127

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.

BY ROBERT B. ROOSEVELT,

AUTHOR OF

66 GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA,"
39 66 SUPERIOR FISHING,"
GAME BIRDS," ETC.

UNIVERSITY OF

LIBRARY

ILLINOIS

ORK:

HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,

FRANKLIN SQUARE.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by

ROBERT B. ROOSEVELT,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

AGRICULTURE LEMN

ΤΟ

THE WRITERS OF BOOKS

ON

FARMING, GARDENING, HORTICULTURE, AGRICUL TURE, 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 OBE

DIENCE 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.

1370

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Apotheosis of the Country, especially of such Portions of the Coun-

try as the Author has for sale.-Many Attractions and still more

Lots at Flushing.-Simplicity of Farming, and Lucidity of Agri-

cultural Books.-Profits and Pleasures of Rural Life.................Page ix

CHAPTER I.

A COW.

Special Points about the Bovine Race.-Directions in Feeding.—

Preparations to receive the Animal.-Her Arrival.-An awful

Pause. The Fray about to begin.—Intelligence of Cows and Bid-

dies.- Victory.-A Calm.-Cow Complainings.- Approaching

Storm.-A Tempest in a back Yard.-Soothing Effects of "Mash."

-Immense Profits and glorious Prospects for the Future. -Pe-

culiarities and Eccentricities of the Race as exhibited in a con-

fined Space. She is sent to the Country for the benefit of her

Health.......

CHAPTER II.

A HOUSE, PLANS, AND SPECIFICATIONS.

.... 19

Wonderful architectural Genius of the Author.-He admires himself

and consults his Friends. - Difficulties in obtaining "just the

Thing."-Want of Time.-Free Trade in Houses advocated as

superior to Home Production.-The imported Article falls into

the Hands of a Philistine named Barney.-A fresh Arrival.-

The House comes, but the Builder does not.-The Charge of the

Light Brigade, and Flight of the Housekeeper.............................

CHAPTER III.

.......

37

MORE LIVE-STOCK-A HORSE AND A PIG. WHICH IS THE NOBLER

ANIMAL?

Beauties of the Pig.-Defects of the Horse.-The dearest Pig and
the dearest Horse, each in their way.-A haunted House, and the