The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-02-14
Vol. IS, No. "a
BACK TO TIE LAND
RURAL. NEW YORKER.

broken whisky jugs and bottles a tenn
perance sermon in itself after looking
over the place. 1t was now too late
to think of ditching, or of any very
extensive farm Operations this year.
He planted the kitchen garden, two
acres of potatoes, a few strawberries.
and other things, but the important
thing was to get the place in better
condition for next Year. The difficulty
same time make a living for the
! family. He worked for the neighbors
took care Of his crops the best he
could. and did some work toward next
years crops. An extremely wet spell
in August ruined the best Of the po-
tatoes and some Other things and
showed him more forcibly the need
place that season was Very small in
deed. The next year, 1907, il viii be
rem EN- bered was very hard year for
farmers everywhere. The total income
from his farm was $3.50. The winter
was spent as the previous one had
been, in ditching. hauling manure from
town and working by the day to keep
down expenses. Since then there has
been great Improvement all around.
Last summer the returns from the
place were s733, and he had all his
own butter. eggs, vegetables, fruit and
meat enough for the winter. Then
/ he earned enough last ~ear b. outside
work in the winter to pay Ali cash
expense OF running the pL.o1 Better
| than the increasc in the casE returns
lis the fact that Che plaS1 Is becom
ing more prodr tive eve1 year, aud
best Of all. the manager becoming
more capable and efficient IA his work
and he expects to keap On improving
both himself and the fam. He has
never said anything abokA drudgery.
Although he has been fightAag his way
up under difficulties, he has enjoyed
| it imm ensely Many times he has
gone to his bed 50 tired that he could
not lie fiat enough but feeling as
though he would Eke to spread out
all over the bed until he would hang
out over both edges; then Waken in
the morning and junV up like the
boys going of to big ball game. can
hardly get the fire started and his bit
or chores done quick enough to get
| out and at IT again. He has TWO IN
ducements to work, the necessity OF
providing for his family, and the fun
! Of the thing, and We might say he -
| getting double pay. He knows what
+ it is to experience thrills Of pleasure
F.! over Lhe success OF Sd12e dlffD,uit
undertaking on tie farm lust as keen
as any he ever knew on The bail field,
and he was something Of bail player
too He wants nobody's sympathy De
cause he is a farmer, he is proud o.
the fact. | do not consider this any
great or startling success: IN 1aet n
IS Just getting started. but if he keeps
on improving and enjoys his work III
proportion he viii certainly have 4
Jolly good time after a while Suppose
we consider q doctor, lawyer or
some others whom farmers are envy
ing for their position. III this man
place. with only Il common school
education, a general knowledge Of the
work in which he intends to engage,
md what he can pick up by promiScu-
Gus reading. mostly after d hard day :
work, and started under difficulties
would we expect any great success At
our hign school last year several farm
er's sons graduated. One is now study
ing for :, civil engineer one Tor u
mechanical draughtsman. another Tor
an electrician, etc Not one as lar
as | know. intends TO remain on the
farm. It looks as though our FARMERS
Continued on page two