The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-01-01
Farming Will Pay.

We think from facts and reasons the
conclusion is q reasonable one that
farming will pay, if properly conducted
"a provisO applicable to every regular
business if success is calculated on. If
men can rent land, save enough from
their crops to buy themselves farms
while they are supporting their families,
surely those who own farms and stock
ought to make living and lay by some
thing.
Farming successfully involves as many
necessary qualities as any other calling,
and more than farmers are generally
aware of, particularly those farmers
who select the most Indifferent of their
sons for farming life. The bright, in
telligent ones must be lawyers, doctors,
teachers, professors, etc., and are sent
of to college to obtain good educa-
ton, while the dull, unpromising boys
are kept ON the farm, with little educa-
ton or information, to plod on in the
beaten paths of their forefathers-paths
which too often have led to failure and
disappointment. Let young men, and
old ones too, if not +" too old to learn"
understand thaA there is no calling
which requires more industry, more
sound judgment, more practical good
sense, more thought, more study of sur
rounding circumstances. and changing
conditions, and more strict attention
than that of the farmer. Circumstances
and conditions are constantly changing
on farm and farmers work cannot be
carried on by fixed programme. Con-
slant thought, study and personal atten-
ton are necessary to plan to the best
advantage to meet contingencies, adapt
means to ends, overcome difficulties and
conquer success. Hear what an intelli-
gent, practical farmer, Mr.. VIM. Hol-
man, of Cumberland, Va, says on the
necessity of personal attention:
i" No man can find another who will
attend to his business as well as himself.
1t is personal interest that makes the
difference, and personal interest is
great incentive to human action. 1t
sharpens the wits and stimulates action
in a wonderful manner. 1t is neither
the duty nor the interest of the practi-
cal farmer, if his operations be extended
to convert himself into a common
laborer and work constantly with his
own hands, though he should be pre-
pared to lend helping hand when
necessary. 1t is more particularly his
province and duty to superintend and
direct-to keep his laborers up to their
work and do the thinking and planning.
The negro is the best and cheapest
laborer in the South, but to make his
labor pay requires constant attention
and direction. He is machine and
scarcely ever exercises judgment or dis
erection in the performance of his work.
Personal attention is necessary and val
liable for many other reasons. 1t ena-
bles the farmer to have more work done
and better done; it enables him to avoid
troubles and difficulties with his labor
ers and it enables him to be Just, and
kind, and indulgent to them, when it is
proper to be so, and this he should al
ways be when the laborer has dis
charged his duty faithfully. Very few
persons are sufficient judges of farm
work to determine whether the laborer
has done his duty, when the master is
spending his time at the 'cross roads
store; and it very often happens that
the poor laborer is treated very unjust
ly and harshly in consequence.-An,eri-
can Farmer.