farther. Level and measure as before, and add or subtract, as the case may require, from the previous note. Or, by putting all the down-hill measures on one side of the page, and the up-hill measures on the other, the difference of their sums will give the difference of level of two places. By this contrivance it is easy to ascertain, without employ- ing an engineer, how much fall can be had, and whether it is practicable to drain a piece of low land. xvi. In choosing a farm, next after healthfulness and fertil- ity, comes the question of nearness to market. The import- ance of this depends upon the particular branches which the skill, means or inclination of the farmer leads him to follow. There are advantages and disadvantages in being near cities, and they are so nicely balanced that good managers grow rich in each location. Everything depends upon the man. A shrewd farmer of small means, by locating twenty miles from town, gets good land cheap. In ten years the value of his land is likely to double by the increase of popu- lation around him, and by the growth of his orchards and the improved productiveness of the soil. Meanwhile he can reduce his expenses of transportation by converting his grain and hay into cattle and colts, which will carry them- selves to market. ON HABITS AND MANNERS. 203 XVII. Having formed a clear idea of what particular line of farming is most in accordance with his tastes and his capital, our young farmer considers every place offered him with reference to these points specially. And, seeing the sad results all around him of hasty and ill-considered purchas- ing, he takes his time, and will not be hurried in choosing. He will have nothing to do with poor land at any price, nor will he be tempted by cheapness to live in an unhealthy place, nor to run much in debt and use up all his working capital in paying interest and other expenses. He had rather buy only a very small farm. XVIII. After finding a place as nearly as possible suited to his case, it is well for the young farmer to remember that everything he is doing now should be for the permanent benefit of his land, and with a view of making his labors easy as old age comes upon him, and his strength lessens. He should, therefore, keep steadily in view the following ideas, much as they differ from ordinary practice. First. It is possible so to manage land that, while yielding good crops, its fertility is constantly increasing. Second. It is possible to give his live stock such care 204 ON HABITS AND MANNERS. in breeding and management that they will command better prices than those of his neighbors. Third. By care in selecting seed, year after year, he may make his grain crop salable for seed at an advance. Fourth. By planting a tenth of his land in fruit trees of the most showy and productive market kinds, and not many varieties, he may realize a hundred per cent, on the investment. Fifth. By strict integrity in putting up his products, he may make his stamp bring an extra price. Sixth. By giving his sons or apprentices a little ground to tend for themselves, or young stock to raise, he will interest them in looking after his interests 'and remain- ing with him on the farm. Seventh. An agricultural paper is worth its cost for the hints it will furnish if not blindly followed.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

farther. Level and measure as before, and add or subtract, as the case may require, from the previous note. Or, by putting all the down-hill measures on one side of the page, and the up-hill measures on the other, the difference of their sums will give the difference of level of two places. By this contrivance it is easy to ascertain, without employing an engineer, how much fall can be had, and whether it is practicable to drain a piece of low land. In choosing a farm, next after healthfulness and fertility, comes the question of nearness to market. The importance of this depends upon the particular branches which the skill, means or inclination of the farmer leads him to follow. There are advantages and disadvantages in being near cities, and they are so nicely balanced that good managers grow rich in each location. Everything depends upon the man. A shrewd farmer of small means, by locating twenty miles from town, gets good land cheap. In ten years the value of his land is likely to double by the increase of population around him, and by the growth of his orchards and the improved productiveness of the soil. Meanwhile he can reduce his expenses of transportation by converting his grain and hay into cattle and colts, which will carry themselves to market. Having formed a clear idea of what particular line of farming is most in accordance with his tastes and his capital, our young farmer considers every place offered him with reference to these points specially. And, seeing the sad results all around him of hasty and ill-considered purchasing, he takes his time, and will not be hurried in choosing. He will have nothing to do with poor land at any price, nor will he be tempted by cheapness to live in an unhealthy place, nor to run much in debt and use up all his working capital in paying interest and other expenses. He had rather buy only a very small farm. XVIII. After finding a place as nearly as possible suited to his case, it is well for the young farmer to remember that everything he is doing now should be for the permanent benefit of his land, and with a view of making his labors easy as old age comes upon him, and his strength lessens. He should, therefore, keep steadily in view the following ideas, much as they differ from ordinary practice. First. It is possible so to manage land that, while yielding good crops, its fertility is constantly increasing. Second. It is possible to give his live stock such care in breeding and management that they will command better prices than those of his neighbors. Third. By care in selecting seed, year after year, he may make his grain crop salable for seed at an advance. Fourth. By planting a tenth of his land in fruit trees of the most showy and productive market kinds, and not many varieties, he may realize a hundred per cent, on the investment. Fifth. By strict integrity in putting up his products, he may make his stamp bring an extra price. Sixth. By giving his sons or apprentices a little ground to tend for themselves, or young stock to raise, he will interest them in looking after his interests 'and remaining with him on the farm. Seventh. An agricultural paper is worth its cost for the hints it will furnish if not blindly followed.

On habits and manners