100 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



FABMI3TG AS AN OCCUPATION. 



ESSEX. 

 An Essay, by Charles J. Peabodt, of Topsfield. 



In writing on this subject, I cannot give the experience of a 

 long life, as could many of my brother farmers. I bring an 

 earnest love for the pursuit ; and as my attachment to it has 

 increased from childhood up, leading me to choose farming as 

 my business, I offer some suggestions as to the best way of 

 managing farm matters, with a consideration of some of the 

 conditions of success in the occupation, and a discussion of a 

 few of the more common objections to farming as a vocation. 



When one selects farming as a business, he of course under- 

 stands that as much money cannot be made as in many other 

 pursuits. 



I, however, believe that enough can be made to procure all 

 things needful for a good living ; so none need be deterred 

 from following it, if they understand the business, through fear 

 of want. 



If one is not born to the pursuit, it will take a long time for 

 him to learn all about the care of the farm, or enough of the 

 varied operations required to make it pay. 



It has been well said, that probably no mechanical pursuit 

 demands so much knowledge for its successful prosecution as 

 farming. 



This may at first seem strange, but when we think of the 

 many things a farmer must know, such as the nature of the soil 

 of different parts of his farm, and how to remedy any deficiency 

 that may exist, so as to adapt it to the wants of the crops 

 he wishes to produce ; the methods of culture required by dif- 

 ferent crops ; the most advantageous way of disposing of them ; 

 the care of stock and of farm machinery, — for in these days of 

 high labor, few can afford to do by hand anything that can be 



