The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1877-08-03

lhe mass 0I the farming communities
are 10 eminently conservative that the
tendency il to brace against any medi-
uns change or even Of improvement
Unfortunately as class, farmers do not
like to be disturbed, they cannot bear
n plough that goes straight down TO
hard pan and turns their ideas inside
out; they are frequently too well con
tent with present knowledge. Old
customs, habits, prejudices are like dear
friends, not to be parted with except for
strong and convincing reasons
The onward march of thought and
progress has cheapened every other pro-
dnction, has improved every other man
ufacture; why not amid the warmth
and invigoiating life Of investigation
and advance into agricultural We
ought to embrace every opportunity to
increase our stock Of knowledge CON
cerning our daily pursuits And how
Shall this best be donel Plainly by
reading standard books and well-con.
Quoted agricultural journals, as well as
BY meeting together at the clubs and
discussing methods Of culture and prac-
tice. The accumulated knowledge Of
the world should be utilized as far as
possible by each individual. Man is su-
perior to the lower animals mainly
from the fact that he can avail himself
Of the recorded experience Of those who
have preceded him for his guidance,
and hence does not need to commence
at the bottom round of the ladder.
The man who does not thus avail him
self of such opportunities, signifies his
willingness to be child in knowledge,
to be slave to Ignorance, to spend his
life and strength in vain battling with
natures forces, which wiser heads have
learned to conquer in n far easier man
ner
A reading farmer, book-faimer, is
simply he who avails himself Of facts
already demonstrated by men Of
thought and practice, thus giving him
greater strength and capacity in life's
work; and saving to him the chagfin of
failure, the loss Of valuable time in h.
boring to solve similar problems by
himself alone.
This train of thought was suggested
during n recent interview with sub
stantial and successful farmer, who
said he mover thought much Of what he
saw in books and papers. Relating
method of pruning trees that his neigh
boracross the way had practised sim
ply because he read II in book, our
worthy old farmer says, ~ know u way
to trim apple trees worth Il dozen rules
like his, and it did not come from any
book either" At our request the sue
cessful cultiyator gave us his method,
ard bidding him good day we detclmin-
I'D to publish his rules for trimming in
onr next issue, which we did. Meet
ing our practical farmer week after
showing him "his rules In print we
aslscdhinquietiy if they was any the less
true because published in a paperl lie
the force Of the reasoning.
The highest mission of the agriculture
journal is to publish and disseminate
experiments and experiences, deductions,
methods and results of thoughtful aud
practical men, so that its thousands of
worthy patrons may rcceivelthe bcnht
on the stimulus Of the labors Of their
brother cultivators. Even il q farmer
reads theory contrary to his own
Judgment, yet his own thoughts and
reasoning powers are aroused, and the
agricultural progress of America is full,
lyassured when the sound common-sensc
cultivators Of the soil will set to think. !
ing for themselves, assisted by such
thoughts Of others as may serve for
tslstion in exciting to reward effort.
LloHr IN STABLES. Neither cattle
nor horses should be stalled in dark
stable, as all animals require light in
the daytime A horse kept for months
in stable would be liable to become
blind. In regard to light in swine
pens, writer says that two sows hay.
ing litters on the 18th and 22d of Jan.
uary, respectively, were kept in two
rather dark, but warm, temporary sites,
and had to occupy them till about the
middle of tho month of April, when for
each sow with litter, one of the per.
mauent sites was opened by selling the
occupants. AZ that time tho pigs
which had been kept in the dark toni
iomty sites proved To lie less livcly |
than, and much inferior IN weight anl
size to those Of any Of the littcrs rails
al in less warm but wclllightcd pos.
manent sites, notwithstanding that ,l,,
difference in age was very small, mud
that food and care had boon theI
same in every respect Ono Of tl- IL
tcrs born on the 18th Of JanuRry,
which had accidentally the bcst-ligh 9 /
sty, though situated in the north.wet
and consequently coldst corner or the
fnmc building, exhibited the lnoSl rap
ia growt, and the litter born on the 18Th
Of january, which had the darkest sly,
had made the poorest
50
RAISING TUREys, Tho turkey is the
most tender when young, and the most
difficult to raise Of all the domesticaod
fowls; yet with proper care in setting
thceggs under gamc hens, (why Ter
game hens)l and cooping the brood at
night, regularly, while the turkeys are
young, they may be easily reared in
great abundance. Never feed tile young