Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-03-27
Another Good word for the Boys.
FROM A CLERGYMAN cULTIyATOR.

The question has often been discussed
"Ho,c to Keep the Boys on the Fdrm3
The ..Danbury News" man had his Joke a:
usual. and finished thus: 1--WE hope Oul
farmers are just as anxious as they appear
to be. TO keep their boys on the farm bui
they don't seem to take any definite action. .
1 am not much Of a farmer. yet can speak
to this point definitely. am clergy
man. but find it adds to my comfort to cui-
tivate an acre of land. and two other lots
besides. have three sons working will,
me. and they are the most enthusiastic
workers | ever saw anywhere. If they
perevere they cannot fail TO be rich men.
Ther ages respectively are Is. IL. and II
years. Now the '.defintc action have
taken. is this.
bought Peter Henderson's Gardening
for Profit" two years ago. and tried to
put lis instructions into practice, working
in orr vegetable gardens with my boys.
Then took the american Agricuiturist.
which now lies constantly on my table.
Then | bought IIenderson's "Floricul-
tnre;' then Ills "Garlening for Pleasure"
thea Roe's PLAY and Profit in My Gar
den" Next | saw among the advertise
mcnts in the american Agriculturist, men
ton OF the catalogues ofbOoks and pamph-
lets on rural affairs. With what q relish ]
read the contents Of certain books. al! the
while comparing the prices OF the books
with my empty pOcket-bOok Neverthe-
less. contriyed to buy the above books.
and also -Four Acres Enough" I saw
Prize Essay on the Potato" sent for it
then How to Raise Cabbages:'' also
my boys and read and referred to con-
stantly. with great desire to grow pot;i-
toes like those who had received the prizes
We didnt Trough. alas! Besides. l had
Bommer's method Of Making Manure
which have tried TO put in practice. and
succeeded tOlerably well At last said to
my boys:
.'See here. boys: don't care for money.
and will make a bargain with you. You
may have half the money we make in the
garden. and of the potatoes which we shall
plant. the boy that raises the most from
twelve rows shall have silver watch cost
ing Sl6.'
The youngest is under the impression
that if he is not far behind the eldest in the
quantity from his rows, that he may get
watch too. may mention another thing
which works very well. 1t is this:
l am boss. and they know it; but am
never arbitrary. They always see my rea-
son for doing anything. and at once ac- ,
quiesce in my Judgment. A part of my ,
method is that we frequedtly consult to- !
gether. listen to their suggestions. and /,
often they will suggest the very plan in !,
my own mind. But. if we happen to differ, ,
l show them my reasons, after which they
agree TO my plan with promptitude and =
che, rfulness. Then they are always 1T 6
liberty to rest when they please. l often
say. Now. boys. take a rest" and they I,
have frequently replied, 1--WE are not tired. :,
pa. but if you are, 60 and rest" What do ,,
you think do: Why. grin, and 60 and :
rest awhile! Now, these things | have ),
lone. besides the moral training they re- :.
.e,ye az my sons. And believe that all ),
farmers may well do something similar by ;.
way of encouragement. and not wait until :.
icy are about to die, and then leave their :,
= their children, when they can re- !;
am a:em no longer. Let our farmers
reat their sons like sons. and not like
dawes; give them share in the proceeds. q,
Is wesl as in the work and responsibility. e
nd believe that in nine eases out of ten :,
he boys could not be easily tempted away q,
rom the parental Observation-Disclosures :,
is,1essiFwrast for March lst. Is