The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-06-01
THE LIFE OF A FARMER.

Many become tillers of the soil from
choice, the largo majority from necessi-
ty. Many of the latter class do not fully
accept the situation, and think they
| should be moro prosperous and better
satisfied if they We're engaged in some
other business, that their opportunities
would be greater. Is this right or are
they mistaken? think they are mista-
ken No calling at the present hour de-
mands brains more urgently, than the
calling of farmer. The positive know
edge gained by patient research, the
light thrown on the secret operations of
vegetable and animal life by chemistry.
the dissemination of this knowledge
among the masses by the Agricultural
Press" The training of the few by
the agricultural College," have revo-
lutionized farming, and woe betide the
| plodders who will not advance. And it
would seem that we are but just on the
threshold of discovery, and out well in
our calling.
The demand Of the present hour is
for positive facts. Men lave spent
their lives, and are spending them now
to prove some fact in natuarl science
Let the youth, the young man when
about choosing, or entering into his call
ing for life, if it be tiller of the soil
see that his opportunities for culture,
for mental growth, are not circumscrib-
ed. Let him see the book of nature
opon before him let him find out her
laws and apply them III his business; he
can now avail himself of the accumulat
ed knowledge OF others, who have gone
before him on the same road; he can see
what crops his soil are best adapted to,
how his fertilizers can be best applied,
when his plowing and cultivation will
be most efficient, the best time to SOW
his various seeds, the best time and man
ner of harvesting his crops, &c.
His crops raised and all securely
stored, he reflects on what will be the
best use to make of them, whether to
sell or feed them. He looks beyond the
present, which may give him larger
Immediate return in cash, and sees that
by selling off from his farm year after
year the fertilizing elements, he can see
in the future an unproductive, barren,
exhausted soil, which to restore he must
bUy bone dust and phosphates by the
ton. He must also make large expen-
ditures for oil cake, Gas flax was former
| ly favorite crop of his, always selling
the seed and corn to feed to cattle, by
this means giving back to the soil the
elements of which it was robbed in by
gone years, he wisely concludes to feed
on his farm all he raises, sells only his
fattened animals, wool and products of
the dairy, at the same time buying his
share of phosphats and oil cake, so that
none shall go eastward from Chicago,
but return west and northwest to pre-
serve unimpared the soil from which it
was taken. In the full developement of
his stock and in attaining high stan
dard for his dairy products, he has en-
tered on q task that will demand the
best powers of his mind. To determine
the best treatment of soils, to produce
the largest crops, the proper rotation of
crops, how best to avoid the disastrous
effects of droughts and floods; the best
methods of feeding his crops to -'~oduce
the largest returns, how best to plan his
work that he may secure a portion of
time to spend in reading and study of
his vocation and also secure some time
for the exercise of his social qualities.
If he attends to all of these as the
years roll by, he will not complain
that his life has been q dull or an
Improbable one. AS his means in
self with all the conveniences and
comforts of life, substantial dwelling,
commodious barns and other outbuild-
ings all in grounds surrounded by
trees and shrubbery and flowers in
their proper season; under such circum-
stances with his family growing up
around him he will live happy, to a
green old age, and die lamented.
Now, farmers sons, farmers. boys, is
there anything in this picture overdrawn,
Is there anything to which you cannot
attain Is there not in your occupation
enough to develop the full powers of
mind and body? Will you pine to join
the great army of non-producers who
are struggling for existence, whose future
is so uncertain, or will you accept the
situation and fall back on the bank of
mother earth, the bank that is sure to
honor the draft when properly drawn !?
A SUDDEN CALL.-Reported by The
Burlington Hawkeye: ''It is indeed re-
markable," said noble Burling-
tonian, sitting in his parlor conversing
with few visitors, ''most remarkable,
that in all ages, the records of which are
bright with the glorious music