148 Good and Bad Farming Contrasted. 
GOOD FARMING — ILLUSTRATED BY THE EXPERIENCE OF 
THOMAS RUSSELL. 
BY W. BACON. 
The present age has properly been designated as one of im- 
provement. We have daily illustrations of the fact, in whatso- 
ever branch of operations is brought before our observation; so 
that the very element of things in general, appear to have expe- 
rienced a new and revivifying influence within the last few years. 
It is so, in a great measure, with all the arts and sciences; it is 
so with general education, the unerring thermometer which so 
clearly indicates the upward progress of society, or its declension, 
as the spirit of the former in greater or less ratio marks the pro- 
gress of mind. 
In agriculture, as well as in other things, great and significant* 
changes have been wrought, insomuch that now and then, almost 
a solitary individual has raised his eyes in wonder and doubt 
whether any further improvement could be made in the mother of 
the arts. Such ideas, however, in no instance have their origin 
with those who, with open eyes and inquiring minds, look well 
into all the advancements of the age. They are expecting new 
light continually to break upon their visions, while the few who 
think all improvements at their climax, are so dazzled and blind- 
ed if a new ray happens to cross their path, that they shut their 
eyes and turn from it with shuddering. 
That such extreme cases should exist with men whose habits 
of life are in some respects so similar, and to whom equal induce- 
ments to progress are so cheeringly held out, may well be thought 
very strange, and doubted by professional doubters. Neverthe- 
less, it is a fact, and a truth to which thousands of unprejudiced 
observers are willing to substantiate, and of which a broad illus- 
tration has been brought before our notice within the last year. 
Thomas Russell was early thrown upon his own responsibili- 
ties in accomplishing his destinies in the world, and reached 
the, what is to most young men, desirable period of twenty-one, 
in clear possession of a " good New England common school edu- 
cation," a robust constitution, and a pair of as willing hands as 
were ever applied to labor. His strong aspirations were for a 
piece of land and a domicil he could call his own. If once in 
possession of these and the natural accompaniments, Thomas 
thought he should be a happy man, and should be able to convince 
others that energy of character was a far better endow^ment than 
fortune, or the capricious friends that fortune creates. 
But how was the little homestead to be obtained? Thomas, 
