The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-10-21

only the farmers but also the sons to re-
main on the farm; in fact it drew some
from The workshops, as soon as they
were convinced that by the exercise of
intelligence they could get as much or
more for their labor in the field as they
could in the factory. But these men did
not buy hill farms, but farms with rich
productive soil.
At first the mechanic seemed to step
above the farmer, because his labor was
cash every Saturday night, giving him
an opportunity to spend it once for lux
urieS, while the farmer had to invest the
most of his surplus labor in permanent
| Improvements on the farm. In time
the mechanic learned that while the
farmer, in his old age, had snug farm
to fall back upon, the gradual accumu-
lations of early manhood, he had moth
ing, having spent his surplus earnings
for luxurieS as soon as earned. Until
this was realized the farmers sons pre-
ferred the work shop to the field, and
his daughters 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 contine
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
nJn e., IL,
found that the produce that commanded
the highest price, as a 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
1t 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
i'll 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 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 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-
leI Gne unpdlnIeu mousse, 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 a color to suit the taste of the
owner, large and numerous windows,
we'll lighted rooms with carpeted floors,
papered and painted walls, and conven-
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 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 a thorough education,
though they are to spend their lives on a
farm. Massachusetts Ploughnuu.