Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-07-15
AGRICULTURAL.
lseuuisitcs for Successful
1,lrnliDE.

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m,neratiye; and the other is to make
It attractive or a source Of pleasure.
Very many requisites are necessary TO
The attainment Of these two objects.
The first requisite is industry. An
INDECENT man VIII never succeed at
anything; he is unfit for anythin &.
Nothing valuable can be accomplished
without industry, energy and enter
prise; and these prerequisites are par
ticular,y needed in agricultural pur-
suits. There is no occupation that in
wolves more labor aud attention than
that Of the farmer, although it is not
so arduous as some others. Truly the
d;ligent farmer meets fully the re-
1uirements Of the Divine command;
J." to eat bread in the sweat Of thy face.
But however necessary and valuable
industry and energy may be, they
very often fail in accomplishing much
for the want Of the next requisites,
which ara practical sense and good
Jugdment. These are always necessa.
ry to give shape, character and direc'
tion to industry and enterprise.
There is no pursuit that requires
more sound Judgment, more practical
good sense, and more varied expert
ence, than the farmers. Almost every
thing depends upon circumstances
conditions and contingencies, which
vary SO often and go much that the
farmer cannot confine himself to any
5nyariablc practice or programme. Tie
must be thoroughly practical, and al
ways prepared to adept bis practice
to these changing conditions. His
true policy is to read and study, and
treasure up all the lessons Of expert
ence and observation, and then apply
them according to his means and cir
scumstances.
The main reason why book farm,
ing SO called, has always been un
popular, is that novices and inexperi,
-enced farmers are constantly attempt
ing to practice theories taught in the
books, without the variation aud mod
iication which contingencies often
snake necessary, and hence TAIL.
The next requisite that will
mention is personal attention. No
rnau can find another who will attend
TO his business as well as himself. 1t
is personal interest that makes the
difference, and personal interest is a
great incentive 10 hAman action. 1t
.sharpens the wits and stimulates &C
ton in a wonderful manner. It is
neither the duty nor to the interest OK
the practical farmer, il his operations
be extended, to convert himself into
.ommon laborer, and work constantly
with his own hands, though lie should
DE prepared to lend a helping hand
occasionally, when necessary. 1t is
more particularly his province and
duty to superintend aud direct; to
keep his laborers up to the work, and
do the thinking and planning. This
is more particularly necessary where
Negro labor is employed.
Time and space would fail TIE il !
were to attempt to eaumerate the va
ried instances in which these valuable
qualifications may pc probably exer-
ciscd on the farm. The diligsnt farm
er will find constant occasion for their
profitable exercise. Indeed there is
scarcely an operation on the farm
where they are not necessary. | come
now to the consideration Of the secoad
great object which the farmer has in
view; and that is TO make his occupa.
tion source Of pleasure.
1t is great thing to have your
heart in your work; to have your in
terest enlisted, and to find your hap
piness in it. With al this motive
power in action there is no telling
what man can do. In order to have
all these agencies enlisted, things must
be made attractive. Order, system
and discipline must lie established
aud main tanned. Good teams must be
kept. The best agricultural imple-
snents must 10 used. The farm build
ings must Le hastily and conveniently
located and arranged. There must be
good gates and good fences, and good
roads. The best breeds Of domestic
animals must he procured, and good
pasturage in summer and good shelter
80 vip4ar ro,,ut 1n prou;JoJ Co. ~ 49,.