Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-15

Farmers get plenty of advice. Were
we able to work as easy and as well as
the advice generally given to us would
| seem to indicate we could how easy and
independent our occupation would be-
come. In no other line of business is
advice so freely given. and so much
blame attached because the advice is
not followed.
The great trouble is that nearly every
body imagines they know how to farm.
Although these same people may never
have been practical farmers, they vet
seem to think that anybody can farm,
and OF course they know as much
about it as any one, and can tell at
least how it ought to be done
Theoretical farming is always very
fine more SO than any other calling.
Very few believe in theory in other
branches in business. As a rule. TO be
successful in other occupations. a lono
training is necessary; step by step must
one 60 until each detail is learned. And
II is only by industry, experience and
hard work that these are fully mastered
Advice is offered sparingly, because it
is known that experience is the only
true guide. But in farming theories
are supposed to take the place of ex-
perience, and men who have very little,
If any, practical knowledge can tell us
how to farm. The fact is there is hard
" business or occupation that prac-
tically requires more study and expert
ence than farming. A practical farm.
er. who makes his farm and fam work
aistudy. learns something every day, and
unless he is willing to learn not only by
his own experience, but by that of 9TH
ers, he will soon discover that he is fall
ing behind.
Such a man is able to d scriminate be-
tween the practical experience of one
and the theory of the other. If new
plans or new methods are presented, he
can, in some degree, Judge whether
they are in any way practical, and if
they are. he is willing to give them
trial. He knows that what might prove
just the right thing to plant in one Sec
ton OF country, under certain cond;.
tons, and in some soils, would, under
different climate and soil, result far
from satisfactory. The large per cent.
of this kind of real practical knowl
edge can only he gained by experience.
whenever we meet a man who will
not learn, we can not help but conclude
that he will never make a success nj
farmer. We want to learn, too, not
only by our successes, but by our fail
ures. If we try new plan and fail, we
want to be able to know why we Jailed
just as much as to know why we sue
ceeded.
One great trouble with us in learning
is that we are too apt To keep in mind
our success and forget the fixtures This
Is the great fault of theoretical farming.
If Ey a combination of favorable cond:-
tons success is obtained, it is given out
as fact-nO exception being given or
allowed for the very favorable condi-
tons under which the method was tried.
Such things may rightly be compared tc
the many specifics given to cure the
various ills of lite. A remedy is tried
which. under favorable conditions.
effects cure, and forthwith the cure is
given out "a a specific. Others, with
the same complaint but under different
conditions, try the same remedy and
fail to receive the least benefit. Nc
mention is made of these failures, and,
of course, others are induced to give the
remedy trial. For this reason it is al
ways interesting to hear o. failures
well aS successes, provided the re;
cause can be stated.-N. j. Shepherd, an
Prairie Farmer.