we
would not be quite so grudging OF the
little time spent each day cultivating it.
We have now learned that by planting
everything in rows we may do great
part of the work with horse. Ii we
were compelled to buy the vegeta bles
and other garden stuff we use all through
the season we would soon get our eyes
open to the Importance of the e arden
f. l.. Vincent in New York Tribune.