Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-08-31
THERE is no class who have ever worked
81 oro a11l1atrio, tLaaa tho farin ORC Of AInaa

to SOW early, and engaged in battle with the
grasshoppers on their first appearance and,
failing to save their crops, have seeded their
lands again and again, warning late and
early upon the grasshoppers whenever it
could be done with any degree of success.
The season has been one of constant toll
and anxiety and, to-day, their hopes Tor at
least SO many to whom there is a vestige of
ope LETT can only hang upon uncertain
ties. They have labored earnestly and with
unabating zeal and if only partial success at
tend their efforts they should feel encour-
aged. The knowledge gained by the sea-
sons experience will prove valuable if a
similar season should come again and will
enable them to make a more determined
and intelligent struggle, and one that will
most probably be attended with better re-
suits. Our farmers have learned that it is
useless to sow a field that is already invest
ed by 'hoppers. They must wait until the
pests decamp. They have learned, too, that
the 'hoppers' march upon a field may be ar
rested in many ways, as splendid fields, once.
infested on all sides, now go to show. The
BL S&St1SIOIllGY VI lGC SONflLlg HIS " yCU
been determined. There are some fields of
oats soWn SO late that if they make a crop it
will be a marvel indeed, yet we have faith
that, if the 'hoppers do not return, much of
the late sowing will produce a fair yield.
We have heard men lounging about the
streets of our metropolis say that our farm
ers did not deserve a%nything; that they
were al INDECENT, lazy, worthless set, and
that, as a class, they were void of enter
prise or go-aheadativeness. IF these city
gents. had Travelled among the farmers, as
we have, and seen them with brawny hands
and sinewy arms toiling day after day in an
almost hopless war against the swift-winged
and nimble-limbed messengers of destruc-
ton, they could but acknowledge the con-
trary to be the case. No honest man, who
has opened his eyes to the passing events of
tho day, can say but that a very large ma
jority Of the farmers of Montana have la
bored with all diligence, and though dark,
rolling clouds now hover over them, in
whose inky blackness they can trace the
ghastly outlines Of the v~ultures of destruc-
ton and bankruptcy, yet they are in re-
markably good cheer. Their hearts are
lightened by the consciousness of duty dis
charged and an abiding faith that right, pru-
dence, industry, and economy will i'll the
end triumph. They are low-down in the
pocket to-day, but there are brighter skies
beyond the clouds that now surround them.
The gaily attired men OF wit, who live by
filching the wages of honest toll, may call
our farmers what they will, as their words
upon their own heads with re-
doubled force.
The unpretendding laborer has, with the
calm eye Of reason, surveyed these things
until he has concluded that. there must he a
These reflections upon the industry
OF the.farmer begin to CRATE harshly upon
his ear. He looks up at the costly mansions
OF our cities, the gay ~turn-outs of their own-
crs and, from long, personal acquaintance.
IS aware that they know not what labor is.
Ihey nave been geaded one time too often.
ana the self-important man of wholesome
ADVICE may well pause in wonder. The old
eamonlton, work harder, economical
VIII not soothe them now. They have.
~ a class, acquitted themselves honorable
lnd well, and they cannot and will not have
ne TACT ignored. by men who never work
md who scor1 those that do. s.Immiorant
hoppers' or early frost may, at any day.
lake the afmer' condition even worse
nan lt is now, but q majority viii steer
aiely through the crisis-some may not.
'us when the hour comes, as well it must,
undannted knight of the plough and