The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-12-28
Farmers-What Should They Know 2

Whether it is that as a class farmers
have not kept up with the rest of man.
kind in what might be termed book
learning, or that they have been slower
to grasp the ideas and adopt the fast
ways OF the world, and thus the mind
associates the business of farming with
the recollection of years agone, it re-
mains the same indisputable fact that
farming is thought to require smaller
amount of knowledge than any other
pursuit in life-indeed, we are not sure
but this opinion prevails largely among
farmers themselves. How few there are
among them who will admit that an ed
ucation will assist them in their bust
ness; are they not much more likely to
sneer at any information derived from
books, and to argue with the old man
who couldn't see that his young neigh
Dor (who had year or two before
moved into the country and commenced
farming) with all his books and papers,
did any better than himself, with simply
his experience and practical knowledge
to guide him ?-overlooking the fact
that the young beginners books had ac-
tually brought him in short time to
equal the farmer in success, and that if
he, the farmer, had but added the expe-
rience of others (which be could have
had by reading) to his own, his store OF
knowledge and qualifications for success
would have been largely increased, and
perhaps rendered unapproachable to his
amateur neighbor.
One reason for the growth of this
feeling against reading, especially at the
South, is found in the apparent unproft-
ableness of farming. We say apparent,
for you will see it is not real when you
consider how little actual capital-how
little actual brain is usually required to
support in moderate comfort otttimes a
very large family.
This apparent unproftableness has
also the effect of driving most of the ac-
tive minds of the country into the cities
the allurements of wealth and apparent
ease of life therein persuading young
men that in the city they will surely
find a more profitable sphere of ac-
ton.
Alas Alas They do not see that the
effect is taken for the cause-that if the
same amount of energy and brains that is
required in the city were applied to
farming, success would not be wanting
and that this rush for the city, this
drain upon the country, naturally robs ii
of an essential element of success; that it
is only the superior and better informed
mind, so to speak, of the city which
makes this apparent difference in sue
cess.
Ii, indeed, the young man cannot be
educated at home, then by all means let
him come to the city, if only long
enough to get good practical business
education. For this much he will GER
tainly need in farming if he goes into it
as he should, that is with view to sue
cess.
Do not suppose for moment that q
little common sense with sturdy frame
added to his worldly possessions, are all
that a farmer has need of-as in every
other occupation, the more cultivated
brain you bring to your assistance in
farming the better will be your chance
of success.
In no employment is there more
knowledge required. In other lines men
may often contine their scope of know
ledge-the manufacturer, for instance,
of boots, of cloths, of cutlery, of machin-
cry, &C., may require to know only what
appertains to his particular production
but the farmer produces grain and hay,
butter and beet, pork and cheese, wool
and cotton, &C., &c. He should know
how much of each to provide for, and
how best to dispose of them afterwards
he should know how to feed his stock to
the best advantage, and what breeds OF
stock suit his purposes best. Perhaps he
needs to know something of timber, Of
building and repairing, to say nothing
of his medical necessities; construction
of drains, qualities of soil, properties OF
fertilizers, Sc. In short, the farmer
might well be merchant, manufacture
physician and chemist. Then do not
say farmer need not be educated fully
as we'll as for any other business of life,
for by neglecting his education you
simply curtail his advantages and lessen
his chances for superiority and success
He needs to be something more than ga
newer of wood and drawer of water."-
Georgia Home Gazette.