The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-02-07
FARMERS Column. an.
Should Fasmers Work.

=. We LINK We ueOeCt LeuueuCy IN
much of the agricultural literature Of the
day, to dissuade farmers from perform
ing manuel labor. Such ideas are prob
ably advanced by those whose knowl.
edge of farming is entirely theoretical
for we are quite certain that no expert
enced, practical farmer, would for mo-
ment tolerate the idea Such writer's
hold that the true province of the far
ner is to lay plans, direct the labors of
his employees, do the buying and selling
for the farm, and httle outside speculation,
be general OvrSeer, and gentleman farmer.
Manuel labor is only proper forthe Irish
man, or German, or more ignorant and
degraded "white trash''!!-that the land
owner, the capitalist the well-informed
farmer, can better employ his energies
than in engaging In the same labor az
his ignorant employed
Now, we protest against this doctrine
as opposed to the best interests of the
agriculturist. The true province of the
farmer is to labor with his head, labor
with bis hands, labor with his heart
The way to elevate the calling of the
farmer, in the eyes of the world is to
sustain the principle that labor is honor
able, is noble, is worthy of a talented,
educated man. That it is Just as hon
orable for the farmer to till bis own soil
to plow, plant, sow, hoe, NOW, pitch
hay, husk corn, dig potatoes, or do any
other work needed on his fsrrn-as it
is for the merchant to stand behind his
counter and sell dry-goods groceries, or
hardware; or those of any other Voca-
ton to work at their calling.
The diffusion of the idea that farmers
should not work, would do more than
anything else to discourage young men
from becoming farmers, for but few of
them could begin with sufficient capital
to enable them to hire all their labor,
and such could not make their capital
invested in land, return ordinary inter-
est without laboring themselves. On
the other hand, we would not have the
farmer forget bis Office as superintendl
ent, in bis devotion to labor. BE can.
not go every day into the field, and Ia
Dor from morning to night, with bis
employees, without neglecting the best
interests of the farm. He generally
has laborers in difereant parts Of the
farm~-some working with the team,
others without; and he ought to see that
all are doing their work well. He
should occasionally look, over the stock,
and see that all are in good condition
He should look over the growing crops
to see if they need attention. he should
attend at the proper time to marketing
his produce, and making needful pdr-
chases; but, at the same time he should
spend the greater portion OF his time
working with his laborers In the field
In no way can he be certain that the
are earning their wages. tits ir,,dsst4
Bile for the most experienced farmer to
decide whether his laborers are doing a.
fair days work without working with
them, and learning what obstacles are
to be overcome. For Illustration; il Is
considered about a fair days work to
hoe an acre of corn, but if the soil be
light and mellow; free from grass,
weeds, or stones, it would be easier to
hoe two acres than aquarter of an acre,
where the stones are thick, the ground
hard, and every bill required 10 be,
weeded by hand. And so, in most of
the labors of the farm, no general stan
dard of days work can be established a
The farmer can only know that bis la
borers are doing him justice, BY work.
ing with them. .t.; -,
Again worthy employees would pre-
fer to have their employer work with
them, for then he is satisfied that they
are doing well, can understand their laal
bors, and will not be inclined 70 find
fault.
Young farmers! commehGe business
with determination to wOfkA-ii per-
son. not by proxy, and we predict that
you willlove your calling better, be
more successful in it, and contribute
more to elevate the position Of the
American farmer, than by playing gen.
tleman farmer On the other hand,
farmers should labor with their mind
as well as with their hands, They
should look ahead, and lay their plans
for years to come, with d view to q
proper rotation OF crops, and a general
improvement oft farm; should close.
ly observe results, and build up theo-
ries therefrOm, and they viii soon be.
come convinced that farming is not all
drudgay, exhaustipg the body and stu
pefyiBg the mind; but that the intelli-
gent progressive farmer can find quite
as much mental exercise in the legiti-
mate labors of his vocation, as those en-
| gagged in mercantile or manufacturing
| nt,reu;ta - A A.,,n,.jS1,, Elys.Daes. s.+4s 80.