The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-01-06
from his snlty beard. an said he always
told Neal Dow TINT he couldn't enforce
his nbsurdly impiacticable laws against
the liqnor traffic.


An ancient philosopher remarked that
hC who expected 10 succeed - faf-
mer should unite activity 10 reflection, 70
experience and to Ill necessary know.
ledge" Aud there is much Of truth In this
statement. The experience Of the past
and the present 60 to prove that In mono
and extensive knowledge required than
Lii that G agriculture. To bo thorough
farmer and % b able TO manage Tho
business q farming 10 the best manner,
IN n0qtinautauCe with most a the natural
and chemical sciences ID not only desira-
BILE, but indispensable. We arc aware
that there are many successful farmers
who do not possess this scientific know
ledge, farmers who have learned the art
q tlling the soil from experience and
from what has bccn taught them BY their
fathers, bt,t this knowledge i not scien-
tito and exnct, aud III their daily and
yearly routine Of business, questions are
continually presenting themselves which
they cannot solve. HOmo farmers are 80
vain - to think they have learned all
there II 10 be known Of their business,
and ancer at scientific Of o. they coll il ii
dcrision, ''book farming" " but i i TACT,
nevertheless, thnt no mnn can achive
complete sncceas ia agriculture unless he
possesses . knowledge of tho science -
well - the art.
The farmer lives In agrand laboratory,
and should be able to influence or con-
tfol many Of the operations that are con-
stantlt going on around him; and to no
complish this ha must have ! knowledge
81 the processes required. Insects, plants
and animals nre continually around and
before him, and the habits of ono, the
structure and qualities of another, and
the physiology of the third, should bs
UNDERWOOD by him, In order ON the one
hand to avoid damage, and on the other
b secure profit He must have not only
IN inclination 10 tho profession, but he
must 10 strongly attached 30 Il, and Il
he has been brought up % the OBSERVE
ton and practice d farming, he will b
quite sure to succeed, provided the basia
Of necessary knowledge has been laid
broad aud deep; without the latter he
may get living and lay by something,
hut tho highest results cannot b
reached.
Farming, for long period, was -.
gargled . IN occupation Rt only fog
those who could do nothing else, and thu
Odium which, during the feudel agea,
rested upon Ii, Engliah serf, and which
still attaches 10 tho ignorant boor of Rua.
sia. i NOT entirely gone out 1t the mind
of many when they think q me cuft1vA-
tion of the soil But times have greatly
changed and farming - well - farmer
have changed with them. The mos,
honorable, the most useful and tho naosl
independent of men, u the wsll- Uniformed
farmer Who cultivates hin own eoil, and
enjoys the blessings that health, oom
petcnce and intelligence ars sure 10 b
stow. Il i to this higher plane q faru
lie that wo would invite inteligen,
young farmers: do mot be content to fol
low in tho ruts 81 your ancestors VII,
were noble men and true. but whose %
portunities for obtaining knowledge Q
| their profession were confined 10 III
traditions Of their fathers, largely ! con
fused mass u superstition and error, anl
their own limited experience The 4
manic was their wade nsecGns, and tht
place Of the moon In The HodiAc must b
| ascertained 10 bo favorable before an,
| farm labor OF importance could b. under
taken. hut wo have advanced beyona
that and the sssigns" aro for Tho mos
part disreearsled BY The FARMER in th
performance Of his work; other import
ant advances hayo been made, but -
aro still far from that degree of perfec
6on in our business which il should b
The ambition Of every intelligent laz
ncr h obtain.