Webster's Farmers

To the Editor of The Reoistir : Sm:- Last Saturday afternoon, the genial warmth of May's glad sunshine suggested that it would be a good time to spend half a day among our farmers, as they would surely be found improvinsj such beautiful weather, which would afford one a good opportunity of learning how spring work was progressing, what the erop prospects were, and other things, perhaps, ot interest to the readers of The Register. Acting on the mutely offered suggestion, and being in the vicinity of some of Webster's best farmers, I started out for a few hours' drive in that township, making my first stop at the large farm of Mrs. A. M. Chamberlain. Here I found Mrs. C's two manly sons, William and Louip, hitching up their teams for the afternoon"s work in the corn ground. They will put in about forty acres of spriDg crops. Their sixty acres of wheat look well, and will be an average erop. They have wintered 125 eheep and 25 head of horses and cattle, and all are in good form. The boys said though times were close, they were making a little money erery year, and wanted no free trade on their plate. At the next farm we found the owner, John Haab, peiforming a kind of labor that is ever present on the ferm, " fixing fence." Mr. Hsab has 145 acres of fine land, 45 of which are into wheat, and will be about two thirds of a erop. líe will put in 25 acres of spring crops; wintered GO sheep, and thinks they have paid as well as auything. He was not posted on the tariff question, but was opposed to any reduction by any means of the price of farm produce. Wm. Kilts, whose farm jolns the last one mentioned, was not at home, but from the road his wheat ooked as though it would be half or two-thirds of a erop. He has 60 acres under good cultivation. Driving to the next farm, I found Theodore Haab and wife making garden, or rather Mr. H. was doing the making, and Mrs. H. was kindly giving directions, - womanlike. This young couple are puiling together on an 80 acre farm, and keep thiags up in good shape. The wheat, 33 acres, looks well considering the season. Mr. Haab wintered 40 sheep, and they are not free trade sheep either; clover seed is coming on finely. Will put in 17 acres of spring crops. Johnnie Stanton, who is proprietor of the adjoiningfarm, had gone to Dexter to boy his Sunday'8 groceries, and I did not see him. Mr. Stanton has a splendid farm and fice buildings. From general appearances it is eafe to say that he knows how to make farming pay even in these hard times. As I stepped from the buggy at the next farm house, Wm. Easton, one of Webster's well known young farmers, met me at the gate, with a hearty shake of the hand. He looks after a farm of 160 aores, and does it well. He is putting in 30 acres of spring crops, and thinks his 45 acres of wheat will be two-thirds of an average erop. Wintered 85 sheep, and sys there's no use taking to him about free wool. Mr. Easton has some fine thoroughbred cattle in which he takes just pride. Ray Buckalew and his estimable wife, who live just across the road, were also "gone to town," and I wasobliged to content myself with a mental comment on tbe general air of "slickness" that pervftded the entire premises. At Charles Goodwin's, I found Mrs. G. in the midst of spring house-cleaning, while in a field near by, Mr. G. was wrestling with a big stump with a good prospect of victory. His wheat is equal to the average, and dover seed coming on all right. Will put in about 25 acres of spring crops. Mr. Goodwin's two sons, Austin and Clayton, left last week for Washington Territory to make their fortune. No free trade here. John Vanghn was looking over the yards, and picking up loose odds and ends, while in the house I found Mrs. Vaughn, one of the good-souled, old fashioned kind, making candles by the old fashioned process, - dipping them. During the few moments' pleasant stay here, I learned that Mr. Vaughn was owner of 120 acres of land, bad 35 acres of good wheat, and would put in about 35 acres of spring crops. He keeps 140 eheep, and wants no free wool. On the road I met Olean Vaughn, who purchased Mr. Goodwin's plaoe in Dexter, who informed me that his 200 acres were in good shape ; wheat about half a erop ; had 100 good eheep nd didn't like the Mills bill. Charley Van Kiper was preparing corn ground, and will put in 25 acres of spring crops. His 40 acres of wbeat will be about two thirds of a erop. Thinks sheep pay well, and had rather have a good hore than own a national bank. The farm of William Johnson shows careful supervisión on the part of its owner. Wheat was looking well, and grass rank and green. About 25 acres of spring crops will be put in, which means on this farm, a good yield. No free trade here. At Wm. Easton's I met his father, Oscar Easton, a well know farmer oi Lima township. He has 24 acres of wheat, looking well, and will put in 33 acres oi spring crops. Keeping 140 sheep and says everything is cheap enough uow, including wool. This brought me to the end of my drive, and bring8 me to tbe end ot my chapter.