The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-20
Advice to Farmers.

Farmers get plenty Of advice. Were
we able to work as easy and as we'll as
the advice generallS 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 Us any one, and can tell at
least how it ought to be done.
Theoretical farming is always very
fne-more so than any other calling.
Very few believe in theory in other
branches in business. AS rule, to be
successful in other occupations, 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
ly business or occupation that prac-
tically requires more study and expert
ence than farming. A practical farm
er, who makes his farm and farm york
agstudy, 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 discriminate be-
tween the practical experience Of one
and the theory of the other. If new
plans OF 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 a
trial. He knows that what might prove
Just the right thing to plant in one see
tion of country, under certain condi-
tions, and in some soils, would, under q
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 man who will
not learn, we can not help but conclude
that he will never make q successful
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 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 the failures. This
is the great fault of theoretical farming.
If by combination of favorable condi-
tionS success is obtained, it is given out
as 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
various ills of lite. A remedy is tried
which, under favorable conditions,
effects cure, and forthwith the cure is
given out as a specific. Others, with
the same complaint but under different
conditions, try the same remedy anC
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 of failures a;
well as successes, provided the rea
cause can be stated.-M D. Shepherd, III
Prairie Farmer.