Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1878-06-14

annual products as possible; IN O.
do this the farmer should aim 10 preserve
and increase the fertility of the soil, to cul-
tivatc it thoroughly by the most approved
methods, and with the mos; improved ma
chinery. In order to economic labor and
expense he must make a judicious sclec-
ton Of the best seeds and select the finest
breeds of animals. Now, in order to make
these selections, thanks 10 the enlightened
apein which we live, it is notnecessary for
The farmer to spend a Lifetime in expert
nenting for himself, but he can profit from
Ehc toll and labor of other hands and 9TH
er brains than his; and it appears to me
thatin order TO profit by the experience of
others in tie least possible time farmers
should organize fairs or exhibitions and
appoint certain days in the year when they
should meet together and bring with them
the best fruits of their labor, whether it be
the productions of the sod the best
improved specimens Of their stock, or the
handy work oftleir own hands; and, let
there be an honest patriotic rivalry to excel,
not only in that which is useful and profta-
bic, but also that which is beautiful and
pleasing to the eye. This is the course
pursued by the wealthy counties in the
northwest, where farming and stock
raising has attained the highest point of
perfection in this country, and We may
well follow their example. 1t has been
demonstrated there beyond question,
that in order TO make farming a paying
business, very large percentage of the
products OF the soilmust be fed and con-
sumed on the farm, and that that cou: Sc is
only profitable when fed TO improve stock.
They give two sound reasons for this theo-
~; one is thatin feeding your grain. on the
farm you retain all the decayed vegetation,
which with judicious care, can be made
valuable as a fertilizer and returned to the
soil. And again. they save avery large
percentage in freiehtssit being much cheap
er to ship fat cattle and hogs than corn.
County fairs afford the farmer not only
an opportunity to examine and compare the
best stock, seeds and machinery, but 10
compare thoughts and ideas with his
neighbors in regard TO attaining a more
thorough knowledge and practice of agri-
culture as science; by this mean
knowledgeo of the principles. The why's
and wherefores which lie at the. founda-
lion of successful farming and of the prac-
teal application of those principles COM
bine skill and economy; and, in order to
obtain the many advantages afforded by
county fair. every possible induoement
should be offered to encourage the impor-
iation and breeding of improved breeds of
stock There is no interest of the farmer
in this county more sadly neglected than
that of improving the farm horses and
dairy COWS. We should Learn that it costs
as much 10 feed an inferior animal as
good one and the profits are FIVE
times less 1t has been conclu-
sively shown by the census that the
labor of single man in Massachusetts, is
equal in profit TO the labor of FIVE men in
the south Those men believe in skilled la
Dor, believe thai knowledge is power with
the farmer as well as the professions.
THERE'S another viewin connection with
agricultural exhibitions; tliey tend TO ele-
-vate labor, TO cause increased respect for
farmers, and teaches them to magnify
their employment 10 more thoroughly un-
derstand that al improvement all progress
OF the race in civilization has been the re-.
suit of intelligent labor that we belong to
a class of citizens who hold in our
hands five-sixths of the wealth Of the coun-
Try and its political power: and if the
ofour noble order are fully car
ried out, the hands and brains that
wrought this great wealth viii be able to
protect and defend all the rights justly be- |
longing 10 them. In conclusion, l would |
say from my own observation, believe that |
no fair or exhibition can be made success
unless we can obtain the hearty co-opera-
lion of The ladies; much viii depend'upon
their skill and presence, in fact I think
fair would be no fair at all, without The
presence of our fair ladies,