1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



351 



farming is generally profitable in the long run; 

 because, with very little additional labor and ex- 

 pense, every subsequent year, the land may be 

 made to yield very great and profitable crops. 



Indeed, skill ii absolutely indispensable in all 

 farm operations; skill in buying and selling; 

 skill in saving everything, and in converting it to 

 some useful purpose ; skill in making, saving and 

 applying manures ; skill in plowing the land, in 

 pulverizing the soil, and in fitting it for the re- 

 ception of the different kinds of seed ; skill in 

 the selection of seeds, and in adapting them to 

 the different kinds of soil; skill in cultivating 

 the different kinds of crops and of garden vegeta- 

 bles, and in turning them to good account ; skill 

 in breeding, rearing and managing the various 

 kinds of farm stock, so as to render them useful 

 and profitable ; in fine, skill in everything. 



JOHX GoLDSBURT. 



Warwick, March, 1861. 



B,A1N. 

 CO UNTRY. 



The rain-drops now fall gladly all around, 

 And light with sweet repose upon the ground : 

 Each leaf and flower, each tiny blade of grass, 

 Rejoices that the rain has come at last ! 

 How welcome to the farmer, as now he lays aside 

 His work — and then at close of eventide 

 Gives thanks unto the Sender of the rain 

 For giving all this blessing once again 1 



CITY. 

 Upon the cold, damp pavement, hear it patter ! 

 The people now are in a wondrous clatter ; 

 The gutters by the side -walks like little rivers seem. 

 As falling drops of rain in the last sunlight gleam ; 

 How thankful is the country '. — as for the city, never ; 

 Its people cannot stop to praise our God, the giver ; 

 For 'tis rery inconvenient thus to have it rain, 

 And be upon the street with such a lengthy train. 



For Vie New England Farmer. 



FARMING, OR A LOVE FOR THE PRO- 

 FESSION NECESSARY TO SUCCESS. 



"If you would succeed in business, you must 

 be in love with your profession." 



Perhaps some of the more sensitive and would- 

 be-refined will object to applying the above max- 

 im to the profession of agriculture; and no doubt 

 such will say, "It might very appropriately be 

 applied to some of the more popular or literary 

 professions ; but to apply it to the lower order of 

 professions verges almost on the vulgar. 



I, however, shall object to such a verdict, and 

 hope and trust to convince those who have looked 

 down upon us, that husbandry is not a low pur- 

 suit, but an honorable, high-toned and profitable 

 profession ; and when carried out to the letter, 

 sure to return happy results. But to be success- 

 ful, you must be in love with the profession. 



You may ask how ? In what manner ? Well, 

 in the first place, you must love to work ; love 

 the farm, and all connected therewith, both in re- 

 gard to profit and pleasure ; and take a deep in- 

 terest in the full development of all its parts. 

 The shrewd, calculating farmer will not do his 

 •work "by the halves ;" he does it in such a way 

 that he will secure the whole crop. 



He loves to see his fields well manured, well 

 plowed, well harrowed and thoroughly pulverized. 

 He will now take great pains to get the best va- 

 riety of seed, and put it in the ground in a thor- 

 ough and judicious manner. He will then not 

 only love to, but most assuredly will have the 

 pleasure of seeing the young blades look thrifty, 

 and finally, of gathering a bountiful harvest. 



He will love to watch the tender plants, and 

 nourish and protect them from noxious weeds or 

 deadly vermin ; and will hail with joy the first 

 opening bud or blossom. His interest, care and 

 protection extends equally to the most delicate 

 garden plant, struggling for life between weeds' 

 and weather — the tender blade of corn, pointing 

 heavenward, for the sun's genial rays, as well as 

 the sturdy potato, and other hardy plants, which 

 almost defy wind or weather. The farmer is the 

 faithful guardian of all ; and he will watch over 

 all with a jealous eye, if he love his profession. 

 He loves to contemplate his growing crops, as 

 one leaf after another is put forth, until at length, 

 the full ear is formed, and all is well stored in 

 his ample barns. 



A model farmer will have his fields, as well as 

 pastures, suitably divided. He not only has a 

 system of rotation of crops, but of fields and pas- 

 tures, as well ; each being used alternately. And 

 if his fancy leads him that way, he will form beau- 

 tiful and picturesque scenery, and at the same 

 time make it a source of profit, by planting fruit, 

 and other valuable trees and shrubs, around his 

 fields, as well as by the roadside and around his 

 dwelling ; and especially will he take great pride 

 in making everything around his home w^ar a 

 cheerful look. He will have the choicest of fruits 

 and flowers in his garden, the grounds of which 

 will be both ample and tastefully arranged. 



Nor do I overstep the bounds of propriety or 

 probability»if I say, he loves to see his wife or 

 daughters engaged with interest in the flower 

 garden ; he loves to see them and the roses bloom- 

 ing together ; he loves to see everything enjoying 

 life, happiness and prosperity. 



And when at length his fields are "white unto 

 the harvest," when his choice fruit trees are bend- 

 ing their branches with a precious burden, and 

 the "golden harvest" of bright, long, yellow ears 

 of corn, and the more modest pumpkin, meet his 

 eye, what a source of pleasure is here ! With 

 what a joyous heart, and with what renewed en- 

 ergy does he ply his skill, until all is secure ; and 

 with what gratitude and thanksgiving does he 

 raise his thoughts to the Giver of all good ! 



His crops all secure, the faithful farmer, true 

 to his calling, loses no time, but again speeds his 

 plow, and prepares for another year. Thei-e are 

 stone to dig, ditches and drains to make, land to 

 clear, and other improvements to make ; all in 

 their turn, and each in its most appropriate sea- 

 son. And for all this multifarious business, the 

 farmer finds ample time ; for his whole heart is 

 in it, and his plans are well laid. He finds what 

 many are seeking after in vain — because they do 

 not seek aright — employment ; which begets 

 health, wealth and contentment ; and these beget 

 happiness. The secret of all is, "love for the 

 profession ;" "love of employment." 



And when at length the snows of winter begin 

 to fall, and cold, wintry winds howl around his 

 dwelling, the faithful farmer has the satisfaction 



