1855. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



421 



until the next spring, when the plants started and 

 grew very finely, producing nearly a peck of very 

 fine seed," which was matured by the last of June. 

 I fomid it to be ver}- productive, but as thei-e was 

 no mill for making oil in this region, 1 did not at- 

 tempt to cultivate any more, but think it may be 

 cultivated to advantage with the following precau- 

 tions. All who are acquainted with the turnip class 

 or fomily, know it to be a biennial plant, requiring 

 two seasons to mature the seed. It is so with rape, 

 and it must be sowed in the fell, in season to make 

 good root and top, and if the roots or plants are 

 well covered with snow during winter, and not suf- 

 fered to freeze and thaw in the spring, they will 

 produce a good crop of seed. 



Those who are fond of greens can get a good 

 supply early in spring, \rithout detriment to the 

 plants, if they do not pick off" the centre stalk. If 

 "A. B." will try again and sow in the fall, he w^ill, 

 undoubtedlv, meet vath good success. P. A. F. 



Shaker Village, JV. H., July 9. 



WHY IS THE FARMER DISCONTENTED? 



We propose to discuss the question propounded 

 above, in three or four articles, fi-om time to time, 

 and quoting pretty freely from addresses which we 

 have delivered before lyceums and at agricultural 

 fairs. 



There is an instinctive desire in the breast of 

 most persons to leave the noise and confusion of 

 crowded places, and retire at some time to the 

 peaceful Aillage and the quiet of riu'al life. The 

 tradesman and artizan, weary of their confinement, 

 long for a wider field of action, while the merchant, 

 harassed by the exposure of his property to the 

 fickle elements, and the danger to those who go 

 down to the sea in ships, sees in the distance the 

 evening of liis days embellished by the comforts 

 clustering around a home in the countiy. Others 

 possess the taste for a home on the farm from 

 early youth, and when separated from it, are ever 

 elevating the old roof-tree and the happy haunts 

 of childhood above all the pomp and ghtter of 

 cities, and the trappings of fashionable Ufe. 



For us, the farm has ever had this charm, and 

 its implements are famiUar to our hands, asid tlie 

 opinions we express have been formed on the farm, 

 while engaged in its labors and enjoying its j)lcas- 

 ures. We look back to its renovated jjrecincts 

 with as much tender solicitude as does the gradu- 

 ate to his beloved alma mater, and live over our 

 youth again in the recollection of its delightful la- 

 bors, scenes and recreations. But since those times, 

 great changes have taken place in the modes of 

 cultivating the soil, as in most of the business men 

 pursue. 



FaciUties in printing and pubUshing have kept 

 jmce wish other imjjrovements of the age. The ex- 

 act experiments of the scholar, the accurate obser- 

 vation of the farmer, dissertations, pamphlets and 

 newspapers have been multiplied without number, 

 through the magic power of the press. In these 



have been discussed the manual operations of the 

 farm ; the plowing, planting, m}ing, drauiing, sub- 

 soiling, and nature of the soils ; and, although 

 much may well be said upon each of these fruitful 

 topics, we shall not occupy space with more thai, 

 a casual reference to any of them. 



It was once supposed that the profits of the 

 farm, and the beauty of the homestead, depended 

 upon the hands, alone. That error has had its day, 

 wTought its evil and departed, we trust, never to re- 

 turn. A better opinion now prevails, that labor, 

 to be profitable, must be guided by intelligence, 

 and it is of the importance of that intelligence that 

 we propose to speak. 



On the rugged mountains and beautifully sweep- 

 mg vales of New England — on the broad prairies of 

 the West, and the sunny acres of the South, the 

 same causes are operating against an earnest and 

 hearty love of rural life, and its occupations. 



We assume the fact, that great discontent exists in 

 relation to that Hfe ; that young men and young 

 women are dissatisfied with the emjiloyments of the 

 farm, and are seeking in speculative schemes that 

 aliment for the mind, which they have failed to 

 find in rural occupations, and a quiet home. 



If we can suggest a remedy for this e\il, we shall 

 deem it of more importance than to throw new 

 light on the common business of the fields, and the 

 bam, or to enforce any principle of vegetable or 

 animal existence. 



Large numbers commence farming, without 

 other capital than their own physical force, directed 

 by their native good sense. They succeed in es- 

 tablisliing a pleasant home, and in educating and 

 rearing a family, through long and patient indus- 

 try, and careful economy ; and tliis is the manner 

 m Avhich those engaged in mercantile affairs, who 

 have become wealthy, have acquired that wealth ; 

 by unintermitted effort, both in acquiring and sav- 

 ing. And the cases are somewhat rare, where the 

 young farmer of good health and habits, fails of 

 establishing an attractive home, and acquiring a 

 competence ; while it has been ascertained that 

 out of every one hundred who have entered upon 

 mercantile pursuits in the largest city of New J'ng- 

 land, u])wards of ninety have failed. The startling 

 but well authenticated fact, should have an influ- 

 ence on young men embarking in business, and 

 upon young women, too, about making alliances 

 which can only end with Hfe ; for they are equally 

 interested m the welfare and hai)pincss of the fam- 



Farm work requires a caj)ital in coin, in t;dcnts, 

 and in muscle and sinew, as well as in merchantliz- 

 ing and navigating the ships of commerce. When 

 this cai)ital is uivested, fann-work is no more a la- 

 bor of dioidgery than any other — ^it is not half so 

 much so. If tliis be dnidgery, wliat sliall we call 

 the confinement of the law-office and the court- 



