1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



387 



ing its entire cost in a short time. I have used 

 the barometer for nitteorological purpot^cs, for 

 the past ten years, and have never regretted 

 its purchase. Besides its value in calcuhiting 

 the weather, the observations of its daily and 

 hourly changes is a source of much pleasure 

 and profit. It awakens curiosit}', s;.imulates 

 thought, and leads the mind to a closer con- 

 templation of those great natural laws, wliere- 

 by even ihe universe itself is maintained. 

 This wonderful little tube of mercury, by its 

 mysterious rising and falling, conveys to you, 

 sitting snugly by your lire, a visible indication 

 of the mighty movement and sweep of lar-off 

 air currents, that are perhaps marking the 

 earth and seas with devastation ; or which, in 

 the farther depths of this upper ocean, are 

 warring with other forces, as 'litonic as them- 

 selves. I have come to regard mine as a 

 necessity. True, we might live whhout clocks 

 or watches, thermometers or spectacles, kero- 

 sene lamps or gas, newspapers or books ; but 

 in this nineteenth centiny, willl'ully to neglect 

 any of the means Avhich the goodness of the 

 Creator has placed in our hands for mnking 

 ourselves wiser and better, and more comforta- 

 ble, is a sin. 



In selecting an instrument, see that the tube 

 and cistern are of good size, and that the 

 whole is portable, or may be easily moved. It 

 is desirable, also, that it be provided with a 

 vernier, by which variations may be read to 

 the hundredth of an inch. I have used several 

 different barometers, and I know of none of 

 moderate cost that is so generally well made 

 and relialde as the "Woodruff." This instru- 

 ment is perfectly portable, has a good metalic 

 scale nnd vernier, is tastefully gotten up, and 

 take it all in all, I believe there is no other 

 of a similar cost that will compare with it. I 

 have no pecuniary interest in this or any other 

 barometer, but desire simply to commend the 

 best. If any of jour numerous readers can 

 recommend a better one for general use, they 

 will convey a favor on all who are interested in 

 this neglected topic, by naming it. 

 June, 1867, An Old Contributor. 



For the New England Farmer. 



WILL IT PAY TO BE A SLICK FAK- 

 MER? 



For the following notes of the discussion of this subject 

 by the Iraeburg Farmers' Club, we are indebted to Z. 

 E. Jameson, secretary. 



E. P. Church was aware that a person is 

 subject to criticism if his theory and practice 

 do not correspond. Still he believes it pays 

 to be a slick farmer. The door-yards attract 

 our attention whenever we pass a farm. Some 

 are filled with decaying sleds, wheels, harnes- 

 ses, o.x-yokes, logs partly chopped and piles of 

 chip dirt. Other yards are swept clean and a 

 beautiful green tuif covers the earth ; all rub- 

 bish being either destroyed or packed away in 

 in the wood-shed or yard. 



Sometimes deep dead-furrows in the middle 



of fields, or high ridges about the edges are 



left so that the mowing-machine and horse-rake 



cannot work to advantage. At the second 



plowing, he sometiu es begins in the middle and 



turns two first flu-rows into the dead furrow, and 



'■■ sometimes has carted the outside furrow to 



; the middle. Wiiere wet and dry land join 



i there is frequently quite an abrupt descent. 



■ In plowing the dry ground, I begin at the bot- 



\ tom of the descent and with plo\v and shovel 



I work it down so as to form a gradual slope, 



I rather than a steep, break- neck place. It pays 



i to cut bushes on low land, and on side of roads 



I and fences, and our permanent road fences 



I should be made neat and tidy. Our barn 



j doors should be well hung and easily see 



cured. Tools should not be exposed to weath- 



I er as the iron rusts and wood rots, and 



when wanted for use are ready to break. I 



once had a new cart made for "$28, I used it 



20 years and sold it for $28. Tools that are 



sheltered when not in use last a lifetime. Now 



if we keep the roadsides free from bushes and 



rubbish, have our fences in order, and things in 



order a,bout the buildings, there will be such an 



attractive appearance that our property woidd 



sell for a much higher price than it would if we 



take the opposite course. 



A. Jameson said it pays to have things in 

 order and well cared for, but he once knew a 

 man who he thought was too slick for profit. 

 He would use his jack-knife in cutting the 

 gi-ass around stone heaps ; his hay-mow was 

 trimmed down square ; his hoes were brought 

 to the house every night and wiped dry ; and 

 he would not burn a stick of crooked wood in 

 his fire-place. 



G. B. Brewster once worked seven years 

 for a man who was nearly blind, yet was very 

 particular and knew how work ought to be 

 done, and would have it done right. "My ideas 

 of slick farming I got from him. He kept 600 

 sheep, and his barn and sheds were well ar- 

 ranged for their accommodation. The rub- 

 bish from the roadsides was taken into the 

 fields and burned. The yard back of the 

 house was equal in neatness and order to that 

 in front. I think it pays well to spend a few 

 days in the year in clearing up. 



N. F. Stiles thinks a man may be a thorough 

 farmer yet not a slick one. A farmer who 

 puts his work over the road double quick can't 

 stop to be slick ; it won't pay. 



Wm. L. Jameson had not been able to do 

 all his work as he could desire. Many things 

 which are left undone and which he does not 

 think will pay to hire done, gall me as much as 

 they do any one. In a new country the peo- 

 ple are necessarily busy getting a li^'ng, and 

 have not time to do unprofitable work ; l)ut as 

 the country gets older and the farmers richer, 

 we witness an improvement. He knew many 

 good farmers who are making money. They 

 take care of farm tools, fences and buildings, 

 yet they are not what are called slick farmers. 



