26 



planted, the implements and animals with which the 

 fami is stocked, and the hands by which it is w^orked, 

 little regard is paid to the expense, but the endeavor is 

 to have everything excellent of its kind. 



It is very pleasant to have such establishments sprin- 

 kled in among the farms of a given district. They fur- 

 nish striking examples of what may be done in the 

 field, the garden, and the stall ; and their influence in 

 improving the general style of cultivation and manage- 

 ment around them is, confessedly, very great. Those 

 who can afford to establish and maintain them are, or 

 may be, public benefactors ; but our farmers generally 

 must be content to learn what they can from both the 

 successes and the failures of such high farming, and to 

 follow at a respectful distance. They can neither put 

 up such fences and farm buildings, nor go so largely in- 

 to drainage and irrigation ; nor purchase such costly 

 fertilizers ; nor OAvn such expensive horses, cattle and 

 sheep. Nevertheless, they can see the importance of 

 concentrating expenses and labor on a smaller extent of 

 land, and in a smaller number of animals. If the same 

 amount of manure and labor will give as much profit on 

 one acre as if spread over two acres, leaving the one 

 acre in better heart, and the two acres more exhausted 

 than when they were taken in hand, then it is manifest- 

 ly advisable to work half the number of acres in the 

 superior manner ; for, in a few years, both the amount 

 of the products and the value of the land w^ould be 

 greatly enhanced. If a man can secure greater returns 

 of cash from an acre of vineyard than from eight acres 

 of corn or potatoes, then the cultivation of the single 

 acre is better than that of the larger number. If the 

 same amount of money expended in five sheep of a 



