236 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



t'oT the New Englatid Farmer. 

 PABM JOUEl^AIi AND FIELD BOOK. 



I had occasion, not long ago, to refer to the 

 American Almanac, a very valuable publication, 

 by the way, of 1833, and I there found an article 

 of considerable length, giving extracts from the 

 writings of Washington upon agricultural mat- 

 ters, embracing his thoughts upon various farm 

 topics, plans for a rotation of crops, suggestions 

 for the management of an estate, treatment of 

 manures, &c., and concluding with brief extracts 

 from his Farm Journal, showing how methodical 

 and systematic he was in every part of his farm- 

 ing operations. These extracts were generally 

 brief, just showing where, and what work was 

 performed for the day, with a reference to the 

 state of the weather, &c. I mention this to show 

 that Washington, as the most noble American 

 farmer, thought it of great importance to record 

 the daily transactions of his estate, and as a sort 

 of introduction to a few remarks upon Farm Jour- 

 nals. Of farm accounts, the debtor and creditor, 

 I do not intend to write, but of regular journals 

 or records, and also of a "Field Book," I propose 

 to say a word. 



Every intelligent farmer who is aiming for the 

 advancement of his occupation, should have a 

 plan of his farm, drawn to a scale, and so marked 

 out, that each field, brook, meadow, hill, and for- 

 rest growth can be designated and observed at a 

 glance. This plan need not cost a great sum ; it 

 is not necessary that it be nicely executed, as a 

 piece of artistic skill ; but if the farmer can use a 

 rule, compass and pencil, he can draw a plan 

 himself, and one which will answer every pur- 

 pose. This plan should be so complete, that the 

 fields may be numbered thereon, and room left 

 for certain figures or letters to be made upon it, 

 which letters refer to notes, remarks or other ex- 

 planations in the Field Book. The Field Book 

 is a small volume which the farmer carries with 

 him, and which he should never be without. 

 Passing over some part of his farm, he notices 

 something which must be done immediately. A 

 brief note of it is made on the spot in the Field 

 Book, and it is attended to at the first opportu- 

 nity, but for which, it would have been forgotten, 

 and therefore remained unaccomplished. 



The map of the farm shows the owner its situ- 

 ation, the lay of the different fields, the courses 

 of brooks, the direction of fences, and the posi- 

 tion of the whole estate. The Field Book is the 

 key of explanation. It tells the character of the 

 soil in a given locality ; it shows what particular 

 crop is now growing in a certain field ; it points 

 to where there is good fence or poor fence, en- 

 closing pasture or meadow ; and contains the sug- 

 gestive notes for improvements to be made upon 

 the farm, both present and prospective. 



To give a more perfect idea of the use and im- 

 portance of a Farm Map and Field Book, let us 

 take a glance at both. Upon the map, at a given 

 place, we notice, d, 3 ; and by reference to the 

 Field Book the same letter and figure is found 

 with this note of explanation. 



"At d, there are about ten rods of poor fence 

 wliich must be re-built the present summer. Cut 

 poplars at 3 — the figure 3 having reference to a 

 thick growth of poplars as shown on the map — in 

 June, and as soon as harvest is over, have the 



fence built of poplar-rails, using the stakes andf* 

 hunks which Robert made this spring, and which 

 are now in the open shed. May 7, 1859." 



It is often the case that farmers wish to make 

 changes in their fields, turning out certain ones 

 into pasture, making divisions in others, and also 

 making other improvements, such as clearing, 

 them of rocks, or putting in drains. Work of 

 this description can be all planned within doors, 

 provided the farmer has a map upon which he can 

 look, and when his plans are matured, the notes 

 can be made in the Field Book, and put into op- 

 eration at the first seasonable moment. So, too, 

 if the farmer is necessarily absent for a number 

 of days or weeks, he can arrange his work in ad- 

 vance, make notes for the foreman to carry out, 

 and the whole labor of the farm would go on in 

 his absence, as if he were present to manage every 

 job himself. 



The Field Book is the farmer's daily, which 

 notes down events as they occur, and makes sug- 

 gestions for future improvement ; the Farm Jour- 

 nal answers to the stately weekly, where opinions 

 are advanced, theories discussed, reflections writ- 

 ten out at length, and all matters of importance 

 recorded for future reference. 



A suitable book for a farm record, is one made 

 of foolscap paper, or better still, such blank books 

 as are for sale at most stationers, comprising 

 some 200 or 250 pages, and which can be bought 

 for less than a dollar. These books will last a 

 year or two, perhaps even longer. The heading 

 of each page should be something like the form 

 here given. 



1861. 



FAKM JOURNAL. 



23. 



The number at the right refers to the page, 

 and on the page opposite, corresponding with the 

 year, should be written the month. The records 

 suitable for this farm journal are all those which 

 come within the province of the estate, accounts 

 of the work upon the farm, with records of the 

 success or failure of certain experiments, state of 

 the weather, fall of rain and snow, appearance 

 and disappearance of birds, insects, &:c., time of 

 leafing out of common shrulis and trees, &c., &c. 



Most farmers can easily find time for the keep- 

 ing of such a journal, if they are satisfied of its 

 importance, and only give attention to it. At 

 times, more can be written than at others, but a 

 record should at least be made once a week, em- 

 bracing the more important topics of the Field 

 Book. 



The author of this sketch writes from actual 

 knowledge of the subject, and is therefore preach- 

 ing what he practices. Besides a rough map of 

 his small farm, and various Field Books, now 

 not of so much value, that their chief contents 

 are copied into the journals — he has six volumes 

 of a private farm journal, each volume of large 

 foolscap size, and embracing from two to three 

 hundred pages. The motto of these volumes I 

 suggest for others : 



"Count that day lost, whose low descending sun 

 Views from thy hand no worthy action done." 



Brookdale Farm, 1861. s. L. B. 



Remarks. — Everything that tends to bring 

 farmers to the opinion that their business is wor- 

 thy of systematic management, is a benefit to 



