The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-01-25
a Coed Farmer.


only requisite that WAS regarded was
simply knowledge enough 70 DO the
mechanical WORK Of sowing and
reaping. i; is really a wonder that
our agriculture stands where il does
to-day and when we now look over
the millions Of cultivated acres in
this country, which bud and bios
som with the sweetness of the rose,
and behold the superior intelligence
which cultivate them. il is still lmore
Of wonder that the stupidity Of
older times should ever have exist
ed. Still, IN ,As midst Of I'll this
progress anG the Improvements
which are now found il every de-
partment Of griculture, there are
those who VIII persist IL shutting
their eyes to the utility of intclli-
gence on the farm, and still continue
10 piod along as their fathers did. 1t
Is to such that we desire to make
the statement with which this arti-
Gle begins. The farm IS no place for
the man who does not know any
thing. Usually he would prove as
successful, and more SO, in almost
any other calling.
A farmer should bc educated in
the uuest sense of the term. Ger.
tainly no one viii deny that be
should be familiar with the sciences
which especially pertain to the soil
and the growth OF plants. and it VIII
not do to argue. IS some DO, that eX-
pertinent ;s better than book-knowl-
edge, for whata man learns by ex-
pertinent he knows IS correct. Sci
ence is the result OF experiment.
Books Of science are the result OF
experiment. Men have spent the
time necessary 10 teach as the needs
OF plant growth. the requirements OF
the soil for special purposes, and
very much Of everything else neces-
sary TO make farming g success ;
and II we now propose to 80 over
the same ground that they have in
order 70 reach the same conclusions
wo simply show disposition to
waste valuable time. II by analysis
of the soil we can asce-.ain that 1t
lacks those ingredients which the
chemist says is necessary for the
production OF certain crop, 1t sure
ly would be folly 70 keep on expert
menuing year after year until by
chance we should happen to apply
the element which is lacking There
are fortunes upon fortunes in the
aggregate expended every year IN
this country for fertilizers which are
almost worthless, as applied, and
wholly SO with reference 10 the pro-
duction of the crop which they are
intended TO help grow. They do
not contain the clements which the
soil lacks and the crop needs, and
SO far as any good resulting from
their application we might rs well
try to feItilize the land with our
breath. Farming without kno6l
edge OF the science OF farming, which
includes various sciences, is simply
a game OF chance-it IS the walk Of
a blind man over strange ground. II
such man should attempt to prac-
tiee medicine he would be called a
quaci,, and if TO practice law, a shys-
ter. The farmer should ne pre-emi-
nently well read man. lie should
read the gist of all that IS freshly
written Oh agriculture, which he can
! fnd in any first class agricultural
journal. ii what be reads is sound
he can profit BY il, aad If what he
reads is not SOUND De cai, siill profit
by il by perlhi.tine ihe truth 10 be
more firmly fixed d his mind by
contrast
No one shoall a.tenpt 70 condact
"a farm without being something oi
4 "a veterinarian. knowledge OF vet
erinary science Is almos. constantly
/ ireqnirel en- tie farm, and the lack
lofitis queaiiy rot only inconve-
nient bnt 90 is expensive. Regular
Ily ciucatsd surgeons ere often, and
.F.,,i. $500 ,,.ao,, , So,
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