St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-02-16
Advice TO Farmers.

Farmers get plenty of advice. We're
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 yet
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 il 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 long
training is necessary; step by step must
one go until each detail is learned And
it 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
~ q business or occupation that prac-
tically requires more study and expert
ence than farming. A practical farm
er, who makes his farm and farm work
aEstudy. learns something every day, and
unless he is willing to learn not only by
his own experience, but by that of 9th
ers, he viii soon discover that he is fall
ing behind.
Such man is able to discriminate be-
tween the practical experience of one
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 il. one sec
ton Of country, under certain condi-
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 be gained by experience.
Whenever we meet a man who will
not learn, we can not help but conclude
that he VIII never make q successful
farmer. We want to learn, too, not
only by ON. successes, but by our fail
ures. If we try a new plan and fail, we
want to be able to know why we failed
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 thefailures. This
Is the great fault OF theoretical farming.
If by combination of favorable condi-
tions success is obtained. it is given out
as a fact-no exception being given or
allowed for the very favorable condi-
tions under which the method was tried.
Such things may rightly be compared to
the many specifics given to cure the
i various Ills Of life. A remedy is tried
which, under favorable conditions,
effects 4 cure, and forthwith the cure is
given out as a specific. Others, with
the same complaint but under different
conditions, try the same remedy and
fail to receive the least benefit. No
mention IS made of these failures, and,
of course, Others. are induced to give the
remedy q trial. For this reasonit is al
ways interesting to hear OF failures as
well as successes, provided the real
cause can be stated. M u Shepherd, IN
Prairie Farmer.
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