The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-06-12
The Republican.
Theory and Method.


A great many writers for the aSri
cultural press some OF the ] )urnals
as we'll, il is feared-most Of the So
called agricultural lecturers and
speakers, aud large number OF
farmers themselves, are so complete
ly filed with notions aud theories.
that they are rever kept from doing
the good they might do, and from be-
coming the successful, forehanded
hrmers they might become, IL they
would throw theories to the dogs.
well, said farmer, in conversation
with a neighbor about his achieve
ments, Il went into the fell this
morning, and Ite1an to calculate and
plan" "Yes,- replied the one adj
dressed, half interrupting him. Il
went into the field aud went 10 work"
And IL there were more who did the
same. we should see smoother fields.
better buildings Gu the firm, and
more general thrift
Now, theories are all very well, and
a study Of theories, where they are
based upon and studied in connecJion
with facts, may become OF great SER
vice to tbs practical man. BY this
means real knowledge is advanced
and the better performance of many
useful matters Is understood 10 truer
way. But the pushing OF theories to
q useless extent, the crowding OF
particular hobbies upon the minds OF
farmers, till they are uncertain as to
what to believe, or which course to
adopt. or what to do, only leads to
Injury, disaster and disgust. How
many farmers have been discouraged
ut some plan, or experiment, or new
way Of doing a thing which they have
tried, and which has only brought
loss and disaster, because it was re-
commended by some presuming wri-
ter or lecturer, or based upon some
theory which the party who recon-
Dended IL thought to be a very i'm
portant theory, sure to be correct and
10 practice to meet with uniform sue
cess. Run your mind back over the
last twenty years and see how many
have been demolished 10y the test OF
experiment, and how many disap
pointed champions OF such theories
are forgotten. In those theories may
have been some grains Of truth, some
elements of value; and IN many Of
the theories now uppermost in the
minds OF the teachers or agriculture,
as well as those which occupy the
attention OF thoughtful farmers,
there are the principles not to be de-
spised; but the great danger is that
theory will take The place OF method;
that good practice will be sacrificed
to ideas; that useless scheming and
calculation" will superoede work and
tangible results. To acertain degree
theories are well, but theories should
never go before good practice. And
American farmers, in their aimless
desire FOR novelty. aud love OF being
thought learned and scientific. have
allowed men who are not halfas capa
bic OF instructing them In the man
sgement Of their own farms as they
are themselves, to lead them hard
1aunt after some petty theory, which
ends. very likely, IN the pocket Of the
guide"
Nows when our farmers follow theo-
~ blindly, and base their farm opera
lions upon formulas which relate 20
lots OF other things than fertile alton
take our word for IL. they: are on
the wrong track. Good practice, in
all our farm operations. should go
arst; and the great majority OF our
farmers are wofully deficient In good,
thorough, profitable farm MANAGE
meDt, methods and practice. I'm
prove the practice. and make the
methods better, and let the theories
take care OF themselves, or follow
afterwards, as they properly should.
The farmer whose methods are first
class, whose practice is such that he
receives good income from 1t, can
afford to give little of his time to
study theories; but till his methods
OF culture, OF stock husbandry, OF
manuIing. Of fruit growing. OF gen.
eTalship, are perfect and at his fn-
gers ends. he woul better let theory
alone. The old writer's on agricul-
ture-the foundation authors about
which our modern agricultural book
makers revolve-in all their writings,
put practice first and foremost. theory
last. Modern teachers have reversed
this order, forcing theory ahead. and
Heglecting practic, and methods:
and thousands OF farmers are follow
ing or trying to follow some theory
which they have had set up, when they
should be at work improving the de-
tails OF their practice. their farm man.
sgement. that profitable crops and
independence may follow.
AmorJeass Eiffaou Iuvauf;oaS