The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-10-20

farmer. in his old age, had q snug far m
to fall back upon, the gradual accumu-
lations of early manhood. he had moth
ing, having spent his surplus earnings
for luxuries rs soon as earned. Until
this was realized the farmers sons pre-
ferred the work shop to the field, and
his dauckters saved their smiles for the
mechanics and their frowns for the
farmers.
Those who remained on the farm
learned in time that they must change
their methods of farming. and confine
their labors principally to some crop that
could be sold for the money. This COM
PEELED them to select such land as was
best adapted to the particular crop they
desired to grow. As most of the money
crops required cultivation. it was neces-
sary to select such land as was best
adapted for cultivation; and it was also
found that the produce that commanded
the highest price, as rule, was that
which grew on land that produced the
largest crops; so the successful farmers
abandoned the rough hills and the poor
land, and cultivated only the rich planes
and valleys that were SO free from stones
as to work easily.
As time progressed, it was found that
the sale of large quantities of produce
from the farm soon impoverished it unless
it received something more than the ma
nures made on the farm. Thus a de-
mand was created which brought into
the market commercial fertilizers, which,
as it cannot be applied to the best adj
vantage without intelligence, has done
much to urge the farmer into higher
intellectual plane.
Thus urged, the farmer is beginning
to realize the Importance OF mental i'm
provement; but it has taken many years
for him to realize that his occupation is
one that requires more intelligence to
use his labor to the best advantage than
that of any other: and, in fact, even to-
| day, there are far too many among the
masses that do not fully realize the fact
| that wider extent of knowledge can
be used to advantage in agriculture than
| in any other occupation.
But we have made wonderful adj
vance. The very selection of our farms
shows that. No intelligent farmer can
examine an abandoned hill farm without
feeling that it was abandoned none too
soon; nor can any one of intelligence
look upon 4 valley farm, covered with
the best varieties of fruit, grain and
vegetables, without coming to the con-
clusion that there has been high intelli-
gence to direct the labors upon it.
Compare a farmers home of to-day
with one a hundred years ago. How
great the change. And will any one say
it is not for the better? Who would pre-
fer the implanted house, the small win
dows, the dark rooms, with sanded floor
and smoked walls, with no means to
keep them warm enough for the hardest
! flowers to grow. to modern farm house,
painted color to suit the taste of the
owner. large and numerous windows,
well lighted rooms with carpeted floors,
! papered and painted walls, and cOnver>
fences for warming so complete that
/ tropical plants will grow at all seasons
of the year. And the inmates of the
house, How changed the scene! The
cards. the spinning wheel and the loom
are banished. and no longer chain down
the wife and daughters to a life of inces-
SAINT drudgery, to simply cover the
nakedneSs. of the family. Newspapers,
magazines and musical instruments have
taken their place. Improvements have
leSsened the hours of labor, and given
more time for study. The farmers are
beginning to realize the Importance of
giving their sons thorough education,
though they are 10 spend their lives on a
| farm Massachusetts PiOUgiiRldH.