12 THE FARMER'S AND 



The convenience of a grist-mitt should not be over- 

 looked. We have known of very great hardships endured 

 in some regions, from the want of means of getting bread- 

 stuffs properly ground. It will be well to make particular 

 inquiries on this point before purchasing. 



In short, let the settler consider the various conveniences 

 which will render his life, and that of his children, com- 

 fortable ; and in the outset secure as many of them as he 

 can. It is far better to buy a small quantity of land with 

 good advantages, than a large quantity without them. 

 Your children will need instruction, and you should not 

 place yourself beyond the reach of schools, or the pros- 

 pect of schools at an early day ; the time of sickness will 

 come, and you will want medical attendance ; the hour 

 of mourning and serious reflection may arrive, and the 

 consolations of religion from the lips of the Christian min- 

 ister will be truly welcome. See, therefore, that there be 

 a reasonable prospect of having all these things at no 

 distant day in your new home. It is hard enough to bear 

 the burdens of the pioneer settler, even under the best of 

 circumstances. Be careful to get all the comforts you 

 can at first. 



The quality of wild land may be judged of by the fol- 

 lowing general rules. 



In the New-England States, in the State of New-York, 

 the principal part of Ohio and Michigan, in Canada, and 

 indeed throughout the northerly portions of America, land 

 which is timbered should have growing upon it tall and 

 strong hard timber, such as maple, elm, beach, bass-wood, 

 cherry, hickory, white-ash, butternut, and the like. If 

 the land on which any of these kinds of timber is found, 

 be dry, (as it usually is,) it is good. The trees should, as 

 a general rule, be tall, and branching only near the top. 

 A large hemlock occasionally among the timber, is no 



