20 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the land that adjoins them. The wisdom of the Grecian law 

 whicli " forbade that men should purchase as much land as they 

 desired," may not be doubted ; but the right to legislate thus, 

 not being admitted in this country of sovereigns, we must resort 

 to agricultural suasion. Our advice then is for farmers with 

 large farms to sell oft' portions and apply the proceeds to a higher 

 culture of the remainder. They will then have less toil, more 

 income and satisfaction. 



Or if a family are grown up, and the father would have his 

 sons remain near himself, let liim set off to each a portion of 

 his unwieldy territory, as distinct farms. Do all that his means 

 will justify to establish them permanently ; relinquish his pecu- 

 niary right and his paternal right of control in the management 

 of the new farms, to the young men, according to their charac- 

 ter and the confidence that may be placed in them. 



The head of the family should not impoverish himself, even 

 for his children, but in thus giving to them — of his abundance 

 it may be — while he yet lives to see the use made of it, he feels 

 amply rewarded by the gratitude expressed, and the homes early 

 established and made happy by his munificent duty. This 

 course is far more commendable, tlian the selfishness of retain- 

 ing one's property till he can keep it no longer, exemplified in 

 that most obnoxious feature of home management known as 

 " taking care of the old folks." Those of the latter who are of 

 this class, while yet in the prime of life, have frequent conver- 

 sations Avith their boys on this subject, and when one is found 

 willing to accede to their wishes and demands, he is thenceforth 

 the favorite, and the brothers are allowed to leave the parental 

 roof, often with little or nothing witli which to commence life, but 

 a priceless independence ; a condition infinitely to be preferred to 

 that of the apparently favored one, who is frequently reminded 

 — as a matter of great merit — that the house and lands are 

 finally to be his. 



