Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-10-13
farmers Department.
Advancing Backwards !

EN" /
Mr.. EDIToR Il once heard of an honests
wcll-meatiing man, who was fortunate enoustf
to be elected Captain of a Militia Company.
Filled to the brim with military ardor, he pro-
cecdcd to the front yard of his house for the
purpose of going through the manual exercise
alone. Whether his knowledge of militarystac-
ties was not altogether perfect, | havenot been
informed {; but his first order to himself was,
"adranc three PAGES backwards y and sultlng
the action to the word, he did advance back
ward, and tumbled heels over head INTO the eel
lar. His wife observing his unlucky descent,
cried out, "my dear, are you hurt 7" The fall
len soldier, casting a glance of supreme con-
tempt on his spouse, Indignantly replied, Go
to grass, old woman, what do you ksow about
war;" .E19e ,N /
1t occurs to me that there are a great many
farmers in this world, whose progress, like our
military friends above quoted, is decidedly back
ward. Whenever | see a farmer who refuses
to pay o dollar for a good agricultural periodi-
cal merely because his father farmed without
one. / am strongly inclined to think he is ad-
RANGING backward. Whenever | see a farmer
spreading himself by attempting to farm two
hundred acres, when his means are scarcely suf-
fcient for one hundred, | cannot help thinking
that he is GHrdHCJHS OdChUUFU.
Whenever. see q fine meadow overrun with
sorrel and meagre bluegrass, instead of tail tim
othy or some other good grass, it always oc-
ours to me that its owner is "adcaacang back
yards" Whenever l see a farmer selling ey-
cry ton of hay and straw, and every bushel of
wheat he raises, and afterwards endeavoring to
keep his land in good heart by applying only
the manure of his own farm yard, and by plow-
ing five inches deep, it needs not a prophet to.
predict that he is "ddrancing backwards"
Whenever | see a farmer sowing timothy, clio
yer or any other grass seed, in which the seeds
of foul weeds abound, when for a shilling or
twenty-five cents more he could have purchased
good clean seed, it always occurs to me that he
is " advancing backwards" Whenever / see
a farmer in this progressive age, delaying from
year to year the purchase of good labor saving
implements, and urging as a plea for the latest
improvement" | always feel afraid that he is
"aduaacing Backwards" Whenever | see a
farmer feeding his hay, straw and fodder uncut,
when O few dollars would purchase a good cut
ter, l strongly suspect that he is advancing
backwards" Whenever | see q farmers fields
covered with pernicious weeds, and those weeds
permitted to ripen and sow their seeds for the
next season, | have every reason to believe that
the owner of those fields is "adcdacing back
wards." Whenever I see a farmers fences bro
ken down, his cattle trespassing in the grain and
cornfelds, the hogs uprOoting the potatoes, and
the chickens in indisputablc possession of the
garden, it is not difficult to perceive that he is
"adrancing Backwards" rs
But when | see q farmer who feels that he
has something yet to learn-who takes one or
more agricultural papers-who pays for them
and reads them-who tills no more land than
he can till well-whose meadows are well drain
ed, and covered with heavy sweet grass-who
always reserves enough hay, straw and grain to
replace in a great part, at least the vegetable
matter his crops have taken from his soil-whO
is willing to pay a dollar more for a bushel of
clean seed rather than SOW that which contains
weeds-who, instead of " waiting for years for
the latest Improvement" is amongst the first to
test the value of new labor saving implements
who cuts all his hay, straw and fodder before
feeding-whose fields are not ovcrrun with
weeds, and who never permits d weed to mature
its seed where it is possible to prevent it-whose
fences are always in good repair-whose grain
and corn fields arc never treSpassed upon by his
or his neighbours cattle@whUse garden is not
only well cultivated, but also never invaded and
destroyed by mischieyous fOwls-whO is syste-
matte in his feeding, seeding and breeding-who
keeps a regular farm accounts-who rises early,
and who has strong faith in the old but truth
full adage that the eye of the master is worth
both his hands" l say when l see such a farm
er, there is no difficulty in understanding that,
unlike our military friend above quoted, he is adj
vancing not backward" but straight forward,
and in the right direction for complete success,
and will, most assurcdly, Go AHEAD.
Newnsb Co, Del.