1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



523 



For the New England Farmer. 



MAKE LABOR AGREEABLE. 



Last eve as I was in at a neighbor's, I heard the 

 father express to his sons a hope that they would 

 take good care of a calf which he intended to pur- 

 chase for them, to which the mother replied it 

 •would only bring censure on them to feed it with 

 corn and potatoes, which they immediately express- 

 ed a wish to do. Then the thought suggested itself 

 at once, that though the father purchased it with 

 the hope that it might influence them to take good 

 caie of it, and consequently of other things, still, 

 would they not be likely to err in want of attention, 

 or by feeding it with what the father would think 

 he could hardly afford ? Then the thought present- 

 ed itself, why would it not be better for him, and 

 every man who possesses a son and a garden s])ot, 

 to expend what they wish to give them, for influen- 

 ces of a like nature, in purchasing some light, han- 

 dy tools, for any thing in which a child takes a pride 

 he likes to have for a constant companion ; and 

 would not possessing good handy tools lead them to 

 love work a part of the time as well as play, and 

 especially, when they are assisted to make a garden 

 for themselves, and taught how to transplant fruit 

 trees of their own ? Can a parent find any better 

 or surer method to keep their children at work, and 

 save themselves the trouble and vexation of forcing 

 them to work with large unhandy tools, than by fur- 

 nishing them with lighter, modern implements, that 

 they will find a pride in using and keeping clean ? 

 Though they are children now, how soon will they 

 be called to act for themselves, and the reins of 

 government even be in their hands. 



I have derived much assistance in training chil- 

 dren from a work by A. B. Muzzey, entitled "Aid 

 to Parents." 



Kemiebunk, Sept. 27, 1856. A. A. Wells. 



it degrading to be seen side by side with them in 

 the labors of the field or kitchen. 



This being the case, the farmer is under the ne- 

 cessity of applying the labor of the unskilful foreign- 

 er to that portion of his farm which is already most 

 productive, that he may be enabled to meet current 

 expenses and perhaps save a dollar against time of 

 need. By this management our more sterile lands 

 are left untouched — acres upon acres of which had 

 by far better be left to the growth of wood, than 

 be cut over with the brush scythe, followed by fire, 

 as is often the case. 



The white birch is readily obtained from the seed, 

 which may be sown at the same time with the pine. 

 The birch is of quick growth, which being taken oft* 

 leaves the pine to spread its branches, which in its 

 turn will, by the help of birds and squirrels, give 

 place to the trees which from "little acorns grow." 

 What land we can cultivate to profit, let us take 

 care of — with more than that, it is folly to engage. 



Sheicsbiiry, Sept. 23. Thomas W. Ward. 



For ihe New England Farmer. 



LET THE POOR LANDS GO. 



Mr. Browx ; — In a recent number of the JVew 

 England Farmer, I noticed some remarks of yours 

 while at Hancock, N. H., on a rusticating tour, in 

 relation to the prospects of our glorious New Eng- 

 land in coming times ; and I can assure you that 

 you are not alone in the entertainment of such views. 



"While New England is blessed with some of the 

 best soil in the Union — soil requiring perhaps the 

 bestov.'ment of as little labor,and returning as great 

 a reward for that labor, as any other known territo- 

 ry, it has some of the hardest soil perhaps in the 

 known world — soil as valueless in its products, as 

 are the deserts of Arabia. To cultivate these landr? 

 with the expectation of making them productive, is 

 a wild scheme — a project without the least shadow 

 of hope for renumeration for the labor bestoM'ed on 

 them, more especially since labor commands such 

 enormous prices. When labor was low, and Ave 

 Yankees were willing to put up with common ordi- 

 nary fare, then to labor on such lands was no of- 

 fence to our expanding genius. But now it M'ill not 

 pay — our enterprising young men no longer think 

 to harden their hands by honest labor, but rather 

 direct the steam or telegraph dispatch — hand-work 

 has given place to head-work. 



Foreigners are taking the work from, and filling 

 the places which should be occupied by our own 

 sons and daughters, who are too ready to consider 



Fvr the Nao England Fanner. 



CULTURE OF THE PEAR. 



Mil. Editor : — I have, for many months past, 

 been a constant reader of your valuable journal, and 

 though not at present a practical farmer, it affords 

 me great pleasure to read it. All my early impres- 

 sions in regard to farming were of the most com- 

 mon order, and I have spent many years since in 

 following the sea. I had, however, a strong nat- 

 ural tasje for cultivating the soil, without the means 

 of indulging it, but from a child entertained a love 

 for the beautiful in nature, and devoured with great 

 satisfaction all agricultural papers or books that 

 happened in my way. I could not, when a boy, re- 

 sist the temptation of cutting and trimming what 

 few trees were on my father's farm, that they might 

 grow and form handsome tops, and always did it 

 with a sharp knife, and without any instruction, 

 other than my own impulse. 1 felt the importance 

 of cutting off a limb smoothly, and often did my 

 moiher come to the door and beg of me not to 

 spoil the trees. The study of agriculture is to me 

 exceedingly instructive. It elevates the mind and 

 harmonizes the feelings in all that is interesting and 

 beautiful in nature. Men are bid to behold God, 

 and the goodness of God, in the cultivation of the 

 soil. 



In 1850, late in the fall, I sent from Albany to a 

 brother in Cayuga Co., N. Y., some twenty pear 

 trees of small size ; Bartlett, Seckel, Winter Nelis, 

 and some other choice varieties. They were set 

 out in holes dug five feet in diameter, and eiglueen 

 inches deep ; all the injured roots were carefully 

 cut out, and the holes filled with compost from the 

 wood-pile, or chip-heap and barn-yard. The first 

 year they rooted well, but did not grow much ; in 

 1852, I went out and spent two years. All my old 

 disposition for cutting and trimming has returned, 

 and with a sharp knife, I introduced myself to the 

 young orchard of some fifty trees. The pear trees 

 received my especial attention, cutting out the 

 stinted wood, and shaping the tops with regard 

 to beauty of form, according to my notions of a 

 beautiful tree top, taking great care to cut the 

 the limbs smoothly and closely, that the bark 

 might cover the wound smoothly. The orchard 

 was kept highly manured, and in cultivation as a 



