Vol. LIV. No. 2368. 
NEW YORK, JUNE 15, 1895. 
1.00 PER YEAR. 
and humored, and, unless his whims are altogether 
outrageous, it is better to bear in patience for the 
pocket’s sake.” 
“ Will a few regular boarders be more profitable 
than a good many transients ? ” 
“A few of the better class of people for three 
months are vastly better than twice as many who 
move around every week or two.” 
The boarders that this family accommodate, are all 
of one family, and come every season, taking all the 
spare room in the house, whether they use it or not. 
They pay $30 each per week for seven persons, includ¬ 
ing children, making an income of $140 weekly. For 
this they expect good service and a good table, and 
THE SUMMER BOARDER. 
IS THE CROP WORTH CULTIVATING ? 
An Industry that is Growing in the Country Towns. 
The summer boarder was formerly to be found in 
favored localities along the New England sea coast, or 
among her mountain ranges ; but in those days he, 
or, more often, she, was given over to the tender 
mercies of the hotel proprietor, and the farmer was 
satisfied if he was allowed to furnish their spring 
chicken and roasting ears. But, “ times change and 
men change with them.” To-day, the seashore is 
dotted with cottages; shore lots rival city lots in value ; 
farms that were on the market a few years ago at 
are usually well provided with money, and pay liber¬ 
ally for the privilege of invading the farmer’s home. 
I have never had any experience in the business, 
but one of my acquaintances, who is a well-to do, 
progressive farmer, has grown the crop for a number 
of years, and to him I went for information. He 
promptly referred me to his wife, and from her I ob¬ 
tained the facts given below. 
The Opinions of an Expert. 
“Can farmers cultivate the summer boarder crop 
with profit ? ” I queried. 
She replied, “ Yes, I think so, with proper cultiva¬ 
tion and an occasional weeding out. A combination 
THE SUMMER BOARDER CROP. FEEDING IT A “BALANCED RATION”! Fig. 127. 
$50 per acre, now are divided into lots of 50 by 100 
feet, and sell anywhere from $10 to $30 per front foot. 
Improved methods of communication are doubtless 
the cause of this transformation. Business men can 
now keep within easy communication of their offices, 
and still enjoy the pleasures of life at the seaside. 
But many people do not like the sea coast, or cannot 
endure life in a hotel ; neither do they like the cares 
of housekeeping during the stifling days of summer ; 
these seek for homes with some farmer’s family, 
where the father can reach his office daily, if he so 
pleases ; where the mother and the sons and daugh¬ 
ters, can run down to the city at any time their in¬ 
clinations lead them in that direction ; and where all 
can enjoy the pleasures of country life without the 
trials and tribulations incident thereto. This class 
of hard work and patience will produce a fine crop, 
and fill out a flat pocketbook.” 
“ What would you consider necessary to commence 
the business with ? ” 
“This depends entirely on what is the normal con¬ 
dition. Clean, plain, well-furnished rooms, good beds 
and table linen, neat crockery and a variety of cook¬ 
ing utensils are necessary. If these are not on hand, 
of course they must be supplied. A knowledge of 
cooking must be possessed by some member of the 
family, and there will be many things to learn that 
can only be learned by experience. One needs to be, 
in a measure, adapted to the work to score a full suc¬ 
cess. Skilled help can be hired, but it comes high, 
and leaves the pocketbook correspondingly lean. 
Everj individual has peculiarities that must be studied 
they get it. They are so well acquainted with the 
place that it is like a home to them, and the women 
of the household know their individual taste so well 
that there is never any friction. 
“ Does the presence of boarders interfere with reg¬ 
ular farm operations ? ” 
“Yes, in some instances; but if you commence 
aright, and give the proper orders at the start, there 
will rarely be any difficulty.” 
“Will it pay to hire extra help in the house or on 
the farm to accommodate boarders for so short a time 
in the summer ? ” 
“That depends. If the amount of board paid will 
warrant it, why. enlarge the force of help until they 
can be waited upon to their satisfaction. Some mem¬ 
ber of the family should always attend to the bed- 
