The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-10-09
true interest of each to foster and de-
feni tl.. hest interests of the whole

fenu the best interests OF the whole.
The business men understand this bet
ter than the farmer, for the reason that
they associate more together.
And this is one thing. to which desire
to call the the attention of the farmer, as
being of great Importance to him.
Here in this western country, where
the farms are so large, the population
comparatively thin, and considerably
scattered, there is great dearth of as
ISOLATION. and Il lack of exchange of
ideas 1t has ever been the great error
Of the farmer, that while all other classes
of operators have comprehended and
availed themselves of the benefits of as
ISOLATED effort, and comparison of
thought and experience in the conduct of
their business. the farmer has totally ig
nored its necessity. and stood out alone.
each one for himself. virtually saying to
his neighbor Il know it all. and can learn
morning from The experience OF Others"
My friends. it is grand mistake! and
if there is any one thing which the Grange
movement has accomplished, that will
result in lasting good to the farmer, it is
that by calling them together in their
weekly meetings, they have taught them
the value of combined experience, and
when this shall have come to be univcr-
sally recognized as true, and the farmer
avails himself of it, you will have taken
grand stride toward permanent pros
perity. And venture to say, that there
is not one of you who has attended this
fair, during any one or more of the past
three days, but what has gained some
new ideas. which " u will carry to your
homes. and Incorporate with benefit, into
your work and practice for the coming
year. But there are some other things
of which desire to speak. 1t is perfect
ly natural for man, to want to grasp
more than he can carry OF that which is
valuable or beautiful to him. And when
the farmer sees the broad expanse of fer
tile prairie spread out before him. re-
quiring appart ntly so little labor TO >ubdue
and cultivate it. he is very apt to under
take more than he can successfully &C
complish. This effort on the part of the
farmer to cultivate too much land. leads
to disastrous results. both to himself and
the country The soil, poorly cultivated.
becomes impoverished. aud yields no
equivalent for the amount of labor be-
slowed. Eighty acres of land well work
ed, will yield more return, than 100 acres
poorly worked and the land itself loses
nothing. BY straining too work to much
land. the farmer is led to embark in that,
which is fast becoming the greatest curse
OF the western country, VIZ; lavish eX-
penditure in Farm Machinery
1t would not be so bad if the farmer
had the money to pay for the machine.
and simply threw it away.
1t would not be so great great folly,
for him to take his little earnings Of
few hundred dollars. which he has saved
by the sweat and toll of years, and DELHI
erately throw it into the fire, as it is for
him to encnmber his home. and the de-
pcndence for himself and family. with a
burden of debt. his only hope of paying
which, is based upon some unusual pros
pective success And do not say this
in prejudice of the interests of those who
furnish the machinery, for they had rath-
err sell less. and have it paid for promptly,
than to sell largely, and lose one half of
it, on account of the inability Of the
farmer to pay.
Machinery would not cost so much,
were it not there is such quantity sold
which is never paid for. Not but what
most men buy with an honest intention
to pay, but they buy too much on the ,
strength of future crops, and some un-
foreseen calamity comes upon them,
grasshoppers, hail. drouth or blight. their
crops are swept away, their obligations
become due. and they have nothing with
which to pay.
Mochinn man toko %h;s riSL into ooc