The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-23
why Do People Kead?-W nat
Farmers should Read.

MISSOURI STATE ORANOb'
Why do people readf For the
purpose of better understanding
their business and possessions. So
as to keep well posted as to the mar,
kets, prospects of trade, ups and
downs in business, changes in laws,
discoveries, and affairs in general.
The merchant carefully reviews
the market reports daily, notes the
changes in prices, supply and de
mand. and conducts his business IN
reference thereto. The Spectator
reads the moving and arriving of the
various products of the country, the
q uality of the markets. then studies
the future demands, SO as to better
apply his vocation.
The banker daily reads and stud
les the questions affecting his insti-
tuition. SO as to know the amount OF
currency afloat, and it is moving to
or from the moneyed centers, the
value of bonds and stocks in the
the market, and the amount
of funds required to transact the
daily business, and especially his To-
cality, and then he is ready to enter
upon the duties of the day.
Corporations of all kinds read
equally as close and apply the use Of
the electric wire to get all possible
information as to their personal in
terests, so as to be able to clip the
fleece a little closer oday, if posi-
BILE, than they did Yesterday and
to know just when to increase their
wealth by an additional watering OF
their stocks.
Manufacturers likewise read up
daily, in order to keep well-inform-
ed, as to the price and quality of raw
material in market, the demand for
his goods, the quantity needed, the
quality and style most suitable,
then conducts his business in accor-
dance with the information gained.
The mechanic, too, reads and stu
dies, in order to know how much
work there may be had, and what
his services may be worth, where
his labor is most needed, and where
it may be employed to the best adj
vantage to himself.
The doctor also reads up closely,
in order that he may learn every
new discovery of diseases and their
treatment. A physician who did
net read and study would be consid
cred unworthy of the name of the
profession.
So with the lawyers, who read
the laws newly enacted, decisions,
and reports Of courts, and learn how
to apply them in their practice.
Thus, we find the representatives
of every profession and business
department, reading about and stu
diving their own interest, and con
slider it an absolute necessity to sue
cess; and hence it is never neglec
ted. If man wants to know any
thing about medicine, he reads
medical works; if law, he reads law
publications; if merchandise, he
reads mercantile journals, and so on.
Is it anv less a necessity for sue
cessful agriculture to read agricultu
raj publications? Certainly it is not.
If a farmer desires success in his
enterprise and seeks profitable re-
turn for capital and labor employed.
he must read and study agriculture;
he must keep himself as well posted
in his profession, as does success
full lawyer, doctor, merchant or
banker. And if he neglects read
ing and studying, his success will
be limited and his enterprise often
a failure 1t is positively as neces-
sarv. and even more so, that farm
ers should read and study more
faithfully than any other class, from
the fact that they are required by
The nature of their vocation to deal
with all others. They meet and
contend with the various variations
of climate and season. Can they be
prepared to do this without being
we'll read up and thoroughly infor-
med? An important que stion pre-
sents itself here and that is, what
cIldII we i6dU. uOiiCdLlOuS III inc
interest of the legal and medical
professions, manufacturers, trade,
banking, and partisanism, are all
we'll enough in their respective
spheres. They are published for
certain purposes, to accomplish
specific objects and the interested
strive to reach the object for which
they are published. But how little,
how very little is found in any Of
these that is of practical value to
the farmers? Then ire reading of
these alone not enough. They
must read something in add n, to
I'll these, to become enlightened, ed
ucated and successful farmers. A
lawyer would not read a medical
journal with the idea of posting
himselfln the legal profession. doc
tor a publication on mechanism,
without a hope of gaining medical
information. So it is with all
Others, each reading works pub
lished in his peculiar interest so as
to continually feed the mind with
food best adapted to develop a bet
ter judgment in matters of success
fully carrying forward his enter
prise Neither can a farmer be-
come educated as practical and
successful farmer by reading any,
nr oil qualifications publiS bod ~,