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.........
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 oc-

curred.-Are Ghosts liable to Damages when they frighten Horses

into fits of running away?-Equine Eccentricities.-Practical Play-

fulness....

..Page 61

CHAPTER IV.

THE COUNTRY, AND HOW TO GET THERE.

Easy Accessibility of Flushing.-An improving Railroad.-Educa-

tion 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. No Farmer should fail to have such a Thing in the

House..................
.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..

161

CHAPTER XII.

THE SECOND YEAR.

A new Start, with no Drawbacks.-Immense Results, but not pre-

cisely what was wanted.—The great Pea turns out small.-Won-

derful obstinacy of Plants ......

169

CHAPTER XIII.

SCIENCE.

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

pearance 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 Dis-

covery.-Dogs on Seedlings.-A Hop-toad Hunt............... 203

CHAPTER XVI.

BUTTER-MAKING. SEEDS AND THE DEVIL.

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 draw-

ing Teeth........

.Page 233

CHAPTER XVIII.

PREPARATIONS FOR REMOVAL.

The window Garden.-Warm Work.-Immense Resources of Sci-

ence. Mind against Matter.-What can the Matter be?—The

new Flower

CHAPTER XIX.

253

A GREAT RUNNER.

-

A Gourd

A perfect Jonah.-Very fine, only don't do it again.

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