The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1873-08-06
ExperLenee In Farming.


& II
Il is believed by those who have
always lived in cities, that the most
ordinary attachments are all that is
required to become a useful farmer ;
that if man in the city fails in bus
mess, it is. only necessary to go to
the country, procure a small farm,
hire a few hands, and rest easily In
thelap of contentment, peace, plen-
ty and domestic felicity. There
was never greater error If we
were required to specify the occupa-
ton that demanded at the same time
high order of intellect, extensive
knowledge, farreaching sagacity,
commanding executive ability and
the most untiring industry, we
should unhesitatingly name that OF
farming. The variety Of work, the
diversity Of crops, all requiring a diff
ferent culture; the tact and skill
necessary to manage successfully
the employees, the Vulnerable orders
to be given. and above all. the ener
gy to be infused into the business
to make it profitable. show that the
life of a farmer is not that of sine
cure. A long apprenticeship is re-
quired; experience must be gather
ed not only from successful farmers
in the neighborhood, but from a care
full study Of the best works on agri-
culture, and a patient investigation
Of the laws Of nature. A variety of
knowledge is constantly demanded.
Scientific truths become to him
leading element of success To cut
timber, for instance, when lit will
have the greatest durability; to
know how to measure his fields, and
to calculate the area of each; to
analyze and improve the soil by the
application of such fertilizers as such
analysis may show to be necessary :;
to understand the pathology and
anatomy Of disease of his animals !;
a knowledge of these truths certain
" demands no little study reflection
and thought.
And then the judgement necessary
to arrange several fields so as to
have a proper and systematic rotation
of crops the cheapest and best
fences to be made; the calculation
necessary to arrive at the expendi-
lures which should, by the laws of
probability, be made; the employ
ment of labor proportioned to the
prependerance of certain crops
All these certainly require an intel
lect trained in the interest Of the
farm. And then there is the practi-
cal knowledge-such as when to SOW
and when to NOW and the financial
knowledge as when to sell and when
to keep. Commanding others, he
must be able to command himself.
He must be positive, but not peevish
with his employees; pleasant, but
not familiar, commanding their res
pect and confidence but not inspir'
ing terror. To be hated by EN-
plovees is quite as bad for the sue
cessful management of farm as tc
be too familiar with them. Promises
on the part of the manager should
always be complied with, ever
though to do so may require great
sacrifices. A failure on his part vii
be an excuse for a hundred failure:
en- the part of the laborer. Al
these questions, psychological. NOR
81 and mental. successful farme
must deal with.
The nature of his land its loca
influences; its aptitudes and capacity
it's wants and its peculiarities mus
all be studied. And not least Of al
he must know how to work himself
must know how to regulate the dept
of a pillow, how to set n hoe handle
how to prevent gear from chafn
bow to lay off corn row, how t
make a ridge. how to sow grain
knowledge of all such things is quit
as valuable as to know that soil
everything limestones are usually feI
tile, or that water and carbonic aci
are the chief products of vegetabl
decomposition.-Rurd Sun.