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prairies, or lieavy timbered lands of the west, where farm lands are 

 comparatively cheap, they fall into that common error, viz : the greater 

 the number of acres that can be plowed and sown from year to year, 

 without regard to the manner and mode, the better the prospect of be- 

 coming forehanded and wealthy. The result has always proven the fal- 

 lacy of this idea. With a farm too large for his means, the farmer 

 must skim over the soil carelessly; he must sow and reap carelessly. 

 He has no time to study the theory of farming, or put in practice the 

 valuable information he might glean fi'om books. For want of time to 

 properly distribute them, his manures are scattered wastefully about the 

 premises, where they were originally deposited, instead of being spread 

 over the land he annually robs. His buildings and fences show conclu- 

 sively that time and money are wanting to put them in order. His 

 cattle, sheep, horses, and swine, all of the poorest breeds, and in the 

 poorest condition, ramble at will, upon the commons, to pick up a pre- 

 carious living. Though he possesses three times the quantity of land 

 and stock his thrifty and intelligent neighbor does, who lives hard by, 

 still he cannot command as much money, or as many of the comforts of 

 life. His farm is not worth as much, neither are his buildings or his 

 stock. The unthrifty farmer raises no more upon three acres of his illy 

 cultivated land, than the thrifty farmer does upon one acre of his well 

 tilled land. The unthrifty farmer is, perhaps, unable to sell his farm for 

 more than |10 per acre, while the thrifty farmer can take from |25 to $30 

 for his. The stock of the nnthrifty farmer will not command as much 

 in market, because not in as good condition, or as well selected, as his 

 nighbor's. His grain will not bring as much, because he had not time 

 enough to run it once more through the fanning mill ; nor his wool as 

 much, because he had not time to wash it properly. 



Thus you see, there is more made, and with less trouble, from one 

 acre well tilled, than from three poorly managed — that it is easier and 

 far more proiitable, ro raise good stock than poor. 



The unthrifty farmer seems as desirous of having about him large 

 and unmanageable flocks and herds, as he is of possessing a large un- 

 wieldly farm ; and, indeed, his stock corresponds well in quality and 

 condition, with his method or manner of farming — all poor, or seldom 

 ever good, and never first rate, except by accident. 



