198 Old and New Homes. 



delphia unfolded to these pioneers a section of country of which they 

 had no previous conception. The views obtained "upon the carriage-roads 

 were altogether more favorable than those afforded from the cars. On the 

 latter, a hasty passing glance could give only a bird's-eye view of the re- 

 gion ; while, on the former, the perfect cultivation and thrift could be clearly 

 observed. 



In their carriage-rides around the country during the two following days, 

 they made long calls at various farms where fruit-growing was a speciality, 

 and learned from the communicative owners a multitude of particulars 

 touching crops, labor, markets, and profits. There, if the facts were fairly 

 represented, an industrious, managing man might annually produce, and 

 send to market, far more fruit than would be sufficient to maintain his fami- 

 ly, while his farm was slowly, but surely, increasing in value. No one 

 depended on any single crop ; for all had many in succession. If the straw- 

 berries were cut short by excessive rains, the raspberries and blackberries 

 were benefited. If the hot sun shortened the hay crop, it would insure 

 the perfecting of those luscious melons with which New Jersey feeds all 

 New England. So ran the story with regard to other products : if any one 

 crop should fail, the variety which each season yielded was so great, that 

 the loss was in no case embarrassing. They looked suspiciously on the 

 light sandy loams of these farms, and found it hard to believe that they 

 could be made thus permanently productive. 



Well, the result of this prospecting was, that my father, being well 

 pleased with what he saw and heard of horticulture in New Jersey, bought 

 a farm, of which, it was agreed, he should have possession by the end of 

 March. We were properly astonished when he returned, and told us of his 

 doings. I must say that I had some misgivings as to whether the move 

 was for the best ; but his sanguine temperament re-assured me. We were 

 soon too busy in preparations for our departure to spend much time in dis- 

 cussions, for the time was short ; and what \Ve saw and did and suffered 

 and enjoyed must be deferred to future papers. H. 



Burlington, N. J. 



