The Hickman courier., 1872-11-02
Agricultural Improvement

4 great deal has been spoken and
written concerning agriculture and
its influence on the nation and on
the individual, and it will not be de-
MED that the advancement of the
one in every desirable direction, and
the prosperity of the other. depend
in a direct degree upon the PROGRESS
made in this fundamental interest.
And the prosperity of any section
/ in proportion to its advancement in
/ agriculture and ats associated inter
ests. Agricultur1is now understood,
and properly so, 70 be sience-the
gaining of the mastery by man over
nature, and the aequisition of such
knowledge Of hef ways, and her
laws of action, asMill enable him to
attain the control Necessary to secure
the result he has IN view.
There can be 10 successful agri-
culture unless il be made profitable
aud pheasant. BdS before this re-
suit can be obtained there must be
an abandonment of old prejudices.
These prejudlees that stand in the
way of improvement of any kind,
are the offspring of ignorance, and
they constitute the formidable OBJ
stacle to anything like progress.
Whenever these exists, an obstinate
determination to permit no innova-
ton On the rules and practices OF
ones forefathers. no deviation from
the customs of other years, there
cannot possibly be taken any step
forward. When a mind is SO con-
stituted that it can find nothing at
tractive in the inventions of genius,
or the discoveries of science, we
can confidently assert that 1t is stag
nant, and until itsdepths are stirred
by the power of enterprise or learn
ing, it viii remain dull and sluggish,
contracting always.
We must get something to dispeN
old preiudices Obstinacy Is the re-
suit of prejudice and of ignorance,
and when we can dispel them, we
can, with reason, look for improve
ment, Now, this is a fact that de-
mands more attention than it has
received. Unless farmers devote
more time to the cultivation of their
minds. how can they make any de-
sirable advancement?
The wise man once wrote: "The
wisdom of a learned man cometh by
opportunity of leisure" And in
that sentence Is food for reflection
and thought sufficient for an entire
sermon. if we had time to preach
1t is not the skillful hand, the strong
arm, or the watchful eve alone, that
viii, IL these days, bring success and
wealth to the farmer. These are
needful, but the cultivated mind is
far more important. If thorough
tillage Is Indispensable to profitable
results, then an educated mind, with
exper ence and obst ryation, are es-
sential, for there can be thorough
tillage in the sense here understood,
uulees it be performed with intelli-
gence, care and skill. Judgment Is
worthless unless it is bas-
ed upon knowledge. An ignorant
farmer is sometimes successful, be-
cause the circumstances are fortuit-
Gus, but We urge a higher standard !
OF mental cultivation for farmers |
that they may, at times, wrest suc-
cess from unfavorable circumstances !
that practical skill, learning, expe- |
rience and matured judgment, may /
secure desirable results even when
the elements seem to oppose him. /
We have written a great deal on this |
subject and 1t is ever an interesting |
one to us, for throughout the whole |
country, we can see that agriculture
is making rapid advancement, and /
that farmers increasing IN their So
cial and political influence, while /
their material prosperity is BEING
improved. But the full power and !
grandeur of agriculture will never
be acknowledged or known, nor will /
it ever attain that pre-eminence 1t
IS entitled to as the basis of nation
al prosperity, until farmers every
where, large and small, powerful
and humble, admit the truths we |
have just stated farmers Home /
journal.