, 1881-04-01
WORD 70 FARMERS.

ments Of natural wealth, have long
since been styled the "houe and
sinewn of the nation. They are the
real producers of wealth., and all
other classes of people are mere
consumers who derive a livelihood
out of an exchange of values for the
convenience of commerce; hence
any word of advice or suggestion
that sets farmers 70 thinking and re
suits in an increase of their produc-
TORS or profits, cannot fail to benefit
the whole country.
We do not propose to read lee
ture to those farmers whose shiitless
habits lead them to sell their live
hogs and pork at low prices in the
fall and then pay from TOTO IS cents
a pound for bacon, and from - to p
cents a pound for lard for their use
during the whole year thereafter;
neither do we propose to upbraid
any for letting their cows run Wild
10 save the bother of dairy work,
and then buy butter or go without.
1t is not necessary to call attention
10 such management, because the
most careless observer notices it
wherever it occurs. If any person
wonders why the kind of farmers re-
ferred 10 fail of success he must be
obtuse indeed. But there are few
matters that may be pointed out,
and serve as gentle hints to those
who imagine that farming in the
country is overdone. To be sure,
prices for general produce have been
ruling low, and many Of those fol-
lowing agriculture for living have
permitted themselves 70 become des-
pondent in consequence. Still, if
such would think of the tons and
tons of butter, cheese, lard, pork,
bacon, salt beef, flour and other pro-
ducts brought into the country from
abroad every week-articles that
might be produced at home just as
we'll as not-there ought to be some
stimulus apparent to induce renewed
exertion and hope for better times.
II is fact that when the Dakota
became disabled recently, and freight
from San Francisco was delayed Il
week or two in consequence, there
was a butter famine in Victoria,
Port Townsend, Seattle and other
points, the supply growing constant
ly more limited until the California
consignment arrived. This country
is specially adapted to butter max
ing, as part of our farming system,
and if the home product could sup
ply the local demand there would be
no necessity for sending money 20
California and elsewhere TO pay for
butter from abroad. As a general
rule, the butter makers OF Puget
Sound do not produce an article
worthy Of the name, compared with
the best in the market, yet there is
no reason why the successful ones
should be the exception instead of
the rule. The process is simple
one, and requires no great skill be-
yond cleanliness and industry.
What has been said about butter ap>
plies with equal force to the produc-
tion of any or all other articles men
toned, to say nothing about the i'm
mense shipments OF Canned fruits
and vegetables from abroad that
might be produced at home. Every
pound of goods that is produced at
home instead of being purchased
abroad keeps its corresponding value
in the circulating medium at home
and tends to make the ''times, -
about which people growl so much,
a little better than they would be
otherwise.
We submit these few suggestions
in the hope that they may set people
to thinking and result in more sys-
Iematic and sensible arrangement of
the farming system. That there are
abundant natural resources and plen-
ty TO spare, needs no verifcation.
That there are dozens of farmers
who, with little ingenuity and fore
sight, might do away with great
many "foxes that spoil the vines, y
needs but to be suggested in order
to be appreciated. In future let
none find fault until there is just
cause for it,