Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-01-05
Educated Farmers and Fancy Farming.


In many cases, If the matter was thor
oughly looked into, the real reason why
so many young men reared upon farms
wish to leave themfor other occupations
and pursuits is because the work of farm.
ing, as generally carried on, does not af-
ford them sufficient intellectual stimu-
lus, does not provide sufficient means for
intellectual qualification and growth.
They want to rise to some higher occu-
patton, to use common expressions; to
do something which demands more
head-work," and which will conse.
quently develop their intellectual and
social powers in fuller and larger meas.
ure.
But while this idea is perfectly nat
uraf one, under existing circumstances
we do most earnestly declare 1t thor.
oughly false one, from base to apex. II
teamwork is usually carried on in an un.
thinking, hum. drum, see.saw style,
going over the same ground and doing
the same things precisely from year to
year, that is no reason why it should be
so, necessarily; no reason why there
cannot be very great change in this
respect.
In reality, no occupation in the world
affords so wide and varied field for ad
vanced, independent thought and in
vestigation as farming; no mechanic OF
tradesman or artisan of any kind has
greater scope for the display or i'm.
provement of all his mental resources
than he who tills the soil. What themes
for investigation demand more ability to
master them than these which come
directly in the farmers line of life; the
nature of soils, their constituent proper.
ties and qualities-the nature, value and
adaptability of the different manures
and fertilizers to these soils-the rotation
of crops-the improvement of stock,
ETC., etc. There is, in fact, hardly any
limit to the legitimate range of. agri-
cultural exploration and endeavor
We are aware there is nothing decried
more heartily and loudly on the part of
some than what is called book farm
ing" or fancy farming. There is quite a
large class of agriculturists who think
and say that all these attempts to strike
out new paths and introduce new theo-
ries and practices are pure moonshine,
humbug, and what not, but this class
need not necessarily be in the majority
OF course it will take time to break down
old prejudices and clear away the fog,
and elevate and improve the mind, so
that it will be willing to recognize
the value of what is offered without
regard to "what has been" And in
this direction lies the true work of agri
cultural colleges and associations of all
sorts.
Meantime, fancy farming is not entire
ly destitute of triumphs already won
Says an exchange:
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 Southdowr
and Merino. They brought up the milk
of cows from pints to gallons. They
have heightened the sirloin of the bull
ock, deepened the udder of the COW, en-
lsrged the ham of the hog, giver
strength to the shoulders Of the OK, rem
dered finer the wool of the sheep, added
heetness to the speed of the horse, ant
made beautiful every animal that is KEEP
in service of man. They have improved
and fastened the development of al
domestic animals till they hardly resem
BILE the animals from which they sprang
Fancy farmers introduced irrigation
and under draining, grinding and cook
ing food for stock. They have brought
guano from Peru and nitrate of sodf
from Chill. They have introduced anC
domesticated all the plants we have Of
foreign origin. They brought out the
theory of the rotation of crops as q
natural means of keeping up and in
creasing the fertility of the soil, They
first ground up gypsum and bones, anC
treated the latter with acid to make
manures of peculiar value. They frs
analyzed soils as a means of detsrmin
ing what was wanted to increase theil
fertility. They introduced the most ap
proved methods of raising and distribut
ing water.
!" Fancy farmers or fancy horticult
urists have given US all our varieties ot
fruits, vegetables and flowers. A fancy
farmer in Vermont few years age
originated the Early Rose potato, which
added millions of dollars to the wealth
of the country, and proved to be mos
important accession in every part of thu
world where 1t was introduced. Anothe
of these same fancy men originated thu
Wilson strawberry, and another the Con
cord grape. 1t was a fancy farmer tha
brought the Usage from Texas to thu
Northern States. - Prairie Farmer.