Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-10-28
" estrn Rurakl

81 SE*t>h UNDERTAKINGS.
Western Rurahl
While the percentage Of the prod, on the
investment in farming enterprises is notori-
ously small. it is nevertheless, taking into
consideration the comparative certainty and
small degree Of risk, very satisfactory as
compared with other kinds of business A
man Of industry and good, sound judgement,
under favorable circumsiances, will make
himself comfortable home and accumulate
a competence on a farm. His industry will
cause the acres 10 bud and blossom. and
his Judgmen, will keep him out of risky side
enterprises and from getting head over heels
IN debt The curse Of any man or any bus
mess Is debt, and outside speculations usu-
ally lead farmer into it. As as rule, it is
hes, to stick to one business. With few
exceptions the man who gets too many iross
IN the FIRE viii get some Of the irons burned
asd will be very lucky if he does not get
some Of his fingers badly scorched So al
most universal is the operation Of this rule
tina; the world is accustomed 10 wait patient
" the downfall Of any man of two or three
kinds Of business on hand, and if such a
man gets through all right, instead Of get
ting credit for being legitimate exception.
he is turned of with a single exclamation.
What lucky fellow - Successful farming
requires all the force and ingenuity of one
brain Slipshod farming will conduct itself,
but no; so good farming. Anybody can
plan, and SOW, and ANYBODY can gather what
grows. But not everybody can do either
a. it ought to be done. Farming is a com
plieated science-the grand aggregate Of all
sciences-and If requires hard study and
close application.
Entertaining the now pretty generally
exploded idea that anybody can farm or tina,
the farm will take care Of itself, MANY far
mer has tried TO live on the farm and dey ote
the most or TO be reasonable in expression,
part Of his time to other callings In nine
ty-nine cases out Of hundred, disaster has
resulted and both farm and outside business
have been smashed; and in view Of wha,
the past has shown in this particular. the
best advice that can be given is to stick to
the farm if you have one, or 10 LET the farm
alone if YOU are determined to enter upon
or continue in some other business.
The risks in farming, as already stated
are comparatively few. There is no danger
Of ruin arising from competition; there is
none arising from the treaohery Of business
associates The farm, under ordinary cir
cumstances, is sure to furnish enough TO
make the family comfortable, and e1traor-
binary circumstances, which are Of a provi-
dental character always, are not very ap, to
exist. The farmer lie engaged in the produe-
ton of articles which the public must have.
Ii makes no difference what else the people
do without, they must have bread. They
can wear old clothes. but they must have
new -four, and while a depression of the
times may limit the demand il cannot who'll,
destroy it. Thus is the farmer engaged in a
business which is always active. If other
kinds Of business are fourishing agriculture
must be on the topmost round; if other
kinds Of business are depressed, agriculture
must still be on round little above any
other business.
In mercantile, or purely speculative bust
ness. there is no certainty of safety for a
week, and scarcely for an hour Financial
panics may come and swallow up values un-
ul the merchant is ruined and the specula-
tor stranded; competition may bankrupt
one, ten, or scores of merchants. A. T.
Stewart, with his immense fortune, could al
any time ruin house that was carrying Z
large line of goods. But A. I. Stewar,
with all his millions could never have ruined
farmer who owned q nice farm and was on,
Of debt. Within a couple of weeks prom
inent member Of the Chicago board of trade
has gone to pieces. Every one was sur
prised. There was nothing in his failure te
cause surprise it's a surprise that more dc
not 20. But If news would come that far.
mer who had for years been entirely free
from debt, and had been raising good crop,
all the time had gone into bankruptcy, il
would astonish every one, except that they
would account for it on the grounds Of out
side speculation. Farming is . pretty sur,
business and If ii can be relieved of some o.
the unjust burdens that are pressing
down upon il, the farmer can afford to h
eea1sat,