Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-28
From the New England Farmer.

millions of the human family have
oeen clothed and led They take very
narrow view Of this question (if question it
can be called who base their calculations of
the protitablencss n unprofitableness Of
farming in general by the profit and loss on
a single crop Of farm produce, on certain
piece Of land, in certain yeAr. tits not to
be expected that any branch Of business
will be equally remunerativs ct al times,
snc under oil circumstances. Trade Of all
kinds iiuctuating has its ups and downs.-
Commerce ID attsndsd with many casualties.
SO it is with farming. Seasons differ; mar.
ke;s are uuceetain; SOLE vary thsse % dif.
ference in the mode Of culture, 10 the Quail.
~ and quantity Of SEED used, IL the kind Of
manure, IL maanss Of Application, and its
adaptation - the particular coil and crops,
and various other circumstances 70 be con
sidesed, in forming correct judgment on .
question Of this character. This l might
illustrate BY numbsslsss instances in my
own farming experience, some Of which
have proved profitable, and others quite the
reverse, either Of which, taken by itself
alone, would give very poor idea Of the
profit or loss Of farming in general.
The question is not whether . certain
crop pays in certain year; it is not
whether poor farming pays on good land !;
IL is not whether farming pays As much
cash profit rs some other occupation, Or
branch Of business, where great risks are
incurred, and much capital and much tai
cGt employed; neither is it whether farms
ing pays as much ~ u should and would, il
1t received that fostering legislative care that
its great interests demand, aud that 10 so
often bestowed on other inter ests and some
times, perhaps, to the injury Of farming in
terests. would not be understood As de-
tracing q oil from the merits Of Their CALI
ings and pursuits. They ale Of incalculs-
BILE advantage, both in themselves consider
ed and in other relations and bearings to
fnrming and other interests. But the quss.
ton is, does good, intelligent farming. on
land suitable 20 cultivate, Notwithstanding
oil the drawbacks occasioned by drought
and Hood, winds and frosts, destructive in
sects and birds, and unruly snimals--pay
Not in year Of war and high prices, nos
in some future years Of peace and low pri-
ces-but in the long run,or through series
Of years, most assursdy il does.
Farming is the best business on earth fol
those who are adapted to u and love the
calling, and let mo add, he 10 . poor apollo.
~ for man, whatever his occupation may
be who takes no interest in the cultivation
Of the soil from whence alone cometh hii
daily bread. Other stations must bc Oiled
and other callings must have their place, but
! truly pity the man who would dcgrad,
forming, or feel himself degraded while en-
gagged In Il. II there is man on earth NOR,
envied than another, IN my esti
nation, SO far - outward bles-
sings arc concerned, il is he VIII,
owns good, compact farm. substantially
Enclosed, and under good cultivation, will
good convenient buildings, and good i'm
provements for husbsndry. in good rep ,ir
whose farm is well stocked with choic
animals, whose land yields the finest veg
etAbles, and whose grounds and garden
like the garden Of Eden, produce ever,
tree that is pleasant 10 tho sight and 30,
for food. II, in addition to all this, he i
blessed with good health, is happy in al
his family relations, free from debt, IN,
has few hundreds or few thousand
even, in cash capital, judiciously invested
together with the other always indispensa
BILE requisite to happiness. mind Statistic,
with reasonable enloymcnts, then | say h
is rich indeed. And such incidents, trus
are hy no means inrc. Certain ! am tina
there arc scores Of farmers in many farmn
communities who either have or should hay
all these.
Some persons seem inclined to cstima'
, all profits bv dollars and cents. This
Tar from correct standard How man
incstimab!e blessings We enjoy which gol
; and silver could not furnish. What but
mess 30 conducive 70 health az farming
Is not health profit? Whs, yields s
sure a competency, or gives greater tran
guilty of minds What calling more in
dependent, moro honest, Or more promo
tive Of habits Of industry and good mol
alss What other business 30 safe, q
other property so secure, What othe
place SO good for the rearing and trsiuin
Of children and youth, Or what othe
40 properly adapted t. the necessary Qu
etudc of declining years? We shout
give tho farm due credit for what is dc
rived from it, not only as regards none
value, but IN the bles sings aud comforts
coniers on those engaged in IT. We a,
not apt to consider how large an amount
money is expended BY families in other OF
equations for vegetables, meat. milk, butte
cheese. fruit. grain. hay, wool, fuel, tmbe
horse lire, etc, most or all Of which
saved to the farmer. and shoald he credite
10 the farm just look around over an
good, thriving farming community, 81
witness the abundance OF good things
his life with which they are surrounded
and tell me where else can be- found soil
. | 4, NET har ,.l,n
twenty thirty or forty years, and bchol
the rapid progress that has been made !
all the elements Of material wealth on
prosperity. Witness the improvement
farm buildings, implements Of husbandry
and stock-nsrk the change that has bee
wrought in the general cultivation and i'm
proyement Of the soil, and with all this
corresponding advance in intelligence, goo
taste and refinement
Farmers, let US awake to the magnitud
and grandeur Of cur calling. Did We real
izs - 10 ought the advantages Of Oh
position We occupv, and the noble natuI
Of our pursuit, We should seldom repiu
and murmur, but rather glory in our lot.-
While doing al in our power for the ben,
fl Of others, let w guard we'll our own ia
terest. We live in = world Of sharp CON
petition. and farmers like others, must tab
care Of themselves. We would sustai
those agricultural papers that truly sustai
our calling, and VIC should choose those lei
islstoss who watch over our ,ntesests On
advocate our rights. We should wasc
carefully tho bearing Of al their acts.
short we should make farming what Il VI
designed TO I've. tho foundation and corns
stone Of all other pursuits. o, how i'm
measurable superior every way, 10 the goo
farmers position when compared with IN
thousands Of little professional gentlemen
and genteel hangcrs-on, who, TO sscsp
what they call the drudgsry Of farming, Ok
out p:tiabls existence, . burden to them
selves and those who carry then. kno
that farm labor 10 sometimes hard, and CO
DO made oppressive but machinery
constantly tightening our toll. and maxim
us more aud more independent. If farm
crs but make proper use Of the means I
their disposal. they can never, 40 class, 3
poor. Whatever befalls others. they atsn
on terra iirma. and the soil aud It's produ,
tions are theirs.