456 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



If, in a given time, eight persons will consume 

 40 lbs. of fine lloiir or the usual product of one 

 bushel of wheat, then it M'ould take a considera 

 bly longer time for them to consume that flour 

 with the addition of several pounds of coarser ma- 

 terial. This saving from the useof unbolted flour 

 would be greater than just in proportion to the 

 increase in weight of the unbolted above the 

 bolted article, for the former contains the most 

 nutriment. It would be certainly within the 

 limits of truth to calculate that four bushels of 

 wheat would go fartlier in the unbolted state, than 

 five bushels bolted. This is no contemptible con 

 sideration, at present prices of wheat and flour.— 

 To this may be added the fixct that unbolted 

 flour is most conducive to health. — Country Gen- 

 tleman. 



For the New England Farmer. 



HONOR TO THE FAEMER'S WIFE. 



BY A. G. COMINGS. 



We have had some interesting articles from the 

 pen of the editor, upon Farmer Thrifty and Far- 

 mer Thrift/ess. These have had a very favorable 

 reception in all quarters, and "have gone the 

 rounds" among the scissored fraternity, very much 

 to their honor. 



It is never desirable to cripple a fast-sailing ship, 

 nor do anything of the kind ; but I cannot help 

 I'lierishing an inclination to try, at least, to take 

 .lome of the wind out of those sails, and turn it in 

 .1 different direction. Having been favored with 

 i view of the inside of "River Cottage," some 

 time since, I am entirely removed from any feel- 

 ing of danger, if I shall venture to suggest to my 

 esteemed friend, the editor, that Farmer Thrifty's 

 wife was justly entitled to a very large share of 

 the honor which has been given to him. 



A thrifty old-bachelor farmer is a most unnat- 

 ural, unusual and impossible idea. Mercantile 

 money-worshipers, commercial adventurers, and 

 political fire-eat. ;rs, can be made out of those un- 

 social things called old bachelors. But that first 

 of all employments, and greatest of all, agricul- 

 ture, requires a being of sense enough to know 

 that he is a man, and to know that no man honors 

 his manhood avIio is willing to live alone in this 

 wrold, that is, without a wife. The natural de- 

 sign and iirst proper use of a fiirm, is as a hoi7ie. 

 Wiiat a home tiiat would be, where woman should 

 have no place I Call for Robinson Crusoe, and let 

 him sing of its "charms!" 



In an old Imchelor's garden, flowers could not 

 bloom, for any good cause. Fruits could not ri- 

 pen, except the sour crab apple. He who would 

 not have a wife and cliildren about him, could 

 never care for cattle, horses, sheep, hogs or hens, 

 except with the same hoggish care that grunter 

 has Ibr his provender. It is a settled question. 

 No man can be a true farmer who is so much a 

 brute as not to he a social being. But this is all 

 out-door talk. We must go into the house, and 

 take a look at things tliere, if we want to under- 

 stand why Farmer Thrifty is always so thrif'.y 

 and so cheej;ful. 



The chances of thrift in this world, without a 

 wife, arc hardly one to a thousand. The chances 

 witli a wife, inay be reckoned about by square 

 numbers ; as, in some communities, about one in 

 four ; in others about one in nine ; and in others 



not more than one in sixteen, or perhaps one in 

 twenty-five. We reckon in this way. The fac- 

 ulty to accumulate, and the ability or faculty to 

 save, are two distinct faculties ; which have their 

 application both out of doors and in the house. 

 Without two interested persons, to direct or use 

 these faculties and interests, one in the house and 

 one outside, there is scarce a possibility of success. 

 In the most intelligent and well trained commu- 

 nities, of either men or women, not more than one 

 out of two are capable of managing their part suc- 

 cessfully. The probability for the success of the 

 couple will be a square of the chances. The 

 chances are two for the man, out of which to bring 

 one ; and in the same manner for the woman. Or, 

 more correctly I should say, the chances of each 

 are as one-half; which, squared, leaves one-fourth; 

 or one in four. Where not more than one in three 

 for each, their united chance would be one in 

 nine ; and so on. 



The faculty in the exercise of which the man is 

 to excel, is an ability to earn, or accumulate; 

 while the faculty necessary for the woman is an 

 ability to preserve, to keep, to economize. 



Now if, as poor Richard says, "A penny saved, 

 is as good as two pence earned;" then Farmer 

 Thrifty is not entitled to all the credit of the 

 success which has attended him 



The amount which can bo laid up, yearly, after 

 meeting all expenses, is but a small percentage of 

 the stock employed. If the farmer pays interest 

 on his farm , and the farm is worth no more than 

 the sum upon which he pays interest, then he has 

 properly nothing invested except his labor. If his 

 own labor would be worth four hundred dollars, 

 and the economical support of his family would 

 cost him four hundred, the management in the 

 house will decide whether he shall have any pro- 

 fit on this four hundred dollars. If, with the most 

 economical and careful management of his affiiirs 

 in thehouse, he could lay up six per cent, profit on 

 the worth of his labor, it would be only twenty- 

 four dollars per year. If he could lay up twelve 

 and a half per cent., it would only amount to fif- 

 ty dollars in a year. 



Some women are always very careful not to en- 

 croach upon the time of their husbands. Their 

 meals are always ready at the time wliich vrill 

 favor the out-door work. If they must call for 

 the assistance of "the boys," or the farmer, or for 

 the use of "the horse," it is carefully planned so 

 as to cost as little hindrance as possible. They 

 study economy in the use of fuel, whether it is 

 obtained from the farm or not ; and every article 

 of clothing, or of provisions. Everything is put 

 away, in the best order for preservation, or in the 

 proper place for convenience. Then they greatl;^ 

 increase the strength and activity of the farmer, 

 by the cheerful manner and spirit, and the con- 

 stancy of life, with which they seek to promote his 

 wishes. 



The fact is, the wife of Farmer Thrifty makes 

 butter and cheese, when she makes any, which 

 will add twenty-five per cent, to the butter which 

 Farmer Thriftless carries to market. Her boys 

 and girls will be kept in as good order nearly 

 twice as long, with the same clothing and shoes, 

 as those of Farmer Thriftless. Crockery, glass, 

 china ware, &c., can be used upon her table much 

 longer, by reason of a ready care. Farmer Thrif- 

 ty's wife is a cheerful woman, and people like to 



