CONTENTS.
| [INTRODUCTION.] | |
|---|---|
| Apotheosis of the Country, especially of such Portions of the Countryas the Author has for sale.—Many Attractions and still moreLots at Flushing.—Simplicity of Farming, and Lucidity of AgriculturalBooks.—Profits and Pleasures of Rural Life | [Page ix] |
| [CHAPTER I.] A COW. | |
| Special Points about the Bovine Race.—Directions in Feeding.—Preparationsto receive the Animal.—Her Arrival.—An awfulPause.—The Fray about to begin.—Intelligence of Cows and Biddies.—Victory.—ACalm.—Cow Complainings.—ApproachingStorm.—A Tempest in a back Yard.—Soothing Effects of “Mash.”—ImmenseProfits and glorious Prospects for the Future.—Peculiaritiesand Eccentricities of the Race as exhibited in a confinedSpace.—She is sent to the Country for the benefit of herHealth | [19] |
| [CHAPTER II.] A HOUSE, PLANS, AND SPECIFICATIONS. | |
| Wonderful architectural Genius of the Author.—He admires himselfand consults his Friends.—Difficulties in obtaining “just theThing.”—Want of Time.—Free Trade in Houses advocated assuperior to Home Production.—The imported Article falls intothe Hands of a Philistine named Barney.—A fresh Arrival.—TheHouse comes, but the Builder does not.—The Charge of theLight Brigade, and Flight of the Housekeeper | [37] |
| [CHAPTER III.] MORE LIVE-STOCK—A HORSE AND A PIG. WHICH IS THE NOBLER ANIMAL? | |
| Beauties of the Pig.—Defects of the Horse.—The dearest Pig andthe dearest Horse, each in their way.—A haunted House, and theEffect of Ghosts on Horses.—The Ghost Story precisely as it occurred.—AreGhosts liable to Damages when they frighten Horsesinto fits of running away?—Equine Eccentricities.—Practical Playfulness | [61] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] THE COUNTRY, AND HOW TO GET THERE. | |
| Easy Accessibility of Flushing.—An improving Railroad.—Educationby Steam.—True Principles of Travel | [77] |
| [CHAPTER V.] A WELL. | |
| A Well, considered classically and otherwise.—A Cat in search ofthe Truth.—A Catastrophe.—Pumps and Vanities of Life.—Apoor Sucker.—Hydraulic Pressure | [86] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] A KITCHEN GARDEN. | |
| Advantages thereof.—Things to have.—You wish you may get them.—Ornamentalas opposed to practical Views.—A dissolving View.—BadBeginnings do not always make a good Ending.—DanielO’Rourke’s as a grazing Crop.—The new-mown Hay.—Its Flavorand Flower.—Remarkable Results of Gardening for Profit | [97] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] THE FLOWER GARDEN. | |
| Architectural Skill set at defiance by practical Difficulties.—Resultof too much Greenness.—A Disappointment | [111] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] POULTRY. | |
| Strange Attack of Somnolency.—Dogs and Peppers as awakeners.—Theright Thing in the wrong Place.—A Hen lays herself out.—Twentypair of Chickens raise the Hair of one Mink | [124] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] FALL WORK. | |
| A Fortune in Strawberries.—How to get it out.—Debility developed.—Scienceto the Rescue.—The wonderful Effects of a Liquid Fertilizer.—NoFarmer should fail to have such a Thing in theHouse | [136] |
| [CHAPTER X.] PROFIT AND LOSS. | |
| Immense pecuniary Advantages of high old Farming.—Exactitudethe Foundation of Success in Life.—A plain Statement.—GeneralReflections.—An amateur Butcher.—Boiled salt Pork | [148] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] THE FLUSHING SKATING-POND—A DIGRESSION. | |
| A nice Man as an Ice-man | [161] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] THE SECOND YEAR. | |
| A new Start, with no Drawbacks.—Immense Results, but not preciselywhat was wanted.—The great Pea turns out small.—Wonderfulobstinacy of Plants | [169] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] SCIENCE. | |
| Knowledge is Power.—The new Flower.—A Thing of Beauty.—Appearancecontrasted with Perfume.—The Fox is the Finder | [179] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] A SECOND DIGRESSION—FAIRY TALES FOR LITTLE FOLKS. | |
| Retributive Justice.—Don’t be such a Goose | [189] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] NUISANCES, INHUMAN AND HUMAN. PETS—THE CHARM OF COUNTRY LIFE. | |
