Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-08-26

tine may be followed that, taking one
year with another, will result in pro-
duelng average crops. But the true
farmer is he who anderstandingly--
we would say scientifically If the
word was not so distasteful TO many
departs from this routine and holds
converse with nature, making a bar
gain with the soil, perhaps, that for
certain amount of particular care and
fertilization certain and large crop
shall be returned.
1t Is said that good chess player
is able to give reason for every
move he makes, and a move that is
made without an object in view is
worse than useless. A commander in
battle field who has not clear and
definite ideas Of what he wants TO do
and why, sends his men to inexcusa-
ble slaughter.
80 the farmer, who does not wisely
plan and carefully execute his work,
while his labors may not be entirely
useless, only attains partial success.
There is hardly one item of n
farmers business that may be done
strictly by rule. Everything must
be changed or varied 10 meet circum-
stances. That which would be advis-
able TO do with an early spring is
hazardous in a late one. If the field
is wet and the soil does not crumble
when the furrow turns, let it alone
and plow the other more sandy or
higher one. This heap of manure,
that in dry time would be just the
thing for a certain crop, must go
elsewhere. Shall this field be plowed
this fall, or left till spring! And SO
on through the thousand questions
that are constantly arising. He who
is competent, first, TO see the necessi-
ty OF asking them and afterward TO
decide them, is worthy of the name
Of farmer others are laborers. or
the first there are few; of the latter,
many.
A farmer should be a student Of
books as well as Of nature, in order
that he may profit by the experience
of those who have gone before him.
Every year people are repeating the
failures Of those who lived a thousand
years ago. The necessity of an edu-
cation for farmer is not sufficiently
appreciated. Thomas, who is TO be
a minister, and Richard, who expects
to gather fame and riches as lawyer,
must be sent to college, while Harry,
who is TO work the farm, must be
content, as he too often is, with such
teaching as the district school affords.
This is all wrong, and not until there
is n change will farmers take the
| position in society TO which they are
entitled. As we sometimes see an
eloquent minister or a talented law
yer who has attained his position by
virtue of his own unaided intellect,
so we sometimes find a thorough,
scientifically practical farmer who
has sought out in natures own books,
the fields, the knowledge necessary
for making his labors successful and
his life Of use not only TO himself
but TO all around him.
II should not be forgotten by those
in other paths of life, that on the
labors of the farmer depends their
welfare. This is true TO a greater
extent than is often remembered.
Suppose that every agriculturist in
the country could, by some means,
be changed instantly into first-class
farmer. 1t would be impossible to
compute the wealth that would be
added to this country during the
next year. And everybody knows
that good year for farmers means
prosperity to every branch of trade
and commerce.