1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARI^IER. 



489 



efits and satisfaction to be derived from readi 

 ing agricultural papers, but a small proportion 

 of farmers read them. The condition and cir- 

 cumstances of landholders are so diverse, with 

 respect to nearness to good markets, pecunia- 

 ry ability, and many other things too numerous 

 to mention, that our farmers will for the future, 

 as they have in times past, do what seemeth 

 right in their own eyes. However desirable 

 smooth and well cultivated fields, highly im- 

 proved farms, large and abundant crops, choice 

 breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, swine and fowls 

 may be, they are not attainable by all. A con- 

 siderable amount of land is encumbered by a 

 mortgage, whose owners are cramped for 

 means. Others push forward improvements 

 vigorously, which add little or nothing to the 

 annual income of the land, or to its real mar- 

 ket value, while still others divide their time 

 between cultivating their farms and attention 

 to other pursuits. 



It is well known that the immediate profits 

 of flirming are small, when compared with 

 many other vocations, while it is not subject to 

 the fluctuations, the ups and downs, incident to 

 some other callings. The fact must be admit- 

 ted that farmers, to meet their numerous fam- 

 ily and ether expenses, must obtain considera- 

 ble money, either by way of revenue from their 

 farms, or some other source. 



Political economy teaches that human beings 

 are the subjects of expense during infancy, 

 childhood and youth ; and also during the de- 

 cline of life. Hence, if during the period of 

 health, strength and active labor, sufficient 

 funds are not accumulated to equal the expense 

 of support in infancy and old age, we do not 

 "act well our part," but are a burden to oth- 

 ers. A farmer who, while enjoying health and 

 strength and reason, is not accumulating a sur- 

 plus, is in fact indirectly wasting his estate. We 

 are at all times liable to contingent expenses. 

 Sickness, accidents, and misfortunes may oc- 

 cur at any moment ; buildings are constantly 

 going out of repair ; implements are wearing 

 out ; horses and carriages, as well as all the 

 fixtures of a farm establishment, are continu- 

 ally depreciating in value. 



As the country grows older, and the popu- 

 lation more dense, the various professions and 

 trades will be compelled to submit to a more 

 severe competition ; diminished opportunities 

 will exist for enterprise ; poverty, want, and 

 even pauperism, will increase, and farming will 

 have to be conducted in a more skilful and sci- 

 entific manner. The taxes on real estate must 

 for years, if not for ages, be high, because it 

 has to represent an undue proportion of the 

 valuation of the country, since a vast amount 

 of public and private securities pay no tax 

 whatever. Buying cheap and selling high, 

 however commendable, will avail but little if 

 not conducted discreetly. Some of our larg- 

 est insolvent debtors were the keenest at a 

 trade. 



One of the greatest obstacles to the devel- 



opment of the agricultural resources of the 

 country, is a lack of means on the part of pri- 

 vate individuals. This may be imputed to nu- 

 merous causes, such as shiftle^sness, prodigali- 

 ty, unstable habits, vice in its many forms, 

 continuous small and trifling expenses, neglect- 

 ing to sell surplus produce, accidents, losses 

 and misfortunes beyond human control. Al- 

 most every man of mature or advanced age 

 has earned or done business enough, if the 

 avails of it were judiciously disposed of, to 

 make a respectable fortune, or at least a com- 

 petency. A few facts and figures may not be 

 out of place here. The small sum of twenty 

 cents per week, unnecessarily expended, or in 

 any manner wasted, as for tobacco, for fifty 

 years, say from the age of twenty to seventy, 

 will, at six per cent, compound interest, amount 

 to upwards of $2900. The sum of $25 per 

 annum, or less than fifty cents per week, which 

 is exceeded by many families in the two arti- 

 cles of ardent spirits and tobacco, exceeds 

 $7250. After having indulged in such need- 

 less expense for so long a period, what returns 

 have we therefor ? Neither the consciousness 

 of having done right, nor security for the fu- 

 ture, nor health, honor or respectability. My 

 distinct meaning is, that however desirable 

 highly improved and well stocked farms, judi- 

 cious buying and selling, persistent industry, 

 extreme economy, may be on the part of agri- 

 culturists, — either or all of these will not 

 fulfil their expectations, if honor, or strict in- 

 tegrity, or a severe morality, are not rigidly 

 adhered to. A. Leavitt. 



Chichester. N. H., 18G7. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 S'WATfS. GEESE, &c. 



On passing the pond in the Public Garden, 

 I have watched of late, with some anxiety, the 

 white swan which has been sitting quietly in 

 the rustic enclosure near the bridge, hoping to 

 see for the first time the young cygnets. But 

 this morning — August 5th — I noticed that she 

 had abandoned the nest. In company with the 

 obliging superintendent, the eggs, three in 

 number, were examined, and all Ibund to be 

 rotten, with no visible formation in either; 

 showing the great difficulty attending the 

 propagation of the swan in this latitude. 



The swan attains to a great age. I was as- 

 sured by an old gamekeeper that one was kept 

 upwards of one hundred and twenty-five years 

 upon one of the old estates of England. Think 

 of a bird that had been watched by five gener- 

 ations of men! There is a sort of "solitary 

 grandeur" about the swan that belongs to no 

 other bird ; and their grace and beauty upon 

 the water has been the theme of all time. 



They lay but few eggs — from three to six — 

 and propagate at intervals of from two to ten 

 years, according to age, &c. It will be seen 

 that God has other purposes for these birds 

 than to administer to the physical wants of 



