33S STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTUKE. 



the name of farmer cease to be a reproach. Let farmers cultivate in their chil- 

 dren a love for the pure and beautiful, then wlien they arrive at men's and 

 women's estate they will be well fitted to journey through life as God intended. 

 Instead of confining the girls exclusively to tiresome household drudgery, allow 

 them a little time each day for recreation, giving them an opportunity to culti- 

 vate their taste for the fine arts ; then, instead of growing sullen and dissatis- 

 fied, they will cheerfully take an active part in their assigned duties, feeling 

 that life is not all a dull routine. Flowers there are of many kinds which cost 

 nothing financially, and the little time required for their cultivation is just the 

 exercise which that wife or daughter needs after a wearisome day's labor within 

 doors, affording to many tlie only opportunity for enjoying the pure fresh air, 

 the country's choicest production. Take good papers, — not just one for your- 

 self, — but consult the taste of the other members of the family, and believe me 

 your children will not be anxious to leave the scenes and associations of home 

 for the uncertain pleasures of the world. Thus the days and years will pass 

 while you spin and they weave the woof of character whicli is to clothe their 

 individuality forever. 



Farmers, I appeal to your pockets now ! Loosen your purse-strings a littlC;, 

 and don't give Willie a colt which you think will die, telling him if he will take 

 care of it it shall be his, and then (after a great deal of care and trouble on the 

 boy's part) when you discover, much to your surprise, tliat it will make a fine 

 horse forget your promise and entirely disregard Willie's claim, saying by 

 actions if not words, "your colt, my horse." If your house is surrounded with 

 trees and shrubbery, the fences in good repair, and every thing presents a neat,, 

 tidy appearance, how insensibly your own taste improves ; how well you get 

 along, jjerhaps not laying up much money, yet your expenses are all met, and 

 you are much more influential in society. Do not stop and say, oh yes, these- 

 things are all well enough, but I am old, have but a short time to live. They 

 Avill make your life pleasant, and your name will be long and gratefully cher- 

 ished. 



How many fail to appreciate country privileges — the bright sunshine, pure 

 bracing air, green fields, grand forests, rocks and rivulets, changing from the 

 brightness and bloom of summer to the innumerable charms of autumn. Very 

 attractive this life, even to those who choose to term it verdant. 



I have nothing particularly new to say in reference to our farmers' wives, yet 

 the theme is certainly a worthy one. It is a fact that women of the present 

 day, with all the modern inventions to lighten their labor, work harder than the 

 women of fifty years ago. Take a ride with me into the country on a pleasant 

 summer afternoon, and we will call at the residence of one of our best farmers 

 and request him to show us his farm and barns. Notice the machinery which 

 tends to make his work easy; notice also tiie number of men employed, giving 

 him liberty to oversee and manage, he says ; and let me whisper to you also the 

 opportunity of driving to town, or any other place which he may choose, to con- 

 verse with his gentlemen friends and keep his mind well informed upon the 

 topics of the day. All that, you see, is well ordered and convenient, and you 

 are highly pleased. Then enter the house ; it is Monday, and three o'clock in 

 the afternoon. There stands the pounding barrel and wash tub nearly filled 

 with unwashed garments; the dinner table untouched since the family dined, 

 and as we sit down in come a noisy group of children. The mother, who before' 

 looked sad, now looks mortified and discouraged. She attempts an apology, 

 saying her three children (the oldest five and the youngest two j-ears of age),_ 



