1848. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



249 



PREMISES OF A LUCKY, OR GOOD FARMER. 



a proof of the miserable manner in which 

 things are made, and of our friend's luck in get- 

 ting bad ones. His cows, though they find little 

 opposition to entire freedom, will never keep 

 fat, although they are only milked three or four 

 months out of the twelve ; while his neighbor's 

 are milked eleven months, and are in good con- 

 dition constantly, notwithstanding they are kept 

 confined to a small lot during the whole summer. 

 This farmer has a mortal abhorrence of all 

 books and papers which relate to his business. 

 Farming was a trade which he learned of his 

 father and grandfather before him, and it is a 

 pity if they did not understand their business 

 better than these fellows who print agricultural 

 papers. Besides one of his neighbors is a "book 

 farmer," and is always at some new whim which 

 our hero's father never practiced." 



As a proper and pleasing contrast to the pre- 

 ceding illustration, we give at the head of this 

 page an engraving representing the "Premises 

 of a Lucky, or Good, Farmer." The two 

 sketches present, at a glance, what may be ap- 

 propriately designated "the lights and shades''' of 

 Rural Life. The contrast between Good and 

 Bad Farming — industry and indolence, intelli- 

 gence and ignorance — is most graphically delin- 

 eated. Indeed, the illustrations hardly require 

 a word of comment, as they speak volumes in 

 condemnation of indolence and carelessness, and 

 in favor of industry, neatness and order. One 

 of our objects in presenting them together is to 

 afford, through the " mind's eye," food for com- 



parison and thought on the subject of rural resi- 

 dences and their appurtenances — a mattar sadly 

 neglected, even among prosperous farmers. A 

 look at this engraving gives the reader an idea 

 of beauty, comfort and utility — a very desirable 

 combination, and one to which farmers wives 

 and daughters, at least, will offer no objection. 

 The owner of such a " homestead" as is here 

 represented will not only be a man of enterprise, 

 but possess good taste, and a sound, discrimina- 

 ting judgment. There are many, and we trust 

 thousands, of such men among the readers of the 

 Genesee Farmer — men who not only till, but 



STUDY TO IMPROVE THE SOIL — who READ and 



THINK, as well as work to advantage. And the 

 fact that such men are increasing in numbers 

 and influence, in all sections of the country — 

 while those who adhere to the superstitions of 

 the past, and depend upon the planets for guid- 

 ance and success, are diminishing in an equal 

 ratio — is a most gratifying and encouraging evi- 

 dence of the onward progress of intelligence and 

 improvement. The day is not distant when the 

 title of American Farmer will be far more hon- 

 orable, and expressive of more knowledge and 

 independence. As humble but earnest laborers 

 we shall continue to give our best efforts to the 

 achievement of an object fraught with so much 

 impoi-tance to our readers and the great mass of 

 community — the producers of the wealth of 

 the country — and earnestly invite the co-opera- 

 tion of all interested in the elevation of the cul- 

 tivators of our soil and the advancement of 

 American Agriculture. 



