284 



Too Big to Work" — Farm for the Indigent Poor, Vol. V. 



and from the after growth, I have little doubt 

 of fartlier and proijressivG improvement for 

 many years to come. 



The conclusions to be drawn from the 

 above are : 1st. When applied at the rate of 

 from 50 to 80 bushels per acre, one bushel of 

 crushed bono is more than equal to 25 bush- 

 els of good farm-yard manure in its effects 

 on the first crop. 2d. The effect of bone ma- 

 nure is more durable than tiiat of any putres- 

 cent manure usually produced on a farm. 

 3d. When applied to land in good heart, the 

 effect is much more powerful than on poor 

 land. 4th. Wiien combined with manure, 

 and applied in the form of compost, the effect, 

 both instant and remote, far exceeds any 

 other application of tiie components when 

 separated, with whicli I am acquainted, or 

 ever witnessed. And lastly — if stable ma- 

 nure has to be purchased, or even hauled 

 more than half a mile from the stable, bone 

 manure, at 50 cents per bushel, is the cheap- 

 est manure of the two. — Farmers' Register. 



For tlio Fanners' Cubinct. 

 « Too bi^' to Worlc." 



THOSE WHO FEAR WORK SHOULD DRE.VD POVERTY. 



The thorough cultivation of the farm and 

 the proper education of the children, are the 

 two great subjects that should engage the 

 attention of every farmer. If the former be 

 neglected, poverty and want will sooner or 

 later be inmates of your domicil, 'and it will 

 require more than ordinary diligence and 

 good management to drive them thence ; and 

 should the domestic education of the young 

 ones be overlooked or disregarded, and they 

 be suffered to grow up in habits of idleness, 

 disregardful of economy, cither of time, mo- 

 ney, or money's-worth, trouble will be your 

 lot all the days of your lives; and if you 

 want proofs of" either of these propositions, 

 make inquiry amongst your neighbours, and 

 you will find them as plenty as blackberries. 



In times that have now passed by, the 

 heads of families looked forward with plea- 

 sure to the period when their children should 

 be " big enough" to be serviceable to them, 

 "to work," as we used to call it; but alas! 

 how things have altered since 1 was a boy ! 

 for now we look forward with dread to the pe- 

 riod fast approaching, when our boys and girls 

 shall think themselves ^^ too i^^ to work;'''' 

 too conceited to be under parental control. 



Where parents loose the reins, the team 

 will soon be off the right track, and the only 

 way to keep possession of them is to be con- 

 stantly on the alert, to keep every member 

 of the family close up to their work, for Sa- 

 tan is always found furnishing employment 

 to those who are not otherwise engaged. 



78. 



For the Fanners' Cabinet. 



Farm for the Indigent Poor. 



Mr. Editor, — I have been exceedingly in- 

 terested with an account of the farm on 

 Thompson's Island, situated in the harbour 

 of Boston, which has been purchased by a 

 charitable Institution, for the purpose of form- 

 ing a retreat " for the education and reforma- 

 tion of boys, who, from the loss of their pa- 

 rents, or other causes, are exposed to tempta- 

 tion, and are in danger of becoming vicious 

 or useless members of society. It contains 

 140 acres of land, and was purchased for 

 !ii?6,000. The main building is 105 feet long, 

 by 36 wide, with a projection 39 by 25 feet. 

 The dining hall, school-room, and bed-rooms 

 48 by 33 each, and the family rooms, about 

 20 by 17 feet. It is a neat, substantial, brick 

 building, and admirably adapted to the pur- 

 pose; clean and comfortable. In the years 

 1837-8, the estimated annual produce of the 

 farm was $-4,500 ; and the expenses incurred 

 in farming operations, exclusive of the board 

 and salary of the superintendent, and the 

 board of hired men, was about $1,000; about 

 $1,500 each year being realized from the 

 sales of produce which was not consumed on 

 the premises. The establishment is under 

 the direction of a board of managers, the im- 

 mediate control being under a superintend- 

 ent, a matron, and an instructor of the school. 

 With respect to the discipline, the object is, 

 to combine moral and intellectual culture 

 with regular labour on the farm. During 

 the season of farming operations, the larger 

 boys assist on the farm, six or seven hours in 

 the d.ay, under the superintendent, who is a 

 practical farmer; the other six hours being 

 devoted to reading, writing, &c. ; and in the 

 evenings of winter, instruction is given in 

 the first principles of agriculture, liorticul- 

 ture, and botany; the processes of cultiva- 

 tion, the names, uses, and qualities of seeds, 

 plants and trees, &c. ; Sunday, and other re- 

 ligious instruction being constantly kept up. 

 The object is, to make the boys skilful farm- 

 ers, and they are, therefore, taught to pre- 

 pare the ground, sow the seed, and reap the 

 crops, hoe, and weed, and gather in the grain 

 and vegetables. The persons employed at 

 present are, a superintendent, a matron, a 

 teacher, two farmers, and four female attend- 

 ants; the number of boys eighty, whose ages 

 average 14 years. During the past year, an 

 extensive piggery, more than one hundred 

 feet in length, with suitable yards, have been 

 constructed ; the stock on the farm being 4 

 oxen, 14 cows, 1 horse, 20 sheep, and 5() 

 swine; the ploughed land is 22 acres, of 

 which, 6-^ acres were rye, 7 Indian corn, 6 

 potatoes, 1 acre ruta baga, 1 acre sugar beet, 

 one-eighth acre carrots, one-eighth acre gar- 



