THE FARM AND FARM BUILDINGS. 481 



view of farming, and recognizes the fact that the most substan- 

 tial part of the returns of his labor and of his outlay consists 

 in better buildings, better soil, and better stock, will see a suffi- 

 cient reason for wishing to become the owner of the fee of his 

 farm. 



In the other transactions of life, where the principle holds 

 good that anything is worth what it will bring in the market, 

 business men invest money with a view to the chances of its 

 return, at any time when they shall choose to sell. In farming, 

 the principle does not hold good ; at least, not with regard to the 

 farm itself. It is better that the question of selling be not at all 

 considered, for a valuable farm is always a very difficult thing 

 to sell, and rarely brings as much as it is worth. There are 

 persons who speculate in farms, who buy worn out land at a low 

 price, and, after improving it, sell it at a high price. They often 

 make money by the operation, and they generally do good. 

 They are a useful class of enterprising men, but they are not 

 the kind of men I have in my mind now, men who intend to fol- 

 low farming as a permanent occupation, who have made up their 

 minds that it is the thing to do, and who regard it not so much as 

 an enterprise as a living. To such I say, buy your farm judi- 

 ciously and, of course, as cheaply as you can. Make up your 

 mind whether it will suit you, before you buy, and, having 

 bought it, don't entertain the idea of selling it, nor consider the 

 money you invest in improvements in the light of the selling- 

 value they will add to the farm, so much as with reference to the 

 annual return they will bring in convenience, economy, or fer- 

 tility. In short, consider your farm as a part of yourself, and 

 let it "grow with your growth, and strengthen with your 

 strength." You will find your yearly advantage in so doing. 



The first thing to be decided is, whether to remain in well 

 settled parts of the country, or to emigrate to virgin land. In 

 the latter case, the question should be ; How far will large crops 

 and lighter work compensate for want of good schools, good 

 society, and good home markets ? In the former case, the ques- 

 tion should be ; How far will the social, educational, and com- 

 mercial advantages make up for the poorer quality of the soil ? 

 The far West, with its newer and more fertile lands, is very 

 tempting to one class of men, and the older settled parts of the 



