Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-01-28

in avoiding the risks and dangers to
which the process of increase is exposed.
But banking is not the only vocation
that enjoys the advantage of this capac-
ity of wealth to reproduce and multiply
itself; other vocations may enjoy 1t in a
greater or less degree-farmlng. perhaps,
in a greater degree than all others.
Farmers are accustomed to complain
that they can have nothing but what
they dig out of the earth by hard labor:
but let us see about that Take farmer
who has not dollar to deposit in
savings bank, but who has grain of corn
to deposit in the rich soil of his farm If
he makes the deposit under the proper
conditions and does his duty afterward;
ifhe tills the soil around it, keeps it clear
OF weeds, and leaves the rest to nature,
in six months it will return him an hum
dred fold, FIVE hundred fold, thousand
fold for his trouble. Instead of dollar
doubling itself in seven years he will
have grain of corn multiplying into
thousand grains in six months; and, if
he plants the thousand grains the follow
ing season, under proper conditions and
does his duty they will grow into 1,009,-
900 grains.
This capacity of grain of corn to null
tiply itself is the foundation principle
of farming, and the center secret of sue
cess in il, just as the capacity of dollar
loaned at interest to double itself is the
basis of banking. Every grain of corn in
a bushel measure possesses the same
power, and if that bushel OF corn be
planted and cultivated it will expand
into thousand bushels, just as a single
grain expands into thousand grains.
There are hazards in farming as we'll as
In banking that must be taken into ac-
count-and here is where the farmers
skill must come in to guard his grain and
every other growing thing on his place
against these risks. All skill in farming,
and all the advice and directions given
in agricultural books and papers about
blowing, planting, cultivating, harvest
ing, pruning, feeding, fattening and shell
tering come to this point at last, viz:
the giving to his planted grain, grass,
trees and vines the conditions they
require for growth and the protection of
them against the risks of weather and
insects. 1t is nature that makes the
farmer rich; but nature sternly exacts
his cooperation. He must do his part
fully and fairly and she will do hers.
She will not be defrauded-indeed, she
cannot be defrauded; and in this part
nership between nature and the farmer,
in which nature contributes light, heat,
snow, rain and vital force, on the simple
condition that the farmer take proper
advantage of them, he must comply with
his part of the agreement if he expects
to become successful. He must plant at
the proper time; he must pillow deep as a
protection against drought; he must keep
his soil in good heart, either by Inanur-
ing or by resting, grazing and turning
under green crops; he must keep down
the weeds, and thus allow all the
substance to go TO his crops he must sup
ply his cows, mares, sows, ewes and chick
ems with the requisite conditions to
healthfui and rapid multiplication
abundant feed, water, warmth and shell
ter; he must plant choice fruit-trees
pleHtifuily, and in favorable situations,
on his farm, which shall grow while he
sleeps, and bring forth their harvest in
due time; and he must learn by expert
ment and study to pillow, plant, cut,
prune at the best time, so as TO invite
to his crops the developing forces OF ma
| ture at the moment of their highest &C
| tivity. Let him do these things, not for
one year, nor for two, only, but all the
time, and wait patiently for the result
meantime keeping out of debt and hav-
| ing as little to do with those who loan
money at 10 per cent. as possible-and
his reward will come. At the end of
three years he will begin TO perceive the
| benefits OF the experiment; at the end
of five years he will find that the
few breeding animals he began with
have multiplied five, ten and twenty
| fold, and that the amount OF annual
products that he has TO sell is steadily
| increasing at the end often years he Will
| find that the farm which was worth ten
dollars an acre has grown to be worth
! thirty or forty dollars per acre; that
| judicious cultivation and fertilizing have
Increased the productive capacity OF his
soil; and, that the unpromising twigs
and shoots which he planted have
| grown, almost without any labor from
| him, into orchards and vineyards that
will Weld their harvest of fruit, year
after wear, as long as he lives. Nature
| Has done more for him than usury does
| for the banker, for, while the banker re-
quires fortune to begin with, he began
with little or nothing, and has become
comfortable and independent. He finds
that nature is his friend and co-partner,
ready and willing to supply him with all
her reproductive forces on the easy con-
dition that he use them properly-and
that in this truth lies the secret OF what
| ever success he may Achieves. Lonas
Republican.
Aphides.