American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-04-17
Farming q Business.

Many men make the mistake of en-
gaging in agricultural and horticultural
pursuits under the impression that, un-
like a trade, it requires no previous
preparation or training. The fact is
there is scarcely any avocation that re-
quires SO long q preparatory course.
The farmers boys are in training till
they grow up to manhood, and then
have much to learn concerning the
business. But the farmers boy, when
he is eighteen. may leave the farm and
learn trade, and in three or four
years he may be a good saddler, or
shoemaker, cooper, brick-mason, stone
cutter, carpenter, timer or painter, or
even a pretty fair lawyer, physician,
teacher or preacher, or other profess
sional calling. Farming is a peculiar
calling, in that it requires q ready
knowledge of a multitude of duties.
The work is varied. The drafts upon
experience and knowledge are constant.
Soil. climate conditions and Thousand
varying circumstances must be studied
in order to make farming a success.
The farmer is q tradesman, because he
buys and sells; he is q manufacturer,
because he produces; he must be
reader to keep posted in various mat
tiers that concern his interests; he must
take part in public affairs, because
there are fewer people in the country
than in the city within given area Of
territory to look after and maintain
highways, bridges, schools, etc. It is
well If he knows something of many of
the skills, as painting, carpenter work,
harness-mending, veterinary and the
care of live stock generally. The beasts
of the fields, the birds Of the air, the
insect tribes-an claim his thoughtful
attention. The farmers curriculum is
the most extensive of all educational
Institutions, and he never graduates,
but is always studying, acquiring, stor-
ing and searching for more. That is,
this is what the successful, progressive
farmer does. And in this age Of sharp
competition, intelligence, improved
methods are more needful than ever if
success would be achieved, This little
paragraph from our Atlanta contem-
porary, the Constitution. is pertinent to
the thought we are discussing:
At times we meet with men who are engaged
Why il should. Farming. ike law, medicine,
engage in Il must recognize this fact-must b.
come familiar with all the times and seasons,
ing. There Is such o thing as planting crops at
the wrong time, in the wrong soil, in the wrong
some SOM 1 men DO not provide themseves With
suitable stock, do not know how to care for
them probably, how to bring them to MATURE
ty at the proper time, or how to market them
risk all the interests Of his farm on one single
product.
The above is suggestive; so much so
that we cannot undertake, in this arti-
Gle, to follow it to all its conclusions.
But this much is speedily attained in
pursuing the idea of progressive farm
ing: those who do not study the best
methods are sure to be left behind in
the race for q competency. By this we
have no reference to fancy farming or
IS book methods but the plain, practi-
cal, business like ways which distin-
guish some farmers who are eminently
successful, and the absence of which
characterizes too many others who are
content with old ways under the char
acteristic idea that i" what is. is best"
The best thing the young farmer, or
even the more experienced can do, is to
watch and closely follow the system OF
the successful farmers. They are to be
found in every neighborhood. Counsel
with them; compare the soils, drainage
and surroundings of your farm with
theirs. and then. upon the strength of
your own Judgment, after weighing
their suggestions, make the best you
can of your opportunities. Such course
persistently and vigorously pursued
cannot fail in the end, with ordinary
intelligence, tact and industry, to reap
golden harvests.-Burlington HasOkeye.