| With a few Reservations.—Flies on the Rampage.—Wonderful Discovery.—Dogson Seedlings.—A Hop-toad Hunt | [203] |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] BUTTER-MAKING. SEEDS AND THE DEVIL. | |
| Butter-making in all its Attractions.—The Cream unequal to theEmergency.—Some Things can’t be Done as well as Others.—ElectricalPhenomena.—Gathering Seed.—Incidental Referenceto Satan and his Works.—not his agricultural ones | [216] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] SUCCESS OF THE YEAR. | |
| A second Year’s Balance-sheet.—Still greater Promises.—Successassured.—Every Man should be his own Market Gardener.—Nodearth of Onions.—Transported at the Result.—The last of thefamily Horse.—He closes his Career by a wonderful Feat in drawingTeeth Page. | [233] |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] PREPARATIONS FOR REMOVAL. | |
| The Window Garden.—Warm Work.—Immense Resources of Science.—Mindagainst Matter.—What can the Matter be?—Thenew Flower. | [253] |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] A GREAT RUNNER. | |
| A perfect Jonah.—Very fine, only don’t do it again.—A Gourdruns away with its Master.—A changeable Crimson.—A newSpecimen of Flax, Red one Year and Yellow the next. | [266] |
| [CHAPTER XX.] A BEAUTIFUL NEW COACH. | |
| A Rockaway stricken with Palsy.—Sudden Recovery.—Honesty ofcountry Mechanics their best Recommendation.—A Roof overone’s Head.—Its Necessity, as well as Beauty.—A Fellow-feelingmakes us willing to lend Shingles.—The latter End. | [283] |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] THREE HUNDRED ACRES NOT ENOUGH. | |
| New Farms.—More Land.—No Rooms for Mushrooms.—ManySects of Insects.—The Squash.—Unexpected Fungi.—TheTriumph that Grazed Defeat.—The Joys of Memory. | [297] |
I N T R O D U C T I O N.
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.
The country—how beautiful it is! To a man wearied with the cares of city life; who has pursued an exhausting profession for several years with vigorous energy; who has taken a hand in politics, attended caucuses and Conventions, and helped to “run the machine;” who has a philanthropic turn of mind, and gone on committees and made public collections; and who, moreover, has abundant means—this, though last, is by no means least—the country, with its green leaves, its lovely flowers, its waving grass, its early vegetables, and its luscious fruits, is most attractive; and where a residence can be obtained which combines all these luxuries with pure air, and no chills and fever, and which is not too remote from city life and its attractions, it is as near to Paradise as this world permits.
There are many such places near New York. Gorgeous villas dot the banks of the Hudson, and congregate together thickly on Staten Island; there are beautiful spots along the coves of Westchester County, and persons who do not mind expatriating themselves go to Jersey; but there is one locality that far surpasses all others. The steep banks of the Hudson, cut off as they are from the westerly winds by the Palisades and higher hills beyond them, are uncomfortably hot; Staten Island is overrun by sourkrout-eating, lager-beer-drinking, and small-bird-shooting Germans, who trespass with Teutonic determination wherever their notions of sportsmanship or the influence of lager leads them; Westchester County, like some of our famous prima donnas, is fair to look upon, but great on shakes—too much so for perfect repose; and Jersey will be a pleasant place to live in when the inhabitants, individually and as a government, cease to live off strangers.
The locality referred to—the chosen spot of this earth—the Eden of a country village—has none of these drawbacks. An invigorating breeze blows over pure salt marshes; Germans do not trespass nor make one afraid; no man residing there has ever had a case of chills and fever, no matter what may have happened to his neighbor, where the boys are forever out o’ nights and exposed to the dew; and the inhabitants are always ready to kindly take a stranger in.