Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-03-20
Fanny FNnsrs.

good. as those who are deuominaicd
fancy farmers. They have been in all
times and countries the benefactors OF
the men who have treated them with
derision. They have experimental for
the good of the world. while others have
simply worked for their own gain. They
tested theories. while others have raised
crops for market. They have given a
dignity and glory TO the occupation OF
farming ii never had before.
Fancy farmers have changed the wild
boar into the Suffolk and Berkshire !;
the wild bull of Britain into the Short
horn; the mountain sheep, with its lean
body and hair fleece, into the South
down and Merino. They have brought
up the milk OF cows from pinls TO gal
Ions. They have heightened tn, sirloin
of the bullock, deepened the udder Of
the COW, enlarged the ham OF the hog,
given strength 10 the shoulder of the OK.
rendered finer the wool OF the sheep.
added fcetness to the speed of the horse.
and made beautiful every animal that is
kept in the service OF man. They have
improved and FASTENED the development
OF all domestic animals, Till they hardly
resemble the creatures from which thes
sprang.
What they have given us. Fancy
farmers introduced irrigation aud I'M
derdraining. grinding aud cooking food
for stock. They brought guano from
Peru and nitrate of soda from Chill.
They introduced and domesticaied all
the plants we have Of foreign origin.
They brought out the theory OF rotation
OF crops a. natural means of keeping
up aud increasing the fertility of the
soil. They first ground up gypsum aud
bones, and treated the latter with acid
to make manurcs Of peculiar value.
They first analyzed the soils. a. a means
OF determining what was wanted to in
crease their fertility. They introduced
the most approved methods OF raising
and distributing water.
Fancy farmer. or fancy horliculiuri,ts
have given Us all our varieties OF
fruits, vegetables aud flowers. \ fancy
farmer in Vermont, a few years ago.
originated the Early Rose potato, which
added millions OF dollars 10 the weal'h
of our country and proved to be n most
important accession in every part OF the
world where il was introduced. Anoth-
er OF these ssine fancy men originated
the Wilson strawberry, and another the
Concord grape. II was a fancy farmer
that brought the Usage orange from
Texas 10 the northern states.
Among the men in this country " no
were classed as fancy farmers at an ear
ly day were Washington, jefferson.
Franklin. and Livingstone. The first
produced mules; the second. the culli-
walton OF improved Tice; the third, the
use OF land-plasler; aud the fourth, the
raising of lucerne. More than any men
of their time did they add TO the wealth
! OF their country. After them came an
other race of fancy farmers, who intro
duced Arabian horses, Spanish sheep
and the improved breeds Of English
cattle and swine. These fancy farmers
added immensely 10 the wealth of the
practical farmers Of the country.
What we want, 10 develop the agri.
culture and horticulture of the country
to their fullest extent, is large num-
Der of fancy farmers-men who work
for pleasure rather than for private gain.
These are the men who will perform
experiments, and give the world the
benefit of them. These are the men who
will carry on investigations for the sake
OF investigating. These are the men
who will bring in new grains, new
fruits, new vegetables. and new yarie-
ties of animals These are the men who
will devote their time and money to the
improvement of old varieties and the
creation of new ones.-Chriaian at
Work.