half-day all “one’s own” was a frequent 
gift, that I have known boys to improve 
their time in reading, studying or in work¬ 
ing for themselves. Much useful infor¬ 
mation, in fact a good education, com¬ 
bined with contentment, I have known to 
be obtained in this manner. If the parents 
did not themselves enjoy the pursuits of 
the boys, they did not discourage them if 
their efforts were praiseworthy. Every 
boy, too, has a feeling that he wants some¬ 
thing of his|own—a garden, a horse, a few 
sheep, a carriage, a little library, of which 
he has full possession. 
The importance of encouraging the boys, 
of giving them a frequent holiday, of con¬ 
versing with them as if you were once a 
boy, of making home attractive inside and 
out, in short, of making them feel as if 
something depends upon them, are subjects 
often enough discussed. But is it neces¬ 
sary that all farmers’ boys should become 
farmers ? Or, is it indeed, the best thing 
for agriculture that they should do so? 
Leaving out those who have a natural dis¬ 
like for the farm, it is evident that farming 
itself would be the loser if none of its sons 
followed the law or science, The farmer’s 
boy always carries with him his sympathy 
and love for the farm. Being himself “out 
of the profession,” he wields a greater in¬ 
fluence in behalf of agriculture than a 
farmer of equal ability. The rights of 
farmers would receive much less attention 
than they do if the occupation had no 
friends outside its own community. An 
influential man in sympathy with the farm, 
be his occupation what it may, is a wonder¬ 
ful prop to the agricultural interests of any 
country. We should in the same manner 
expect more science of direct benefit to the 
farmer from scientists bred upon the farm. 
Agriculture is so composite in its nature, 
its sympathies and resources are so many 
and so varied, that it draws support from 
many diverse sources, and upon the extent 
to which it can control these sources de¬ 
pends its power and its influence.— L. H. 
Bailey, Jr., in American Cultivator. 
Flour Barrels for Apples. 
In our locality and we believe in a major¬ 
ity of locations it would be thought down¬ 
right dishonesty to deliver less than bush¬ 
els for a barrel of either apples or potatoes. 
Yet Western New York has for some time 
been noted for its small fruit barrels. From 
the following wdiich we find in the New Eng¬ 
land Farmer it appears there is likely to be 
a reform in that direction: 
“Stirred up by recent articles in the home 
and foreign papers, the fruit buyers of West¬ 
ern New York have held a meeting at Lock- 
port, at which they declared their intention 
of purchasing apples this season only when 
put up in barrels as large as flour brrrels; 
Whereupon the growers have circulated 
and are signing a document to the effects 
that as the laws of that State regulate the 
size of apple barrels at 100 quarts capacity, 
it would be both unwise and unjust to apple 
growers, and ruinous to barrel manufact¬ 
urers and persons who have barrels on hand, 
to submit to this requirement of the pur¬ 
chaser, and that therefore they will continue 
to use the small barrel. For all that, we be¬ 
lieve that individual farmers who will break 
over this agreement, and pack their apples 
properly in full sized barrels, will make the 
most money out of it in the long run. The 
world is growing smaller every year, as 
people are brought closer together by the 
increase of facilites for transportation, and 
consumers are not obliged to buy apples or 
anything else near home, but can look 
through the markets of a whole continent, 
until they find where they can get the 
most for their money. Packers who attempt 
to make an extra profit by under measure 
or weight, are getting to be looked upon 
very much as those who adulterate their 
goods, a pr actice against which the world 
is beginning to kick” 
It is better to kill yourself with overwork 
than with over-indulgence, bnt best to avoid 
both. 
He who can rejoice over the misfortunes 
of others need not tell me that he is a happy 
and comfortable man. 
A place for everything and all things in 
their places, has saved a deal of trouble: 
and a time for everything and everything 
in its time, brings comfort and peace. 
