The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-10-25
Knowing What to DO.

HE is a truly wise man who knows
Just what to do under all the varied cir
cumstances of life. Few they are who
have not at some time, in the regular
course of business. been puzzled to de-
eide just what course to pursue, or what
was the best thing to do. This is es-
pecially true when applied to men in
commercial and maritime pursuits and
to the operators in stocks and grain.
How is it when applied to farmers? Do
they always know just what to do, and
when to perform the simple operations
of farming? Oh, no. We have talked
with perhaps a hundred good farmers
within the past ten days about the pol
icy of sowing wheat early or late this
year. Not one of them was clearly
convinced as to the best time. 1t is
true that in what we know as the wheat
States winter wheat seeding is performed
within the period of one and half
months, from Aug. Is to Oct. L. Many
a farmer whose rule is to sow early
meaning from the last week in August
to the 9Th of September-doesn not know
whether it is wise or unwise to sow SO
early this year. He hcsitates, and at
this date, Sept. II, very few fields are
sOwn.
Those who write for the benefit of
agriculturists usually urge very
strongly the advantage of having a
regular system of farm operations,
and lay immense stress upon rules, and
strict adherence to them. Rules are
good aids in farming, as we'll as in
other kinds of business; but they are
not to be made dictators and we abject
slaves-not by any means. For ex-
ample, one makes it his rule to sow
wheat the second week in September
that is his rule-and he adheres to it,
unless he perceives some circumstances
which Indicate that a change in his
usual course will be more advantageous
than a strict obedience to the rule. But
one should be able to take a compre-
hensive view of things and estimate in
diligently the bearing of new inilu-
ences, or opposing elements, before he
changes an established course which
has proven generally trustworthy and
profitable.
Many a farmer says, 81 dare not sow
early this fall for am afraid of insects. -
Does he know that the Hessian fly is
about his fallows? If he does, then he
knows that wheat sowing before the
Goth of September should not be thought
of, and his fears should be displaced by
knowledge and decisive plan and ar
rangement.
Rules and systems of farming, il
founded on an extensive knowledge OF
Natures laws and of their certain and
constant operation and influences; on a
correct knowledge of the habits of in
sect enemies, and the remedies within
reach; if the full power of the soil is
known, and the effects of common fer
tilizers also are well known, then a set
of rules may be framed which, if adj
hered to, will prove positively and con-
stantly advantageous. They are then
our aids, our servants, our guides and
support. Let there be rules based upon
knowledge, and lived up to, and farm.
ing will, in its results, be more uniform
and certain.
A farmer who always has his wheat
ground in prime order as to culture and
fertility may have certain time fol
sowing, and be certain that for a mum.
Der of years in succession he will be
| surer Of success than he would be if he
changed from early sowing to late sow
ing, and again from late to early. Sc
with everything else in the whole rou
tine of farm business. 81
| The operations of Nature at particu
lar times appear irregular and violent
yet the average of q series of years
| shows that there is eyennesS and uni
formity quite surprising to those who
take a single year, or two years, as
Ebasis of calculation. A rule, therefore
founded on sound knowledge of Ma
ture, should not be abandoned because
of once failing. e