AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



PUDI.ISHED BY JOSEPH BRECK & CO., NO. 52 NORTH MARKET STREET, (AoaiccLTDnAi. Wabemou^e.j-ALLEN PUTNAM, EDITOR. 



L..XXII.] 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30, 1843. 



ISO. 9. 



N. E. FARMER. 



ECONOMY. 



.\ lady corrcspondenl addresses the followinrr 

 isible epistle to the Editors of the Central New 

 rk Fanner: 



" Genllemen — Will yoii give place in your col- 

 ins to a few de.^iiltnry tliniighls nn Economy ? I 

 jposu you are not much troubled with comuiuni- 

 ions from the ladies on this important subject ; 

 I believe that we, as a class, have paid less at- 

 ition to it than eonllemen of small and reduced 

 tunes could desire. Dr. Johnson thought it was 

 > dutv of every individual to make some improvo- 

 nts in the chart of life ; to point out the rocks 

 i quicksands where he has suffered loss himself; 

 i I suppose it is equally the duty of him who 

 s sailed on a smooth sea, to leave his compass 

 i his wake for the direction of future travellers. 

 Observation is worth something- as well as expe- 

 nce ; and when we see a poor debtor surroand- 

 by a set of clamorous creditors, grasping the 

 t cent which the law allows, we may realize all 

 ! evils of mismanagement and e.ttravagance, 

 thout partaking of their bitter fruit, 

 fliy attention has been called to this subject, by 

 s failure of several farmers, and as, in such ca- 

 j, whole families are involved in the general 

 eck, I trust I shall be pardoned if I offer a few 

 ggestions to those wives and daughters, who 

 ire proportionably in the weal and wo of the 

 ■mer'slife. 



First, if debts have been contracted, it is for 

 u to save the means and help lay by in store 

 fficient to meet those dues. I have always no- 

 ed that there was a better state of feeling in 

 3se families in which the woman knew some- 

 ing of business matters, than rn those in which 

 B is entirely ignorant of the extent of her hus- 

 nd's resources. In the latter case, it is not un- 

 mmon for her to desire and expect a supply of 

 5ans which it is impossible for him to furnish, 

 le short and decisive refusal, without the whys 

 d wherefores, is the end of the matter with him ; 

 it not so with her. She thinks it over, the de- 

 al rankles deeper, till she half believes it was 

 c result of iinkindnoss alone. Now very likely 

 she knew all the circumstances of the case, she 

 luld not have expected or even asked for what 



knew it was impracticable for him to purchase ; 

 r it must be remenibercJ that we, (a majority of 



1 at least,) are reasonable beings, and of the mi- 

 irily I know there is a class, (though I acknowl- 

 Ige it with shame,) who are determined to gratify 

 e suggestions of a giddy fancy, without consult- 

 g the length of their husband's purse. .Many a 

 rmer is injured if not positively ruined, by the 

 lormous amount of hisstore bills. The silk dress- 

 !, and satin shawls, the fine kid gloves and ex- 

 msive bonnets, with all the corresponding things 

 r table, parlor, and chamber, create a style of 

 ings too expensive for the man who has no in- 

 ime but the products of a small farm. This 

 ission for drees and fine living, is owing altogeth- 



er to a perverted taste, a false estimate which we 

 place upon appearances. Rustic attire renders us 

 none the worse, nor gaudy trappings any the bet- 

 ter. 



I have noticed, also, that the plain f.irmcr's fare 

 is giving place to the luxuries of the more opulent. 

 My plan is to live plain myself, and give my com- 

 pany the same sort of living. Belter indeed, to 

 give them the plainest food, and furnish nought 

 but cold water, 'sparkling and bright,' than pre- 

 sent them with choice viands, fine Java, and the 

 best of Old Hyson, at the expense of our creditors. 

 Let us not feel willing that others should sutler 

 loss through our excesses. Let us become like 

 the women of the old school, simple in our diet, 

 economical in our dress, cheerful in our labor, and 

 patient in our suffering. 



Ours is indeed a life of care and labor, but it is 

 one favorable to the enjoyment of true happiness, 

 and the cultivation of our moral nature. We 

 need not sigh for the ease and indolence of the 

 fine lady, for could we but feel the languor and 

 ennui that oppresses her, we should sigh again for 

 that healthful labor that calls us up at the rising of 

 the sun, and gives us but little respite till the go- 

 ing down of the same. 



