The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-08-18


The time when the manuring of the
land and the feeding of livestock had
to be done without any guide but ex-
perience is coming to an end, and very
fortunately so, since the old farming is
becoming Improbable on all worn soils.
The science of fertilization and the sci
ence of feeding had their birth just as
the oid-time farming was declared not
90 ''pay." As natures bounty seemed
TO be exhausted, and tine earth to refuse
her increase all along the eastern edge
OF our continent as well as in Europe,
the Investigations of science revealed
the fact that there were other manures
besides those of the farm-yard. 1t re-
vealed also the fact that by a proper adj
mixture of the old and the use of some
new food materials, domestic animals
might be reared far more economically
and satisfactorily than before. And
this latter work has been also very
greatly helped by the application of
science to the breeding of these animals,
by which breeds are now produced
which are especially adapted to each
distinct purpose for which such animals
are desired.
Scientific study applied to farming,
though yet in its infancy, has done
noble work in solving its most difficult
problems, and has much more than &C
complished the proverbial feat of MAX
ing two spears of grass or grain grow
where one grew before. The immense
and constantly growing use of COM
mercial fertilizers all over the civilized
world attests what science has done in
that direction, which is yet but drop
in the bucket to what we shall see. The
wonderful improvement in every species
of live stock is, to the eyes of every
middle-aged farmer, constant subject
of surprise. The fat oxen, the strong
or fast horses, the deep-wooled sheep,
the round and bulky swine, the milk
yielding cows with their great records
of butter and cheese, are as much
cause of wonder and mark of the prog
ress OF this new age as are the mechan
ical discoveries, the steam engine, the
iron steamship, the railway, the cleo
trio telegraph, electric light and electric
motors, the moving machine and the
sewing-machine, and all the other won
ders of the time.
But as the old-time stage-driver can
not, without much instruction, become
a locomotive engineer, nor the old-time
postmaster become the skilled telegraph
er without training, so neither can
the work of the farm now be successful
~ conducted without the possession o.
more knowledge than was attainable by
our fathers. Farming is rapidly be .om-
i,no cl,11aI e,oaos, -,
which will require liberal training,
equivalent to, though not the same as.
that which has heretofore been given in
what are called the learned professions
As much and as varied knowledge is
now about to be applied to the produc-
ton of farm crops and their profitable
use and disposal, as ever went to ma Re
the best lawyer, minister or doctor OF
medicine.
1t is hard to realize, at first, what all
this really means. 1t is no wonder that
so many old farmers have thrown scorn
upon book-farming." The history OF
the world from the time of Adam re-
veals the tiller of the soil as always an
mlearned man. THE times of this
ignorance God provided for by stor-
ing up in the primeval soil fund OF
fertility which should last until man.
kind grew out of its infancy. But now
the time has come for all nlen to open
their ears and learn, by the study OF
God S works and ways in nature, TO
provide for their own wants.
This then is what we must do: we
must study nature, and in doing this
the farmer becomes an educated, and
may become learned man-as learned
as Solomon. who was said to have
known all the plants in his day-and
more learned, for we must not only
know ,of plants and animals. but
we must learn the laws of their lie AMI |
growth; and not only that, we must
have skill to apply those laws practical
ly. and make both plants and animals |
grow according to our viii. SO as to
give US sustenance and wealth.
In short, the day is now at hand in |
which the farmer is to be raised through |
not from labor, but from |
uninteligent drudgery to intelligent pro-
duction, and a mastership over nature |
in the place of his old slavery to nature. |
Understanding natures forces, we are |
to direct them, instead OF being directed |
by them. With more than the subtlety
of Jacob, we are to mold the cattle to
our will and profit. With more than the
wisdom of Solomon, we feed and nourish
as well as study the plants of the field.
Are the middle-aged and older farmers
of the time rousing themsel es to these
great facts, and taking them in in their
full significance? If so. they will be
found aiding and favoring every means
to fit the growing generation Tor their
new and wonderful inheritance.-N Y