The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-10-14
HOW TO MAKE FARMING PAY.

Hon. Harry il. Eaton, OF R1chland
county, Republican candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor, who is himself prac-
tical and successful farmer and diary
man, delivered an excellent address at
the Fond du Lac County Fair on the
14th, which, it is reported, was heard
by large crowd, and highly commend
ed by every one. He very properly
avoided all reference to political ques-
tons, and confined himself to matters
appropriate to the occasion. At the out
set he referred to the fact that the
agriculturalist follows an occupation
that is both ancient and useful. He
then drew contrast between early times
and the present.
For centuries, the farmer, manufac
turer and professional man labored under
great advantages, for the want of suit
able implements and machinery. The
artisan gave his time and attention to
the manufacture of arnaor, the nipple
ments of war and decorative ornaments.
The architect and mechanic gave their
time to the erection of those monuments,
temples and stupendous works, the ruins
of which still remain reminding US of
the folly, as well as the greatness and
power of the rulers of past ages. Years
and centuries passed with but slight i'm
pro7ement in the vocations. Gas our
h.
to. Within the recollec
tons Of many here present, the day OF
investigation dawned, and an age Of i'm
provement commenced. x < For
thousands of years, muscular power
mostly performed the labor required in
agriculture, manufactures and COM
merce. Genius at length awoke and
reviewed the past, compared the row
galleys of Rome with the sail vessel, the
wheel of Lucretia and the loom of Pen
elope, with those on which our mother
spun and wove; the crooked stick of the
East with the Gu NITROUS wooden pillow of
our fathers, and the harvesting done by
the slow process of the sickle or by that
of the more modern cradle. An improve
ment was needed. The mechanic APP
piled motive power with mathematical
precision to material in the construction
of implements and machinery. The
steel has displaced the wooden plow, the
reaper, the sickle, the threshing machine
the fail, and the factory with many
looms and thousands of spindles doing
the work OF an army of hands, has set
aside the spinning wheel. Watt and
Fulton saw that there was force in
steam; they invented the engine, con-
densed the steam, discovered IL was a
great motive power, and made it sub
servient to the use Of man. And the
engine now runs much of our machinery.
Drawn by steam the lengthy rail-train
traverses a continent. When Lief Erick-
son, that brave and daring Norseman,
with his barge, and Columbus with his
ships, in their voyage of discovery to
America, were months in crossing, now
the steamship, laden with tons of freight
and hundreds of passengers, performs
the voyage in few days.
After briefly referring to other i'm
provements Of the age, Mr.. Eaton gave
some excellent practical advice to farm
ers, as follows:
VIII farming pay? Yes; a farm of
good productive soil, well managed, will
support a family, with economy, pay the
percentage on its value, all reasonable
taxes, and repairs, and leave SURF lus.
The farm is the fountain from which
flows the stream that runs the world.
AS the farmer prospers, SO does COM
merce, the merchant, the manufacturer
and the professional man. The farm
should be well fenced as convenience
to the farmer, and conducive to the
morals and peace of his neighborhood.
Buildings should be erected on good
firm and durable foundations, and all
repairs made in due season. 4 supply
of water is almost indispensable, when
stock is kept. Weeds and bushes should
not be allowed to grow in fence corners.
Farmers should understand the COM
position of the soil, for what it is best
adapted, and how it can be fitted and
made suitable for the rotation of crops,
of the cause and effect of propagation
and of growth. Save all manures and
use them beautifully on your land, thus
rendering it more loose and mellow, let
ting in light air, which are essential for
the growth of good crops. The cost of
manuring must vary the cost of your
cultivation materially-with our present
imperfect knowledge of manures, Stale
manure will be your standard, with the
use of superphosphates as yoGr expert
ence and good sense viii indicate. My
experience has been favorable to the use
OF 100 pounds of landplaster per acre,
on all dry farming land it attracts
moisture and retains a portion of the
foul and unwholesome gasses, which
float in the atmosphere acting as Il dis
infectant, and furnishing continual
supply of food for vegetation. Heavy
c!ays bear deep and thorough tillage
while less deep ploughing is safer on
light and sandy soils, less they become
unproductive. Be systematic, SOW the
grasses, and let portion of your farm
rest from the pillow for time.
The farming Implements should be of
the most improved pattern, of the best
material and workmanship. When not
in use, clean and shelter them from the