THE FARMER'S HOME. 5 



his search for unique costume, from the days of William Penn 

 to Lord Raglan. 



These references to long estal)lislied customs have been made 

 to forestall the mental criticisms of any who may be jealous of 

 the subject. If they savor of ridicule, it is not in tlie sense of 

 trifling, for no one has more respect for the farmer and his call- 

 ing, than he who was a farmer's boy and is now returning to 

 his first love. Men will stand convincing reason, persuasive 

 argument and conviction itself, but not ridicule. Tkis is a 

 most potent weapon to be wielded in any reform, and will often 

 prove effectual when other means fail. A dozen set speeches in 

 Parliament would not have produced the reform in- the school 

 system of England equal to the ludicrous description of Doth- 

 boy's Hall on " brimstone morning." 



With all deference to these peculiar embellishments and 

 others of the same character that might be named, we would 

 suggest none but such as will make the farmers and their fami- 

 lies happier and more contented, richer and more respected in 

 these homes of their fathers and of their childhood, free from 

 many of the harrassing cares of the busy world. The poet 

 truly says : — 



" Happy is he, Avho in a country life, 

 Slums more perplexing toil and jarring strife ; 

 Who lives upon the natal soil he loves, 

 And sits beneath his old ancestral groves." 



Progress is emphatically the , order of the day. In all 

 mechanical avocations, every successful invention is seized 

 upon and appropriated at once. The horticulturist is on his 

 march with rapid strides, and many an agriculturist is not far 

 behind in the successful pursuit of his arts. His government 

 is doing much for his especial benefit, by reports and statistics, 

 and in importing from other countries seeds and scions of the 

 most improved products of the field and'garden, and forwards 

 these even to his own post office. 



While some are awake and availing themselves of every 

 facility offered for their own and the agricultural interests of 

 the country, the great object is to arouse a general interest and 

 activity. It is this slothful indifference of a dormant portion 

 that allows evils to pervade and curse the laud, like the thistle 



