The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-04-28
Come, garm aud garden
FANCY FARMERS.

No class of men have been ridiculed
50 much, and none have done so much
good. as those who are denominated
flncy farmers They have been, in all
times and countries, the benefactors of
the men who have treated them with
derision. They have been to farmers
what inventors have been to manufac-
tlrers. They have experimental for the
good Of the world, while others have
simply worked for their own good. They
have tested theories while others have
raised crops for market. They have
given dignity and glory to the occupa
ton of farming it never had before.
Fancy farmers have changed the wild
boar into the Suffolk and Berkshire; !;
the wild bull of Britain into the Short
horn; the mountain sheep, with its lean
body and hair fleece. into the South
down and the Merino They have
brought up the milk Of COWS from pints to
gallons. They have heightened the sir
loin of the bullock, deepened the udder
of the cow, enlarged the ham of the
hog, given strength to the shoulder of
the OK, rendered finer the wool of the
sheep, added feetness to the speed OF
the horse, and made beautiful every
animal that is kept in the service of man.
They have improved and hastened the
development of all domestic animals,
till they hardly resemble the creatures
from which they sprang
Fancy farmers introduced irrigation
and understanding, grinding and cook
ing food for stock. They brought guano
from Peru and nitrate of soda from
Chill. They introduced and domestica-
ted all the plants We have of foreign
origin. They brought out the theory of
rotation of crops as a natural means of
keeping up and increasing the fertility
Of the soil. They first ground up gyp-
sum and bones; and treated the latter
with acid to make manures of a peculiar
value. They first analyzed soils as a
means of determining what we wanted
to increase their fertility They intro
duced the most approved methods of
raising and distributing water.
Fancy farmers or fancy horticultu-
rists have given us ali our varieties of
fruits, vegetables and flowers. A fancy
farmer in Vermont a few years ago
originated the Early Rose potato, which
added millions of dollars TO the wealth
of our country, and proved to be most
important accession in every part of the
world where it was introduced. Another
of these same fancy men originated the
Wilson strawberry and another the Con-
cord grape. 1t was fancy farmer who
brought the Usage orange from Texas to
the Northern States.
Among the men in this country who
were classed as fancy farmers at an early
day, were Washington, Jefferson, Frank
lin and Livingston. The first intro
duced mules; the second, the cultiva-
tion of improved rice; the third, the use
of land plaster, and the fourth, the rails
ing of lucerne. More than any men of
their time did they add to the wealth of
the country. After them came another
race of fancy farmers, who introduced
Arabian horses, Spanish sheep, and the
improved breeds of English cattle and
swine. These fancy farmers added i'm
mensely to the wealth of The practical
farmers of the country.
What we want to develop the agricuI-
tural and horticulture of the country to
their fullest extent is, large number of
fancy farmers. men who work for pleas
ure rather than for private gain. These
are the men who will perform expert
ments and give the world the benefit of
them. These are the men who will car
ry on investigations for the sake of in
vestigatiDg. These are the men who
will bring in new grains, new fruits,
new vegetables, and new varieties of
animals. These are the men who will
devote their time and money to the i'm
provement of old varieties and the cre-
alton of new ones. The country is sadly
in need of more fancy farmers.-ChicG- |
20 Times