The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-16

At Farmers Meeting during the recent
State Fair Mr.. George Z. Bracket of Belfast
gave his views upon the question "How to
improve our FARMS" He thought the most
reasonable and permanent method had been
overlooked by the speakers on this question.
those who are to be the farmers, to oversee,
work out and direct the improvements on our
farms-the farmers boys of Maine. Plow-
ing deep or shallow, use of condensed ma
nures or the best agricultural machinery
these will not do it alone. Skilled labor must
be had and where is it to come from unless
the farmers will educate their boys for the
work? He said:
How is it farmers? Are your boys all ready
and willing to follow in your footsteps; are
they to become farmers; do they like the
farm, and are your smartest, likeliest boys in
tending to make farming their business? L
rather think not. One OF them is perhaps at
college: another has gone out West to seek
his fortune, and a third is settled in the city,
while a fourth, or as the case may be, who is
not so quick, intelligent and smart as the 9TH
ers, is going to stay at home on the taTm-be-
| cause he is good enough to be a farmer. Isn't
| that so farmers, and do you ever expect to
| improve your farms and advance the cause OF
agriculture in Maine by such methods of i'm
| provement? You can't do it. Did you ever
| raise a good flock of sheep by selling off al
the likely lambs, or good herd of cattle by
disposing OF the best calves? No. Wen, dc
| YOU think the coming generation OF farmers
in Maine will be improved if all the most in
tellieent boys leave the farm for some Other
profession?
Well, you say, what's to be done? In the
| first place you don't make your profession sc
popular, pleasant and honored as it should
| be- Farmers OF Maine, the fact ia yon ar<
lust a little ashamed of your business. Dom
| deny it. mean as a class. l am farmel
how. horn. bred and have lived mostly on {
farm, and am practical enough to know al
about you. You don't do justice to you
cause you don't honor your calling sufficient
v TO make other professions do it honor
Look here at your exhibition. what hav
we farmers done towards il? Something, ant
well done so far as it 2oes-but how little G
it is truly agricultural? Not so much a
should be-not near so much as ought I
have been. . .
Again, your own actions and confession
saw Won do not believe in your BUSINESS
YSn are continually faultfndng and com
paring your business and your success W.T.
YOUR neiehbors. it may be, OF the otner pre-
| iessions. You say farming don't pay and
the hardest work in the world. Do you e2
meet the boys will think very differently,
rs in foo many cases, you fail to make it pa,
and do make it place OF hard work Il
them?
Farmers of Name, if you would improv
your farms permanently and on correct prri
ciples and wish to forward the interests o
agriculture in your State. you must educat
your boys, educate them to knowledge
their business, to love of home and tn
farm. and by making your profession, as it
tbe first and most honorable of all. Improy
your soil, but don't forget that there may
, minds that need to be improved also, an
that the farmers OF the next generation are
be what you may see fit to make them.