The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-14
Successful Farming.
"He that by the plow would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive"


This couplet both measures and
rhymes, but after all there is as much
truth as poetry in it. If q man is to be a
farmer, that occupation should be his all
engrossing business. 1t is honorable,
and of sufficient importance to occupy
his time, employ his mind, employ his
talents, and demand his careful and
earnest study. The good farmer not only
earns his living and rears his family, but
around his farm, his staple, his barn, his
home, cluster his dearest associations, and
his strongest affections and sympathies.
The boundary of his farm limits the little
world in which he lives and over which
he reigns supreme. No man in civilized
society may be more independent; no
one should be more happy. And what !
maintain is, that the good and successful
farmer does attend to his farm; that is
his chief business; everything else is
secondary to it. The same is true OF
every other occupation or profession.
The clergyman, lawyer, physician, or
teacher who does not feel enough interest
in his special work to induce him to de.
vote to it his time and best energies will
fail, and he ought to fail. The merchant.
and manufacturer must pursue their
special business with earnestness If they
expect to excel or care to succeed. Nor
is farming an exception. 1t cannot be
safely neglected or delegated to others
who have no special interest in it,
The farmer must not only be attentive
to his business, and Industrious, but he
must be studioB. Successful crops and
improved stock result from improved
methods of culture, and these are learned
by study. 1t is true that modern inven-
tion has relieved the farmer of much toll
which his ancestors we're compelled to
endure to secure the same results, and
consequently he has much more leisure
for reading and study, as well as for
pleasure. This fact should lead him to
improve his opportunities, that he may
become better farmer and wiser man.
His farm, his stock, his crops, his house
hold economy, still demand his chief at
tention, and his earnest thought and
care.
And I maintain that successful farm
ing, which is the result of intelligent and
earnest effort, pays as we'll as any other
occupation, and often better. l know
this is not the general impression. fire.
quently hear it said by the farmer: Call
1 can do is to support, clothe, and edu-
cate my family" Very we'll. What
other occupation, that requires no more
outlay and effort, pays better2 The pro-
fessional man has spent thousands of dol
lars in preparation for his work, and then
| if he succeeds he must toll early and
late, from the years beginning to its end.
But the farmers education has cost but
little, and he spends hardly half his time
in steady work on his farm, and still he
lives Independently, and in as many in
stances as in any other employment he
accumulates property and lays it up for 6
rainy day or for his children.
The farmers is not life of drudging,
privation and hardship compared with
Others in the various pursuits and pro-
| fessions; it is life of comparative leis-
ure, ease, comfort and independence.
This statement is true, whoever may un-
dertake to denyit.
> Dut 1 ucfef hue" OH i6uo'ouo Ai"
who was really and thoroughly good
farmer. He may be honest and labo-
rious, and aim to be faithful, but he mis-
applies his labor like one who beats the
air and never achieve success in full
round of farm production. The success.
full farmer is student of agricultural
literature and science. Hence he learns
how to apply his labor, enrich his soil
and when and where to put his seed.
This class of farmers not only thrive
themselves, but they really support the
whole community. Farmers, think OF
these things Hiram 0reutt, in Home
a.ad N.rm.