The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-04-17
8arm, Souss ans aarosn.


Elements Of Success in Farming.
BY GEO. E. MORROW, EDITOR WISCONSIN
FARMAR
The following is an abstract of the ed
itors address, delivered before the recent
/ Agricultural Convention in Madison. Tt
was frequently applauded, and generally
praised as the production of a thought
! Jul, conscientious and able man. He
said
'sThat farmer was most successful who
secured the largest returns for the capt.
| tai invested, in a long series of years
/ counting money, and time and thought,
and returns in comfort, health and pleas
rlre, as wei as money.
/ Large returns for few years at the
expense OF the fertility OF the soil is not
good farming Any returns at expense
OF health, comfort, manhood and honor
are not good farming. Farming is a
regular legitimate business subject TO
the same laws as other business, requir-
ing the same elements for success. The
fBrn1er is not g merchant nor 2 specula-
tor. To prodtIce most economically and
| sell SO as to procure the largest net re-
! Turns is his main bus.Lless. He Is not
a hired laborer and must accept OCCASION
al lessons as well as profits. There new
er can be IN ally business any fixed rate
of profit. The farm is the main capital
and its proper selection a main element
of success. Its location is often more
important than its fertility. a well set
| tied plan adapted to the circumstances is
an essential. Mixed farming as an al
ern farmer than exclusive attention to a
specially. Live stock should be includ-
ed in the plan of nine farmers out of ten.
The exact plan viii be greatly influenced
by the amount OF capital at command
A settled plan should be steadily follow
ed. The farmer is most successful who
steadily follows a well chosen plan thro'
long series of years, comparatively I'M
moved by fluctuations in prices. Ere
quent changes in location are as disaster
GUS as changes in plan. There is no per-
feet farming region. Great advantages
are always attended with some disadvan-
tages.
Wisconsin farmers might wish they
lived in the mild climate of southern Hi
nois, but summer there might shake
that idea out of them. Laughter. Steady
persistent work, year after year, is abso-
lrtely necessary. Farming will always
require some hard physical labor of the
mind. Intelligence, general and special,
is an element of success. Farmers have
succeeded without the aid of school edu-
cation. All honor to them But shame
to them if they insist that their sons
shall work under the same disadvantages.
Applause. Special agricultural educa-
ton is important. First of all they
should use their eyes to observe their
tongues and ears to talk and hear in con-
versatians, clubs and conventions. They
should go home and organize clubs and
county conventions.
They should read what other farmers
say. Intelligent skillful farmer neigh
bors are essential to success. Co-opera-
ton in acquiring knowledge and in buy
ing and selling, where practicable, is. de-
duty Of final individual decision They
should get all the information they could
and then act as their best Judgment die
tated.
Faith in their business, and confidence
in its future wos the finale was the final
element recommended. He did not I'M
derestimate the difficulties and evils of
their situation. Prices are low. trans
portation charges high, agricultural i'm
plements too dear, money. scarce, but
there were worse evils-looking only at
these evils, distrust of all other profess
sions, sullep despair and misanthropy.
SO long as the world stands, farming
must pay. Great profits, a life OF ease,
exemption from physical toll, are not to
be expected. But, taking al things into
consideration, farmers will ever have
as much real prosperity as men OF equal
intelligence, education, energy and CAPT
tai in other callings. Mind rules the
world, not numbers or brute strength
Farmers may stand at the head or the
foot, as they will. The three great words
the basis of all true srccess-are IN
DTsTRY, INTELLIGENCE, INTEGRITY. .
Applause.