Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1864-12-29
HOW SHALL WE IMPROVE THE AGRICUL-
TURE OF THE COUNTRY?

This is "A question in which every Amcri-
can farmer is or should bc-intcrcstcd-
We cannot expect that those farmers who
have spent their whole lives in clearing up
their farms, and paying for them, will be
very much interested in this subject as
their career is well nigh run, and their am
hition and aspirations do not prompt them
to engage in any laudablc enterprise. and
to consumatc important plans, as was once
the case with them. But we have right
To look to our young men, who are in the
prime of manhood, as the most suitable iu-
dlvldnalS to commence and complete any
important Improvements in the improve
mcnt of our agriculture.
But i'll order to effect any permanent i'm
provcmcnt in any branch Of business, il is
of the first Importance to have a correct
understanding Of every branch Of that bus
mess, and an ability and aptitude to ap-
prcclatc any improvements that may be
suggested or carried into execution. And.
more than all besides. it is important that
one should understand that an enterprise is
faulty and imperfect, before he will be able
to contemplate any real improvements in
any branch of business
If a farmer feels that his agriculture
his system of farm managcmcnt-is good
enough, or that it is not practicable tOmdkc
any real improvements in any Of the
branches OF the business, we may rest as
surcd that his agriculture, instead Of being
characterized 10y progression, will be of a
retrogressive character, which will render
the soil less productive, the farm less fer
tile, and the country poorer from year to
wear.
The first important step then, towards
any permanent Improvement in the agricul-
ture of our country, will be to educate our
farmers in their profession And the best
and most feasible manner of doing this is.
by dit1using agricultural knowledge among
the farmers Of our country
Most farmers are slow to think. and still
more slow to act to adopt and carry into
execution. But as soon as they are made
10 see the Importance of an Improvement,
and to see the hcnctits to accurc from it
when they see that others have succeeded
well III improving their agriculture, the
stimulus Of laudah!e example prompts
them to 90 and do likewise.
When farmer reads accounts of the sys-
TEN Of management Of good farmer per-
haps there is nothing that has a greater ten
dcncy to induce him to commence some i'm
provcmcnt than the influence Of such an cx-
ample
We need to discuss the principles of the
cultivation OF the soil with more frequency.
and IN a more practical manner. And it
will tie our aim during the ensuing year to
detail the best systems of improved hus-
dandry in our country, and to Law down
rules for commencing very desirable and
permanent improvements in our agriculture
proper.
The improvements III our domestic an
imals of all kinds have far surpassed our
improvements in the cultivation of the soil
II is we'll and important to have good hor-
scs, to raise cXccllentncat cattle, sheep and
swine, and TO have good fences, nice houses
To live IN, and spacious and commodious
ont-buildings. But these considerations do
not by any means constitute good farming:
nor do they furnish reliable evidence that a
farm is IN good state of fertility, OF that
the soil Is very productive for either grass
or grain.
After our farmers have received a proper
education in their profession. the next step
will be to put their knowledge into practice
The epitome of the programme on this
subject will be about as follows lst
good understanding of the principles and
practice Of understanding, which lies at
the foundation of permanent Improvement