18G0. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



339 



AN AXE TO GRIND. 



Not one of yoiu" political ones, by any means, 

 of which we hear so much just now, but a real 

 cast steel chopping axe, that has stood in the 

 wood-shed and been used whenever any of the 

 men folks or the Avomen folks have had occasion 

 to hack, hew or split, during the past winter. 

 Just see how blunt and thick the "edge" is. 

 What a grinding it must have ! 



But the grindstone — that is as bad off as the 

 axe is. True enough, you did resolve, as your 

 boys turned so reluctantly, and looked so tired 

 and disheartened, while grinding the scythes last 

 haytime, that you would have a better stone with 

 some of those friction rollers, and, perhaps, with 

 a treadle so as to be turned by the foot. But you 

 have not got it yet. That same little, worn-out, 

 hard-faced grindstone stands there still, with a 

 frame so low that a small boy must bow his 

 shoulders almost to his knees to reach the crank 

 which turns a gudgeon that must be kept wet or 

 it will squeak and groan dreadfully. What a thing 

 that is to grind a dull axe on. What a place, too, 

 for your boys to take first impressions of agri- 

 cultural labor, such an old grindstone is ! 



If the single experience of young Ben. Frank- 

 lin, one cold morning, in grinding an axe, has 

 added to the vocabulary of politicians one of their 

 most expressive phrases, who will venture to 

 compute the number of sea voyages that have 

 been planned by farmers' boys at the crank of 

 some old grindstone, or of resolutions formed 

 there to be merchant, mechanic, peddler, anything, 

 so that they shall not be obliged to grind dull 

 axes on miserable grindstones. 



Much is said, now-a-days, and well said, about 

 the duty of striving to make farm-life as attrac- 

 tive as possible. But it seems to be one of the 

 weaknesses of human nature, in this as in other 

 cases, when looking about for the means to be 

 used in securing a desired object, that we are 

 prone to neglect those little every-day ones with 

 which our work might be easily and cheaply 

 commenced, and to fasten our eyes and hopes on 

 something great and striking, and stand still till 

 it comes ; in plain words, the rickety, worn-out 

 grindstone is neglected and overlooked, while we 

 are waiting for the mowing-machine or the steam- 

 plow to relieve us from the drudgery of hard 

 work, and to make our business agreeable. 



But, as yet, axei, scythes, shovels and hoes, are 

 used upon the farm ; and our argument for a good 

 grindstone will be appreciated by all who know 

 the difference in th5 use of these implements when 

 ■ sharp and when dull. 



In looking over the premises of our agricultu- 

 ral friends, admiring improvements that have 

 been made, and discussing those that are project- 

 ed, we instinctively look for the grindstone. If 



we find it an ancient, sad-looking affair, with 

 wooden gearing, and leaning, it may bo, against 

 the wall for support, we feel like saying what the 

 proprieties of the occasion would not warrant- 

 But if the grindstone is nicely housed, hung on 

 well oiled rollers, and with a treadle, so that one 

 man can sharpen a tool without raising his neigh- 

 bors or coaxing his wife to turn "just one min- 

 ute," we feel assured that all is right. Depend 

 upon it, as goes the grindstone, so goes the whole 

 estate. 



FoT the New England Farmer. 

 FARMING IN KANSAS. 



Still but very little rain. But Ave are now hav- 

 ing our March winds, j^erhaps April showers will 

 soon follow. Very few gardens have, as yet, been 

 planted, May 29, and if the rain does not be- 

 friend Qs, Ave shall be compelled to forego our 

 vegetable dinners this season. The Yankceshere 

 do not relish the idea of going without the Yan- 

 kee dish of "biled vittles," and the probability of 

 it makes them pray most earnestly for rain. Prin- 

 cipally corn and potatoes have been planted, and 

 then but half of the usual quantity Avill be raised 

 this year. Wlieat and oats entirely destroyed. 

 It is lamentable, as a large quantity Avas sown 

 last fall. We seem to suffer more from the 

 drought in Atchinson county than elscAvhcre, as 

 reports from other counties speak of some rain, 

 and corn to be groAving finely. Many are the 

 probable reasons given for this dryness, and the 

 more ignorant and superstitious charge the tele- 

 graph, Avhich has lately been passed through this; 

 country to Atchinson, Avith preventing the rain 

 from falling, and so insist upon having the wires 

 pulled doAvn ; for, say they, "when the telegraph 

 Avas first put up in Missoury, thar' Avas nary rain 

 the mor'n two year, and then the people pulled 

 for Avires down, and Ave had a poAverlul rain right 

 away. Telegraph wires aint of nary use, anyhoAv." 

 It is most amusing to hear their arguments, con- 

 firming their belief, that the telegraph Avires have 

 a visible effect upon the atmosphere. 



^^Is Farming Profitahle'J" I have had my at- 

 tention much excited by the number of articles 

 upon this subject in the Farmer lately. Mr. 

 Pinkham labors earnestly and intelligently to 

 prove that farming is not profitable^ and that every 

 farmer loses $10 per acre for every acre of corn 

 he raises. A number of other correspondents 

 differ with him, and prove that they make a profit 

 of $14,72 to $2.3 per acre. 



Mr. Pinkham is certainly in a bad fix, and I 

 think that he is out of his element, that farming 

 is not his forte, and that he was cut out for a 

 shoemaker, or something else better. Or, per- 

 haps, he does not understand farming it upon an 

 economical scale, and therefore labors day after 

 day, under the conviction that he is losing mon- 

 ey, as he certainly is, if he does not understand his 

 business, and does not labor cheerfully and wil- 

 lingly. If he expends $47 upon one acre of land 

 and receives only $37 back, he certainly has taken 

 the "back track." I agree Avith him in his asser- 

 tion of not coining wealth at his rate of farming, 

 but think another correspondent, "Investigator," 

 cannot get rich much faster, if he expends even 