Now in recommending strict economy, and labor, 

 I do not propose to abridge the comforts of life, but 

 on the other hand to enhance all its joys. An ac 

 tive employment and simple diet, give vigor and 

 elasticity to the whole system. In fact, they are 

 the essential conditions of its regular and heathful 

 action. Freedom from debt, and a consciousness 

 of integrity, give satisfaction to the mind, such as 

 the fraudulent debtor can never know. 



Let it not be understood that we would encour- 

 atre a mean and avaricious disposition, for this we 

 consider still more reprehensible than a careless 

 and prodigal one. But between two extremes 

 there is always a mean, and this is as true in house- 

 hold operations as in the problems of Euclid. 



In relation to funds expended for the education 

 of children, we have only to say, let them be ex- 

 pended judiciously. Look well to it that you get 

 the worth of your money, for the country is filled 

 with teachers who care as little for the improve- 

 ment of your children as the unfaithful hireling 

 for the improvement of your farm. When we com- 

 bine our efforts to educate aright the young, and 

 overcome in them that repugnance to labor which 

 is so prevalent in our country, the condition of the 

 farmer will be truly desirable. .\nd it is for us to 

 render labor pleasing — not we who write, or those 

 who lecture about it — but for us who work. Hab- 

 its of industry are formed far earlier by example 

 than by precept, for the child who sees a whole 

 household rise with the dawn and perforin their 

 allotted work with cheerlulness and pleasure, will 

 naturally catch the spirit and copy the example of 

 those around him. A drone placed in a commu- 

 nity where labor was universal, where it was con- 

 sidered honorable, would cease to bo a drone; how 

 much easier, then, to learn the child, whose habits 

 are all unfoimcd. 

 ' There have buon foolish fathers among tha far- 



mers, who thought their sons must obtain some 

 learned profession, instead of a knowledge of their 

 own noble occupation — and there have been fool- 

 ish mothers who have brought up their daughters 

 in idleness and ignorance, (at least of household 

 affairs,) hoping that they would marry wealthy 

 tradesmen or fortunate speculators. But we be- 

 lieve this ridiculous burlesque upon common sense, 

 is giving place to more rational views And expec- 

 tations. Hut we are digressing from the subject 

 upon which wo proposed to write, and also verify- 

 ing the old proverb, that when a woman begins to 

 talk, she never knows when to stop. 



Economist. 



THE FARxMER'S PROFESSION. 



Princely patriarchs, prophets, kings, philoso- 

 phers, the great of all ages, have honored agricul- 

 ture with their particular regard. The pursuit is 

 indeed laborious ; but labor is no longer an evil, 

 except in its excess. The cheerful performance 

 of labor by man, has freed it from its original 

 curse. It is now a boon of heaven — the condition 

 of unnumbered blessings. The farmer's calling is 

 full of moral grandeur. He supports the world — 

 is the partner of nature, and peculiarly ' a co-work- 

 er with God.' The sun, the atmosphere, the dews, 

 the rains, day and night, the seasons — all the nat- 

 ural agents — are his ministers in the spacious tem- 

 ple of the firmament. Health is the attendant of 

 his labors. The philosophy of nature exercises 

 and exalts the intellect of the intelligent farmer. 

 His moral powers are ennobled by the manifesta- 

 tions of supreme love and wisdom in every thing 

 around him — in the genial air, the opening bud, 

 the dalicate flower, the growing and the ripening 

 fruit, the stately tree — in vegetable life and beauty 

 springing out of death and decay — and in the won- 

 derful succession and harmony of the seasons : 



" These as they change, Almighty Father ! these 

 Are but the varied Ood. The rolling year 

 Js lull of Thee." 



We are now beholding a. mighty moral revolu- 

 tion. Hitherto, glory has been found in the de- 

 struction rather than the preservation of man. The 

 history of our race is a history of wars. An age 

 of peace and philanthropy is arising upon us, in 

 which renown will be sought in usefulness. Jus- 

 tice will yet be fully done to the benefactors of 

 mankind. Voung, and Watson, and Clinton, and 

 Buel, and others, both of the dead and the living, 

 who have laid society under enduring obligations, 

 will receive their share of the public gratitude. 

 How dim, how fleeting is the fame of the mere 

 warrior, when contrasted with that of the philan- 

 thropist. What wasting battles, what fields en- 

 riched with carnage, what spoils of victory, or 

 what splendid triumphs, could confer the lasting 

 glory of De Witt Clinton! — Mdress of Jlnson S. 

 Miller, Esq. hffore the Oiieida Co. (M Y.) Jlgricut. 

 Society. 



Do not neglect to save the best and earliest ape- 

 cimcns of your crops for next year's seed. 



