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CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Apotheosis of the Country, especially of such Portions of the Country as the Author has for sale.-Many Attractions and still more Lots at Flushing.-Simplicity of Farming, and Lucidity of Agricultural 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 Biddies.- 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. - Peculiarities and Eccentricities of the Race as exhibited in a confined Space. She is sent to the Country for the benefit of her Health..... 19

CHAPTER II.

A HOUSE, PLANS, AND SPECIFICATIONS.

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....... 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 and the dearest Horse, each in their way.-A haunted House, and the

Effect of Ghosts on Horses.-The Ghost Story precisely as it occurred.-Are Ghosts liable to Damages when they frighten Horses into fits of running away?-Equine Eccentricities.-Practical Playfulness.....

..Page 61

CHAPTER IV.

THE COUNTRY, AND HOW TO GET THERE.

Easy Accessibility of Flushing.-An improving Railroad.-Education by Steam.-True Principles of Travel...

CHAPTER V.

A WELL.

77

A Well, considered classically and otherwise.-A Cat in search of the Truth.-A Catastrophe.-Pumps and Vanities of Life.-A poor Sucker.-Hydraulic Pressure........

CHAPTER VI.

A KITCHEN GARDEN.

86

Advantages thereof.-Things to have.-You wish you may get them. -Ornamental as opposed to practical Views.-A dissolving View. -Bad Beginnings do not always make a good Ending.-Daniel O'Rourke's as a grazing Crop.-The new-mown Hay.-Its Flavor and Flower.-Remarkable Results of Gardening for Profit...... 97

CHAPTER VII.

THE FLOWER GARDEN.

Architectural Skill set at defiance by practical Difficulties.-Result of too much Greenness.-A Disappointment....

CHAPTER VIII.

POULTRY.

111

Strange Attack of Somnolency.-Dogs and Peppers as awakeners. -The right Thing in the wrong Place.—A Hen lays herself out. -Twenty pair of Chickens raise the Hair of one Mink........ 124

CHAPTER IX.

FALL WORK.

A Fortune in Strawberries.-How to get it out.-Debility developed. -Science to the Rescue.-The wonderful Effects of a Liquid Fer

tilizer.

House....

- No Farmer should fail to have such a Thing in the

.Page 136

CHAPTER X.

PROFIT AND LOSS.

Immense pecuniary Advantages of high old Farming.-Exactitude the Foundation of Success in Life.-A plain Statement.-General Reflections.An amateur Butcher.-Boiled salt Pork......... 148

CHAPTER XI.

THE FLUSHING SKATING-POND-A DIGRESSION.

A nice Man as an Ice-man....

CHAPTER XII.

THE SECOND YEAR.

161

A new Start, with no Drawbacks.-Immense Results, but not precisely what was wanted.-The great Pea turns out small.—Wonderful obstinacy of Plants......

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169

CHAPTER XIII.

SCIENCE.

Knowledge is Power.-The new Flower.-A Thing of Beauty.—Appearance contrasted 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.......

CHAPTER XV.

189

NUISANCES, INHUMAN AND HUMAN. PETS THE CHARM OF COUN

TRY LIFE.

With a few Reservations.-Flies on the Rampage.-Wonderful Discovery.-Dogs on Seedlings.-A Hop-toad Hunt....................

CHAPTER XVI.

BUTTER-MAKING. SEEDS AND THE DEVIL.

203

Butter-making in all its Attractions.-The Cream unequal to the Emergency.-Some Things can't be Done as well as Others.Electrical Phenomena.-Gathering Seed.-Incidental Reference to Satan and his Works-not his agricultural ones.................... 216

CHAPTER XVII.

SUCCESS OF THE YEAR.

A second Year's Balance-sheet.-Still greater Promises.-Success assured.-Every Man should be his own Market Gardener.-No dearth of Onions. -Transported at the Result.-The last of the family Horse. He closes his Career by a wonderful Feat in drawing Teeth...... ..Page 233

CHAPTER XVIII.

PREPARATIONS FOR REMOVAL.

The window Garden.-Warm Work.-Immense Resources of Science.-Mind against Matter.-What can the Matter be?-The new Flower

CHAPTER XIX.

253

A GREAT RUNNER.

A perfect Jonah. Very fine, only don't do it again. —A Gourd runs away with its Master.-A changeable Crimson.-A new Specimen of Flax, Red one Year and Yellow the next......... 266

CHAPTER XX.

A BEAUTIFUL NEW COACH.

A Rockaway stricken with Palsy.-Sudden Recovery.-Honesty of country Mechanics their best Recommendation.-A Roof over one's Head.-Its Necessity, as well as Beauty.-A Fellow-feeling makes us willing to lend Shingles.-The latter End............ 283

IT

INTRODUCTION.

T 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

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