Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-10-12
knowledge Required In Farming.

There are many who look upon farming
as rather small business, who think that
its successful prosecution requires only a
tile common-sense-just enough to
prompt the hardy worker to seek shelter
in rain storm, and very little knowl-
edge, just sufficient to unit flock of
sheep, or read political newspaper. The
Opini n was once more gen raj than now,
for The world is growing wiser, yet at the
present time it IS entertained by many. 1t
il an Old and true saying, tDat honor and
shame from n, condition 1ise," that honor
is only acquired by acting well our part in
whatever situation we may be placed. A
man OF ability and knowledge, who de-
votes all his earnings to his business, will
make it honorable and profitable, no mat
ter how insignificant that business may at
first seem.
There IS no business requiring such var
led requirements, so much knowledge, so
much good judgment and commercial
ability combined, as is necessary for the
thoroughly accomplished farmer. He
stands first among the manufacturers of
the land, he makes the wheat and corn, the
beef and mutton and PORK. the wool and
flax and manufactures from the earth,
the air, the water. nearly all that we eat
and we4r; and this is not only done by
farmers as class, but almost every one
produces many, if not all o: these articles.
1he manufacturer usually confines MS
a bors to the production of one article,
hut the farmer is by necessity compelled
to make many. II he would make gain,
he must also make beef, or butter and
cheese, or mutton and wool. Hence the
necessity of extensive knowledge. 1t Is
an easy matter for the manufacturer to as
certain how much wool will make q yard
Of cl'th Of q certain description, aud what
will be its cost; but it is not so easy for
the farmer to ascertain how much grass or
hay or grain will make pound Of wool.
The manufacturer Can test new machine
and ascertain by few staple trials
whether it will manufacture t.4e desired
article CHI apcr or better than tue old one !;
bat to ascertain how pound Of beef can
be made the cheapest, what machine will
convert hay into rich cheese in the cheap
est manner, is d matter requiring good
deal more care and skill.
Among his varied requirements, the
farmer should possess a knowledge of ami
NAL physiology, 80 as to be enabled to
keep his STOCK in health and administer
proper remedies in case of sickness Veg
elable ply siology, too, must not be over
looked. Every day during the growing
season the farmer performs work for the
glo.th of his crops founded on the known
laws which govern vegetable life Ento
m0logy is science which the farmer is
compelled to study TO some extent, and
often much more perhaps than he desires,
hut the more he does so the better he is
fitted to wage q successful war against
thousands Of destructive foes.
In addition to this the farmer must be a
merchant, for he mustsell as we'll as manu-
faciurc. He must in some measure take
advantage of the rise and fall in prices,
select the best time for selling and the
best market, or after all his toll and
anxiety he may find bu: a poor return.
When We contemplate this subject, at
which VIC have merely glanced in all its
bearings, we are led to cxclaim, who is
competent to this worky Heartily do we
pity those who think that farming fnr"
nishcs 10 scope for the exercise OF knowl-
edge or ability If this opinion were en-
t,tiAined only by those engaged IN other
pursuits, it would he Of no serious conse-
quencc; but we judge that many farmers
have them~elve imbibed such Unbound.
and unjust opinions in regard to their call
ing, sn,l where this is the case there IS an