The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-10-17
WHY YOUNG MEN IGNORE AGRICUI.-
acIoen fH TURE. eBf Fif8

( "a large proportion Of the young
men OF this country have no love for
agricultural pursuits. This is true
enough in the Eastern States, and it is
strikmgly true III California. One
reason for the aversion which prevails
here is that no effort has been made
to render agriculture attractive. In
fact, most young men are not taught
that it is possible to make the results
Of intelligent agriculture more salts
factory in the long run than any other
pursuit, They are not made to un-
derstand how dull plodding business
can be redeemed and made one Of the
most attractive pursuits in the world.
In whatever way wealth is acquired,
it does not comprise much more than
the comforts and luxuries ola good
home with some leisure for books and
travel.
But in agriculture we have strange.
ly dropped out the idea of a good
home. Nine-tenths of the farmers
homes on this coast fail to inspire a
single desire in young men for any
thing of the sort. Here and there
may be found an attractive home
stead. But the primary truth that a
young man ought to choose agrioul-
ture because he can early lay the
foundations for desirable home, and
that from first to last he can bring all
his skill aud science to bear in prof.
table husbandry, in adorning home
stead and in the qualification OF the
most cultivated tastes-this truth is
rarely enforced. The young mans
idea Of farming here is dusty plain, a
farm house little better than shed,
hired men sleeping in blankets,
slowed away in out-houses, hard
work, and doubtful results. Just this
ideal is realized in many instances
SO many in fact that this is taken as
standard farming. The young dislike
it and turn away to any pursuit which
will afford them precarious living.
Practical agriculture involves hard
work here, as everywhere else. But
there never was country where SO
much could be accomplished in that
line by resolute and intelligent young
men who are wiling to put muscle
aud brain into agriculture for what
can be got out Of it, There is not
treatise extant on farming which is
adapted to this coast, We have an
almost endless variety of soils and
climates. The seasons are unlike any
east OF the Rocky Mountains. In the
place of frost which LOCKS up the soil
for six months in the year we are
comforted with rainless weather, and
are slowly learning how to turn this
to the best account. ...
Suppose young man, resolute and
intelligent, starts out with the purpose
to make agriculture his lifelong pur-
suit, and to confne his energies TO
such moderate area Of land as he
may call homestead. He will not
become rich rapidly, But doing his
best and never losing sight Of the fun.
damental idea that he is to mako an
attractive home, and that all efforts
are to center in this leading purpose,
what ought to be the result of his first
ten years labor? His three or four
hundred are fenced, aud cross-feneed,
gates all in the right places, grove
of hard-wood trees well set and grow
ing, good out.buildings, farmhouse
well built and large enough for guests
and growing family, water utilized
for irrigation and domestic purposes,
tho best breeds OF cattle and sheep,
in short, every accessory OF intelligent
agriculture, including library that
never stops growing.
Now, modest as these results may
be, has not this man had a successful
career? How many in other pursuits
arriving atmiddle age have had fewer
ups and downs or have come out bet.
ter than he? If he has found leisure
to read, and has applied the result OF
his knowledge to his pursuit, he has
been a growing man ali these years,
If he has some cultivated tastes, is
there any better sphere for there in
diligence than in the life Of country
gentleman The fact is we have
shown young men the ugly side
of farming. Naturally enough they
hate il and run away from it. Let us
do something to show them the higher
possibilities of such a lite, and we
shall find a better accounts r.
Bulletin. ......rI ..iI.f... ..