Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-31

TO support her populatlon-tne Won
is always at the door. This is be-
cause the land is not titled to the best
advantage, though it is done much
better than here. In India, million
of British subjects have lately died Of
famine. True, there is no fear of fam
inc here while the great West is at
our backs. In the South, the land is
desolated by bad cultivation. Sher-
man found no farms to destroy, the
cotton-growers had ruined them. No
one here feels afraid of want, for llli-
nois and her sister States supply plen-
ty of everything, but we ignore the
fact that we are surrounded with worn
out farms. Improved cultivation, il
not an immediate necessity, is pres.
sing duty. Our farmers show too
much averseness to learn they are
satisfied with what they already
know they glory in the good. They
talk of hon ses and bullocks, but will
not get understanding. You cannot
plow up knowledge, you must learn
wisdom by contract and comparison
with others. The farmer must learn
that his own brindle cow is not the
biggest and best that was ever raised.
We have too few agricultural fairs Of
the right kind in this country. They
should be schools of instruction and
Improvement, or they should cease to
exist. As some are conducted they
are worse than none. He had been
at fairs where the officers seemed to
think that their salvation depended
upon horse getting around the track
in a certain short period OF time
These SOW the seeds Of lasting injury
in the whole community. All who
have the good of society at heart
should labor to abolish the race track
on our exhibition grounds, or leave it
in the hands of those who have moth
ing else to do but serve the devil. II
is not the chief end of man to drive q
fast horse. There are better modes
Of testing a horses merits than driv-
ing him at full speed to a skeleton
wagon, urged On by shouts and ozths.
The proper use of track is not to
get up a race in which Sam Jones or
Bill Smith may get the prize. Culti-
vate horses for men Of business, not
for jockeys and racing He would
have a mile track upon every fair
ground, with sharp angles at the cor
ners, where Sam Jones and Bill Smith
might break their necks in turning,
instead Of doing so in more elevated
situation. The prevalent idea Of horse
racing at fairs is that it attracts visi-
tors and brings money to pay eXpen-
ses-expenses which had better new
er be incurred. If the people want 4
hOrse-race give it to them, but do not
call the performance an agricultural
fair. This system does not draw the
right sort Of people, and societies
should resist everything that has a
pernicious tendency. Introduce man.
ly sports and exercises give prizes
for skill and excellence in manual Ia
Dor let boys and girls compete in
skillful riding and driving ; award
premium to the boy who makes the
best stack or shock try whether the
people will not accept something be-
side blackguardism for an amusement.
These features will draw a different
crowd from that which attends q
horse-race. There should be a lecture
room, where agricultural disCourses
could be given, or a farmers club
meet, SO that facts could be drawn
out for the general benefit.
No one should ever buy a farm in
locality where cattle are allowed in
the roads. The practice is sure to
lead to quarreling aud litigation. 1t
is the frequent cause Of death by rail
road accidents. 1t has cost more 70
fence the roads OF the United States
than all the cattle were worth that
ever were pastured upon them. 1t
should be leading feature in every
agricultural society to teach the peo-
pie that the roads are established
only for thorouShfares that they are
not public pasture grounds. No hon
est man will turn his cattle into the
/ public roads, which are private prop
erty for every purpose but that OF
travel There is a prohibitory law
in New York, which works admirably
but public opinion is stronger, and the
practice can be abolished If the peo
pie so determine. Let farmers set
their gates open, and then imprison
every animal that enters. Ample
barns upon the farm, filled with the
rich products of dirt, are symbols of
wealth. Two barns or three barns
on farm may be better than one
farmers ought to discuss the subject
lie drew a warm picture Of hOspita
BILE and comfortable farmers home
contrasting it with house in which
the family lived in an attachment
while the main building was used only
for a show. Cold-hearted dwellings,
should always be avoided. Farmers
must do all they can to elevate theil
! SdlillIS w "OuuCl llICli oOIlS kuti
daughters flee to the dissipation o
the city ; they have never been taugh'
to enjoy the blessings of country
life What is there to attract chill
dren in the bleak old farm house
ready to tumble down, where two gen
erations have been reared, with nc
outbuildings but two barracks and {
rail-covered cow h ed? Let us
dare to say that farming needs to be
improved The best way to do it is
for you to consider,a question worthy
Of your inquiry. How long would g
horse live if kept in such a skinning
and shabby way as much of our farm
ing is done What can one man Dc
with such enormous farms as there
are in Illinois, where one farmer un
i - Al L.