66 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



after hauling logs all winter ; then put his 

 manure on his upland where he would raise 

 potatoes enough for the family and corn 

 enough with what he took as toll at the grist 

 mill to fat his hogs, which were all consumed 

 in the family. Most of his good hay he sold. 

 And now his farm is not nearly as good as it 

 was when he took it. He digs no stones, 

 makes no wall and drains no land. But he 

 passes for a successful farmer. 



There can be no harm in advising him to 

 stick to the farm. 



I know another farmer, who three years 

 ago left his place as foreman in a large fac- 

 tory, where he said he was getting all the 

 wages he was willing to ask. He had saved 

 enough in twenty years to buy a five thousand 

 dollar farm. He put it all into a farm, and 

 run in debt for the stock and tools. There 

 was lumber enough on the place to build a 

 new barn, which the place very much needed, 

 but rather than be in debt he sold the lumber 

 standing to pay for the stock and tools and 

 then hired a man to run the farm while he 

 went back to the shop to stay long enough to 

 earn a new barn. lie has tried several differ- 

 ent men, but all of them had to draw on his 

 wages to keep the farm running. And now 

 he has let it out for a term of years, hoping 

 some time to have earned enough in the shop 

 so that he can afford to live on his farm ! 

 Would you advise him to stick to the farm ? 



I know another farmer of fifty years of age, 

 who, till last spring, had been in a mechanic 

 shop thirty years, was receiving good wages 

 as engineer, house rent gratis, with a large 

 family of girls all engaged in the shop at good 

 pay. Last spring he and his son-in-law 

 bought a large farm for seven thousand dol- 

 lars, paid two thousand down and mortgaged 

 for the balance. He runs a milk cart, gets 

 up earlier in the morning than he ever did 

 when confined to the shop. 



He is disappointed in the capacity of the 

 farm. Has to buy a great deal of feed for 

 the cows. His fruit all blew off in the gale. 

 His potatoes were spoiled by the drought, 

 and the family have consumed all the garden 

 produced. The taxes are high and the inter- 

 est money is on the opposite page from what 

 it was before this year. He is feeling decid- 

 edly hhie. He and his family never worked 

 so hard before or received so little for it. 

 Shall he stick to the farm ? 



If I were buying my farm produce I might 

 say "stick." But while I am raising food to 

 sell, I do not expect to spend a great deal 

 of breath in trying to convince people who do 

 not like the business, or those who do not suc- 

 ceed in it, to stick to the farm. 



A. W. ClIEEVER. 



Sheldonville, Mass., Bee. 27, 18C9. 



Remarks. — We are so well pleased with 

 the manner in which pur esteemed correspon- 



dent has presented his views, and our columns 

 are so crowded just now, that we defer for the 

 present any remarks of our own upon the 

 subject of this communication. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE QAKDE3N IN FEBRUARY. 



"Who slaokoth hie tillage a carter to be, 

 For groat act abroad, at hsme Iobo shall three, 

 AnJ so by his doing, he brings out of heart 

 Both land for the corn and horse for the cart." 



Thus wrote the Poet-farmer Tusser. Can 

 the reader see any point in it, as applied to 

 the farmer's garden ? I merely throw out the 

 suggestion, and leave the inferences to be 

 drawn and applied to suit each individual case. 



In our climate little else can be done in the 

 garden in February than to get ready for 

 spring work ; although I have known excep- 

 tional seasons when ploughing and planting of 

 early crops was done in this part of Connecti- 

 cut as early as the latter part of the month, 

 and all prospered and perfected good crops. 



In all our management and plans of the 

 garden, our aim should be af the highest de- 

 cree of excellence. To excel is one of the 

 chief sources of pleasure with all enterprising, 

 go-a-head individuals in any undertaking. 

 There are many things in the care of a garden 

 from which an Inquiring mind may extract 

 pleasure as well as profit. In watching the 

 beautiful processes of nature, there are many 

 interesting lessons. As a general thing we are 

 too much of a matter-of-fact people ; we min- 

 gle too little pleasure with our business. In 

 all our gardening operations we should have 

 cur eyes open to the charms and attractions, 

 of vegetable growth and perfection. Thus 

 labor would become more profitable and suc- 

 cessful, — for where there Is a love and interest 

 in any business success is sure to follow. 



Cold Fuames. — Look at directions given 

 last month and follow them up — plenty of air 

 mild days, and protection from changes, com- 

 prise the principal care. 



Fences. — A good garden fence, kept in re- 

 pair at all times, will save a deal of trouble 

 from the invasion of stray animals. Gates 

 should have fastenings, and be capable of 

 swinging without dragging on the ground. A 

 nail in tliat loose board or picket will prevent 

 trouble. 



Gkape Vines. — If these were not pruned 

 in the fall, embrace the first mild spell when 

 they are not frozen, and prune them. Ram- 

 pant growers will do better not to cut them 

 very close ; they will produce more fruit and 

 ripen it better than If pruned to one or two 

 eyes. Vines sho.5>.ld be pruned, according to 

 their growth and habit. 



Hot Beds. — For general family purposes 

 at the North, hot beds will not need to be 

 started till next month or later. Frames and 

 sash should be got in readiness, by doing all 



