The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1873-04-09

~ Can't Find Flme % Read.o

OF all the excuses made by far
mers as an apology for not subscri-
bing to such papers as would bene-
ct them in their business, this is the
most foolish. 1t is absolutely nom
sensieal. Can't find time to read,
and expect success! 1t would be
just as. sensible to refusefood to the
stomach as to the mind. Feeding
the stomach supports the animal or
ganization. Feeding the mind makes
the man. Without reasoning power,
man would be on level with the
brute. and the less this power is cul-
tivated the nearer the approach to
the lower order Of animals.
Can't find time to read, ana yet
hope for success in a business which
now must be conducted with some
regard to business principles! What
would be thought of merchant who
did net keep himself posted as to
the prices current and the influences
operating for an advance or decline?
What of the manufacturer who year
after year follows the same beaten
track, while his competitors are in
Producing new machinery and re-
ducing the cost Of manufactured
And yet the farmer does this, and he
alone. ss .s-.Ha
''Oh, pshax!" we hear some old
fellow say. 'What does book farm
ing amount tor Well, now, what
is book farming? When did this
prejudice against reading originate?
IF we go back twenty-five years,
when it was supposed that nobody
but professional man could write
for the papers, and when the first
agricultural papers were dependent
on the contributions of theory
men, there might be some reason
TO distrust their value. But times
have changed some in twenty-five
years. Readers have become think
ers; thinking leads to talking, and
IL has been discovered that man
who can talk can also write his talk ;
and as result, our papers to-day are
filed with the experience of practi |
cal men. Theory, unsupported by |
experience soon encounters stnmb- |
ling block. Publishers have learned
this fact, and that their success de-
ponds upon the ability to drscrimi
nate Ia the selection Of sound matter
for publication.
And the farmer can't find time to
read? Can the mechanic find time to
learn his trade? Better by far thatone
half of each day be spent, if neces-
sary, to learn hoao to do the agork to
best advantage before undertaking it.
One acre well titled will produce
more profit than three cultivated
in the usual slip-shod manner. This
has been demonstrated hundreds of |
times, and has become an admitted |
truth yet the whole land abounds /
with farmers too lazy, two negligent
to study the more successful method.
The one thing needful to protect
the farmer from the imposition of |
monopolies and elevate his calling /
to it's proper position among the pro
ductive industries, is more reading.
Were the Agricultural Societies to
expend one-half the present amount
paid in premiums, in distributing
among the farmers of their respec-
tive counties the standard agricul-
tural papers, they would put in mo-
ton an influence for good which all
of their previous efforts have never
accomplished.
Learn the farmers to read of their
calling. Show them the necessity
and the certain advantage, financially |
socially and morally, and the. week
of exhibition will be Supplemented
and preceded by months of intelli
gent experiment and thoughtful
research. The results will be some
thing practical. The Fairs will
grow in interest and will apprecia-
ted for their legitimate worth. Horse
racing and sensational exhibitions
need not be resorted to to keep the
fairs aaoat, and they may become
places of resort that Il christian man
may not be ashamed to visit FARM
ef'R Adr0cnfe.