The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-05
Tne Practical Farmer.

The farmer, of all Others, it would be
supposed, is truly practical man, and
does his farm work in such way that
the least outlay will bring the largest in
come. Let US look at some of the kinds
of farmers that our broad country con-
tsi1.s, and try to decide which comes the
nearest to the practical farmer, in the
highest acceptance of that phrase.
We do not have to 60 very far from
many of our own homes to fiad farmer
who, having inherited small farm from
his father, tills it, and that in much the
same way that it has been titled by his
father. He is content to do his work in
the ''good old way" and holds up to
everyone that would suggest improve
mentS the argument of antiquity; that
hi. father made a fair living in his way,
and he doubtless knew what was best.
There have been great many improve
ments in farming during the past thirty
years, and it would take a large volume
to simply state the greater ADVANTAGES
which The farmer of TO day may enjoy
or rather needs to have, to successfully
compete in the agricultural strife-over
those within the reach of the farmer OF
| quarter of century ago. There Is
much truth in the current expression
that the machi cry of the farm is get
ting so perfect that men do not have to
work as hard as in former days. There
is the lazy mans mower, and the ease
! loving mans thresher; and so on,
through the whole list of farm-tools.
! l am no advocate of idleness, but do
stand strongly for anything that will
shift hard work from the shoulders OF
! the farmer, and also the farmers wife
and children, to those of horses and
oxen and the forces of water and stream.
i do not wish that the farmer may work
less that he may spend his days in idle
ness. Deliver us from the state such
idleness would bring US into! We eought
to look upon all labor-saving devices, Ct
whatever nature, not as means of doing
mans work, but as means of shifting
his labor from that which is purely of
the muscle 10 that which is partly Of the
brain.
The farmer who is content to labor
with his hands from early morn until
late at night, leaving no hours for men
tai labor, no time for the enjoyment Of
the world of beauty in which he exists,
not lives, does not understand this,
tn ugh. Such farmer sees no value
in b oks; and as for using them in his
work-getting an idea here and sug-
gestion there-it is out of the question.
Book farming to him is nonsense, SIM
ply because he does not know what
farming is in its highest sense. Books
are not of value to anyone as source
of information unless they are read and
their contents undergo process OF men-
tai digestion.
Suppose we start with another farmer
who has likewise inherited farm from
! his father, and upon which land he con-
tinues the agricultural work. This
farmer inherited more than simply the
farm; with it came desire for prog
ress, longing, to be satisfied with only
the best of everything that farm can
afford, and at the same time keen
sense that the farm must be the means
Of obtaining these desired ends. His
father was of course good farmer, and
: saw the importance of getting the larg-
est possible crops by the best means
within his reach. This farm was more
to him than a means of getting his daily
food; it was source of delight; por-
ton Of the face of the earth in which
so to speak. was reflected the very be-
I ing of the Advise. With this thought
: upuermost-and men live in theil
. thoughts, and tnay are the truest meas
. ure of their iving-it was his desire tt
!. make his surroundings beautiful. Tree
!. : were planted along the highway. Or
= chards of the best fruit made a side hill
J fair to look upon. The buildings wer'
substantial and convenient, and in then
were snngly kept through the winter tn,
prize herd of the county. Surrounded
by such things as these the boy grew t
g be man, each day drinking in some
g thing of the higher life upon the farm
II He had a oetter start-some may sa,,
o than tn. poor farmer with whom he i
a contrasted, and that but proves the yer,
g point in hand. I wish it could be un
/ derstood upon every farm in the Unite'
u States, from Maine to California, tina
there is one crop that should stan'
J. above all others. 1t is not sectiona
," one; but must be grown wherever farm
'r life lasts-the end toward which all 9th
er crops tend. This great product c
y American farms is the crop OF boys an
girls, without which our country woul
soon go out in darkness and its record
be the records of sh ,rtsi ghtedness AM
folly. On the proper raising of tn
children depends the future of all huma
- institutions, and nowhere is this mor
II true than upon the farm. Our secon
: farmer had then, the advantage of
'N superior "raising," and he in tur
" makes good use of that tillage of hi
II heart and brain, and lives larger
T. broader and theref ,re better life. H
keeps in view the Importance of til
~ proper training of his children and thu
u g farms it" in the most approved mai
:, ner He does his work that it may liv
= after him in better farm, with goo
u u hands into which to ,mmi it, when
'. is gone. The first farmer does his wor
!" for the present; literally he '' works b
the days" the other for the future.
it not clear which is the better farme