Morris tribune., 1882-02-09
AGRICULTURAL NiTTERS.

Mr. Editor:
1t has been suggested by certain prom
incnt ciIized of our village that the county
Agricultural Society could do more for the
permanent prosperity of our county than
any other one agency, by offering large
and liberal premiums for farm produce, as
we'll as for improved breeds of stock. But
i, is an acknowledged fact that no institu
ton of that kind can flourish
without the support of interested
parties The few officers of the
society can TO comparatively little until
i goolly number of citizens are
thoroughly interested in the work. To
secure this interest is not All impossibility
by any means. The success of the yearly
fair at Minneapolis is largely due to the
efforts of one mar. W. S King. One en-
ergetic man that is thoroughly interested
and enthusiastic has mighty influence.
AS Il rule We think it may be said that the
prosperity of Il town or community de-
ponds largely on the number of public
spirited men in that community. Now
while we have few public spirited men
in our community, there Is yet very ap
parent Indifference on the part of the ma
iority Of the business men to any project
that does not tend directly to their own
profit. To awaken these men to a sense
of their duty in this matter, is perhaps one
of the first objects to be attained. Our
farmers generally arc coming 20 the con.
clusion that they must do something be
side, the raising Of wheat, but have not yet
decided what it is to be. Right at this stage
then it hehoovcs all who are interested in
the welfare of the county TO Go something,
for we are AT critical stage of our cXiS-
tance; because mary of our best and most
thrifty farmers. discouraged with wheat
raising, are leaving the county and going
tlsew here instead Of turning their energies
to other modes Of farming. TO induce
them to Go This seems to be peculiarly the
wolk Of t!.c agricultural society; this is the
ve:y time il ought to he 4 live and aggres
gushing condition in which it is.
1t Is argued by some that
the winters are too cold
remind such that in Norway and Scotland
stock raising is almost the whole depen
dcnce of the farmer, and that in q latitude
IS degrees north of this. The amount
necessary to buy self binder would put
up large and commodious stables for the
protection of stock il winter. There are
thousands Of ACRES of grass that go to
waste here every year that should be
turned into the necessaries of life. 1t is
but g few years since southwestern Mime
sofa and northwestern Iowa were in the
continue wheat raising was sure bankrupt
cy, Tut instead of becoming discouraged
and leaving the country they turned their
attention to diversified farming, and to day
10 part of the Uni-sd States is so prosper.
Gus as northern and northwestern Iowa,
it having reputation all over the country
for the excellence of its butter and cheese.
Nearly every town has its creamery and
sometimes two OF three.
No people Can become prosperous
WHO buy at high prices
the nccessarics OF life, which could be pro
duced by them at comparatively little cost.
But that is just what We are doing To
prove this let anyone step into our butchc,
shops in the fall or beginning of winter
and he cannot but notice that large mum
Der Of the buyers are farmers and that
'hey are buying pork. Now farmer has
as good right to eat pork as any one else,
hut in most places they produce ii as well
as consume it. There has hevcr Leen a
year since the writer has lived in this
ounty tl'at pork has not been imported
from st. Paul; we find o like state of
affairs in regard to vegetables, though
happily there is an apparent decrease in
the importation of these. In the article of
beef which is SO largely consumed, but a
small part of the consumption is produced
in our own county; dealers having to dc.
pend on the counties east and north of us
for their supply. In other words We have
to depend on the foreign population of ad-
joining counties for this necessary article |
of fool. ...
A prominent farmer from the vicini.
ty of Hancock SAID to the writer short
time since that people have come to this |
country expecting TO get rich too quick. "
There is no royal road TO fortune; patience,
industry and economy are the only means
that can be depended on for success in life,
and they are the only things that have
ever brought 10 amy country permanent
and enduring prosperity. We might con.
tinue this article almost indefinitely, the
subject assumes SO many phases, but pre-
fer that someone else should take it up, ns
II thorough discussion of the subject cannot
help but result in benefits to the county.