The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-01-06

An ancient philosopher remarked That
Tho who expected IL succeed M far.
mer should unite activity 10 reflection, 10
experience mud to all necessary know.
ledge" aud there IL much 81 truth III this
statement. Tho experience II tho past
and the present 80 IL prove TINT in mono
vi tho occupations II life, IL moro varied
aud extensive knowledge required than
In That Il agriculture. To he Il thorough
farmer and tO ho allie 10 manage tho
business u farming IN thu hest manner,
IN acquaintance with most u the natural
nnd chemical sciences IL not only dcsirN-
BILE. hut indispensable. We AFRO aware
TINT there are many succcssful farmers
who do not possess this scientific know.
ledge, farmers who hava learned tho art
u tilling the soil from experience and
from what has hccn taught them hy their
fathers, Int tllis knowledge ID not scien-
tito and exact, aud Iii their daily and
yearly routine VI business, questions are
continually presenting themselves which
they cAnnot solve. Some farmers are 40
vain as to think they have learned MI
there Ii 10 be known ii their business.
and snccr at scientific or a. thcy call II IN
,lerision. .'book farming" but It is fact,
nevertheless, TINT 10 man can achivo
complete snecsas in agriculture unless he
Possesses q knowledge II tho science -
we'll ~ tho art.
The farmer lives Ia grand laboratory,
and should he able 10 influence or conf
troll many III tho operations that are con.
stantly going on around him: and to no.
oomplish this no must have 4 knowledge
-
and animals arc continually around aud
before him. and The habits u one, tho
structure md qualities Of another, ard
tho physiology ii tho thiri. should be
understood by him. in order on tho ono
hand ID avoid damage. ind On tho other
b. secure profit. He must have not only
an inclination 10 tho profession, hut no
mus. he strongly attached 10 II, and II
/ he has been brought up 10 the ohservN.
ton and practice ii farming. In will no
quite sure to succeed, provided the hasiA
Of necessary knowledge Inn boen laid
broad and deep; without the latter 10
may get living and lay by something,
hut tho highest results cannot be
! reached.
| Farming. for long period. was rs-
gar.led a. Nh occupation tit only for
those who could do nothing else. and the
] ulinM which. during tho feMdel agca,
! rested upon thu English sen. aud which
i still attaches to the ignorant boor If Rus
sia. is not entirely gone out IT tho minda
| u many when they thMR or the cuitlvA-
ton u the soil but timea have greatly
/ changed and farming a we'll a farmers
have changed with them. Tho most
honorable. the most useful and the most
Independent Of men. il tho well.informed
farmer who cultivatcs his own coli, and
enjoys the blessings that health. com,
| pstcnce and Intelligence ar0 snrc b. b,
| stow. II i to this higher plano u farm
life that va would invite Intelligent
| yonng farmers: do not be content to fol,
/ low in the rnts II Your anccstors who
were noble men and true. hut whnse OPP
prtnnities for obtaining knowledge q
their profession wcra confined to thu
traditions II their fathers. largely 4 oon
fused mass IL superstition and error. anJ
their own limited experience The d
manic was their cys,le 0aecMal, and the
| place If tho moon in the zodiac must b
ascertained to 10 favorable before any
farm labor II Importance could no under,
taken. But we have advanced bcyunt
that AMI the ..sigas" are fur the Mos1
part ,lisresar,led hy tho farmer in thu
performances Of his work: other import
ant advances have been made, hut VI
arc still tar from that degree u perfec
ton III our business which il should b,
tho ambition Of every Intelligent Tar
Mcr IL obtain.