Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-11-16
Suggestions TO Farmers.

Too little has been done by the aGri
culturists of the country to dignity their
profession. Physicians have their med
ical societies; lawyers, their bar-mcet-
.irss; and clereymen, their Synods and
Associations These are used exclu-
sivcly for the purpose of individual cul-
ture, and professional advancement.
It is true that the farmers in many
cases have Fairs, but these arc really
crhihitjoss. Nothing more. They af-
'i,rd but little opportunity for substan
,tjal Improvement. They produce good
effects, because they generate spirit
Of rivalry, which ultimates in greater
activity. That is all. Men-younb
men, especially-are as likely to &c
stimulated to engage in horsc-racing, as
to do anything else. You learn but
little at these annual cxhi billions Of your
industry and skill.
They arc rather commercial than
otherwise, in their tendencies. You
~,sa such occasions to advertise your
stock, ana your cereal productions
The mechanic presents to your notice,
the evidences of his skill in the variety
Of machinery which he has constructed
to facilitate the work of the farm. The
merchant and the artist are there for
similar purpose. All this is done in
secondary Importance only. I+oeluc-
ton is the grand, all-absorbing, interest
Of this country. H"w shall we pro-
ducc the best grain, and the greatest
quantity to the acre, with the least ex-
penditure of force and capital Or
rather, in what way may all the pro.
ductivc industries of the country be
made to yield the greatest profit?
Agricultural fairs will not solve this
question. You can't find out the an
swer individually, by delving upon your
farms. 1t is to be done by association
comparison and correspondence. Wher
men would tunnel mountain, or lay ;
submarine telegraph, they aggregate ;
sufficient amount Of capital, and then
proceed to the accomplishment of thu
work. IF you would make farming
stand at the head Of the ranks Of indus
try-and~ 1T properly belongs there
YOU must associate, for the purpose
Of acquiring greater pro- tssional skill
in the management IF soils; in tn
rotation of crops in the production O
grasses; in horticulture, Horticulture
and arboricll!ture in stock breeding
in poultry raising; in draining; il
fencing; in building; in marketing
and in the science of general bust
ness. You need a . FARMERS INsTl
rUrE' in every well settled county il
the State. This ought to grow nntur
ally out from the germ which is vcgct
ating at the STATE UNIVERSITY, and
it WILL. if you make the demand
There should be organized under til
auspices Of the " Department Of Agri
culture" in the University. a course O
instruction., running through six week
to consist, chiefly Of lectures, paper:
and debates upon the various topics q
interest to the common farmer. III
lectures should be illustrated by expe,
imcut,; the papers develop the latc<
discoveries in scientific truth, and tn
Debates furnish that kind Of informa
tisn which is best known asexperlcnct
the value Of which, even in scientlfi
processes caa rcvor be safely ignored
You who constitute so great u por
ton Of the population, the wealth, ane
and the intelligence Of tho State, hav
4 right to Mmnnd this. Then petition
your representatives for an appropria
ton to defray tho expense Of such al
ORGANIZATION. Ii you ask for it, car