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 conpieI .DoIn measrrrs nua
rhymes, but after al there Is rs much
truth as poetry in 1t. Ifa man iY to be
farmer, that occupation should be his oil.
cngrossiDg business. 1t is honorable,
aud of sufficient importance TO occupy
his time, employ his mind, employ Els
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 he 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, aud he ought To fail. The merchant
and manufacturer must purpue their
special business with earncstness IL they
expect to excel or care To succcad. Nor
is farming an exception. 1t cannot be
safely neglected or delegated to others
who have no special interest il it,
The farmer must not only be attentive
TO his business, and industrit US, but he
must be studiOus. 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 were cGmpe.'ed "
endure to secure the same results, and
consequently he has much more leisure
for reading and study, as wcli AS for
pleasure. This fact should lead him to
improve his opportunities, that he may
become better farmer and a wiser man.
His farm, his stock, his crops, mis- house.
hold economy, still demand lis chief at
tention, and his earnest thought and
care.
And | maintain that successful farm
ing, which is the result of intelligent and
earnest effort, pays as well AZ any other
occupation, and often better. I know
this ls not the genera 'mpressio fire.
quently hear it said By the farmer: "All
can do is to support, clothe, and edu-
cate my family" Very we'll. What
| other occupation, that requires no moro
| outlay aud effort, pays better? The pro-
| tessiOnal 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 ne spends hardly half his time
in steady work on his farm, and still he
| lives independently, and in aB many in
! stances as in any other employn:an. ho
accumulates property and lays it up for a
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-
! feggions it is life of comparative lais.
ure, ease, comfort and independence.
This statement is true, whoever may un-
dertake to deny it.
| But l never knew an ignorant man
who was really and thoroughly a 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 10 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 tho
whole community. Farmers, think OF
these things Hiram Orcuh, Il, Home
and Farm.