Five Acres Too Much / A truthful elucidation of the attractions of the country, and a careful consideration of the question of profit and loss as involved in amateur farming, with much valuable advice and instruction to those about purchasing large or small places in the rural districts

A TRUTHFUL ELUCIDATION OF
AND A CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE Question of Profit and Loss as involved in Amateur Farming , WITH MUCH VALUABLE ADVICE AND INSTRUCTION TO THOSE ABOUT PURCHASING LARGE OR SMALL PLACES IN THE RURAL DISTRICTS. NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION. BY ROBERT BARNWELL ROOSEVELT, AUTHOR OF “GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA,” “SUPERIOR FISHING,” “FLORIDA AND THE GAME WATER BIRDS,” “PROGRESSIVE PETTICOATS,” “FISH HATCHING AND FISH CATCHING,” ETC. ———— NEW YORK: O. JUDD CO. DAVID W. JUDD, Pres. 751 Broadway. 1885.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1885, by the O. Judd Company, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. TO THE WRITERS OF BOOKS ON FARMING, GARDENING, HORTICULTURE, AGRICULTURE, AND FLORICULTURE, THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED , AS AN EVIDENCE OF WHAT CAN BE DONE AND WHAT WONDERFUL RESULTS CAN BE PRODUCED BY A CAREFUL STUDY OF THEIR DIRECTIONS AND STRICT OBEDIENCE TO THEIR RULES; AND AS A SLIGHT TESTIMONIAL TO THE ACCURACY, LUCIDITY, AND PRACTICABILITY OF THE ADVICE WHICH THEY GIVE AND THE EXPERIENCES THEY DESCRIBE; IN THE SINCERE HOPE THAT THEY WILL NEVER WEARY OF COMPOSING BOOKS EQUALLY TRUTHFUL, TRUSTWORTHY, AND INTERESTING. THE AUTHOR.



IT was in consequence of reading a little volume called “Ten Acres Enough”—a practical and statistical, as well as, in certain points, a poetical production—that I came to prepare this volume. In that work a charming and interesting account is given of the successful attempt of a Philadelphia mechanic to redeem a strip of exhausted land of ten acres in extent. In the course of it, a vast deal of advice and most valuable directions are given on the subject of planting and sowing, draining and reaping, manuring and pruning; berries and fruits, vines and vegetables, are duly considered; and the question of outlay and income, expenses and receipts, losses and profits, is forever ding-donged into one’s ears. So useful is the instruction it contains, that no one should think of buying a farm, experimenting in rural life, or even reading this book, without first perusing that one. To be sure, the author forgets occasionally some minor matters—such as clothing, food, and the like, leaving his family naked and unfed for several years—but that is doubtless due to his poetical temperament and intense love of nature. In the same spirit, therefore, no matter how frequently I may refer to money matters in the course of the following pages, even if I should occasionally condescend to speak of food and raiment—those commonplace necessities—it must be understood to be with no sordid view; and if I keep these matters before the reader’s attention, it will be for the sole purpose of benefiting and enlightening him, and pointing out clearly the financial consequence of investing in rural residences.