1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



71 



and relate their experience, as plainly if not 

 as bluntly. Rurus Nutting. 



Randolph, Ft., Nov. 29, 186G. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 SELLnSTQ THE FARM— ANOTHEE, SIDE 

 OP THE STOHY. 



I was much interested in your remarks about 

 selling the farm ; and as it is a question to 

 which I hav(; recently given much thought, I 

 will, Avith your permission, say something — 

 not about " the other side " — but about another 

 side " of the story." 



But I would first say that you give a very 

 good and true account of the advantages that 

 .ire, or should be, secured on a good farm ; 

 and that the importance of these advantages 

 cannot be too strongly impressed on the minds 

 of those discontented farmers who so often 

 complain that tliey get but little returns from 

 the farui, or that farming is not profitable. 



But in re^'ard to selling the farm, do you 

 not go to the other extreme in the comparison 

 you have so we.'l drawn ? That there are com- 

 paratively few fa.riaers who have passed the 

 better portion of tiieir lives on the farm, who 

 would be contented in a crowded city, is un- 

 doubtedly true. It woalv'l not be natural for 

 men that had been accut?tomed to active out- 

 door exercise, to set down with nothing what- 

 ever to do ; not e\ en a hor^-^e to ride around 

 among farmers, to see how their old business 

 prospers: The change would be too great to 

 be conducive to health, pleasure, or satisfac- 

 tion. 



But because a farmer would not be content- 

 ed with city lile, is that a sufficient reason for 

 keeping up the same hard-working farni-I.'fo 

 until he di'ops into his grave, or at least as 

 long as he is able to work H Of course there 

 are many who have sons that take hold and 

 carry on the farm, and provide good comfort- 

 able quarters, with a safe horse and easy car- 

 riage, for their parents. In such cases, farm- 

 ers, who are getting old, can probably be as 

 comfortable and contented as anywhere. But 

 1 am sorry to say thei-e are some sons who 

 manage, if not calculate, to get all the work they 

 can out of their parents. In such cases the old 

 farmer needs a home by himself. Where the 

 children ha\e all, or about all married olf, and 

 got iiirms, or gone into some other business 

 by themselves, arul declining years and failing 

 health make it diHicult for the old people to 

 attend to the dill'erent kinds of work on the 

 farm, or props'rly to oversee and attend to the 

 hired help necessary to carry it on, — especially 

 when it is as dilficult to find men that can be 

 depended on to work alone without the "boss," 

 or girls that will work in the house without 

 constant oversight, and are so often anything 

 but the quiet, agreeable people, that it is 

 pleasant to have around them, — I say when all 

 this is the case, as it is in many instances in this 



section, it seems to mc it is time to " sell our 

 little farm." 



But because it is time to retire f'mm the 

 farm, it does not necessarily follow (hat he 

 nuist go into a crowded city. That would be 

 going to the other extreme. But it ap|)cais to 

 me that there is a medium course lor l.im to 

 take ; that there is a way in which he may enjoy 

 many of the advantages of town Kfe, .-umI still 

 have nearly all of the conveniences and com- 

 forts of the farm. 



Now I will try to show the kind of life that, 

 it seems to me, would suit and I e suilulle for 

 such a farmer. He should have a small place 

 of from four to twelve or fifteen acres, accord- 

 ing to the location and fertility of the land; 

 the principal object being to lia\e enough to 

 keep a horse and cow, and to rai.^e corn, pota- 

 toes, vegetal lies and fruit for a sni;,ll Ihiuily, 

 and also to have enough grain and other feed 

 to make his pork. The amount of land will 

 also be governed by the location and price. 

 \^ close to a large village, where land is sev- 

 eral hindred dollars an acre, from foc.r to six 

 acres will often be enough. Then tlie cow and 

 horse may be kept on the soiling .'■ystem alto- 

 gether, or for the most part, and what more fod- 

 der there is needed be supplied by purchase. If 

 away from such towns, where land is cheaper, 

 the place should be large enough to supply 

 plenty of pasturage for a hor-e and cow dur- 

 ing the sunnuer, as well as hay and other feed 

 for vviiiter. But if means will pei-mit, it is 

 very desirable to locate near a ^ illagc of some 

 size, where there are good chnn Ik s >vilh able 

 preachers : and where there are opportiuiities 

 for attending some of the better (la- s of lec- 

 tures and concerts. It is also very de.--irable 

 to live near a railroad station ; io that it may 

 be couvcnicnt to go to neighl oring cities or to 

 visit didercnt parts of the countrv. 



Few farmers or their wives, who retire from 

 the farm to pass their declining years in com- 

 parative quiet and ease, will want a large 

 house. It is too much labor and troul>le to 

 fiirni.-h iJnd take care of it. The ll0u^e should 

 be large enough for the wants of the family, 

 and for the accommoilation of such number of 

 •ruests as llic vold people will p'obalilv wish to 

 entertain. The other buildings should be only 

 such as mav be needed for the land and stock. 



A course of rotation should be adopted, by 

 which a portion of the land will be planted 

 ever\- \ ear. and another portion seeded down 

 either "with or without grain. There will also 

 be a trood irardcn. including a good supply 

 and vaVietv of small fruits ; especially of .straw- 

 berries, raspberries, blackberries and grapes. 

 To attend to this garden, and the corn and 

 potatoes, and other" crops grown on the land, 

 and to take care of the horse, cow and pig; 

 and to keep things nice, clean and snug about 

 the buildings and yards, Avill be about as much 

 as such a firmer ought to do. While, if he is 

 not able to do much hard work, he will hire 

 now and then a few days, to do the hardest 



