The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-10-09

~ O9Mogooeo Uo<Ve1 1 -
Ansrlsas AgEleu1eusa
he English Government some yea<s
sines. sent two worthy gentlemen. both
axperisnced agricultunsss, 70 America
y investigate tho general character q
American agriculture. especially iron
he point Of view Of ils growing compe-
tition with English farmerA The gen
ernl impression on tb0oe who read tho
report made By these gentlemen. after
(beir investigation was completed. and
n fact on many persons who met thems
handing ~ performances. Wa. that they
had not been able 70 form thoroughly
correcr estimate Of American agricult-
ure and il possibilities, owing 70 their
pcrsistent wearing of British spectacles
during their visit in this country: The
more We hear and learn about English
farming and IL methods, the less aro
We surprised that two gentlemen Of the
mature years Of Messrk Read and Pell.
and accustomed al their lives 10 tho
methods, usages and conditions OF fsfm-
inc il England, should have been UNI
able to estimate with precision the con-
ditions and possibilities Of American
farming. The truth Is, that the latter
e in . transitory condition, constantly
undergoing changes Of various kinds
These changes are brought about BY
numerous causes. not only in the vary
| ing conditions Of supply and demand
| for the products Of the farm, conditions
which must vary in England IS well -
| here. though less in degree there. bue
| IN the character and condition Of the
| farmers themselves. The farmer In
| England seems TO add nothing TO his
capital: a good tenant adds to the value
| OF his holding. but that Is mainly the
| landlords benefit; the farmer himself.
| il seems. requires . capital TO begin
| with which in our Western States
| would be regarded as small fortune,
| and even the model or prize farms Of
! which we read. the net income. after
paying rent and purchasing mannres
and food, can not be much more than
enough to provide reasonable interest
on his capital invested. leaving bus :
very small sum comparatively - re-
muneration for the labor Of his own
| head and hands. and that OF the mem
beers Of his family, and on these prize
and so-called profitable farms. u Is evi-
dent that unremitting labor forms the
portion Of al the members OF the tam
ilv almost from childhood Rigid
economy may enable some provision to
be made to establish one or two OF
the sons in life. on just about the same
basis As their father started from and
with prospects certainly but little moro
hopeful than his
In America there Is . constant ana
rapid grading up. The father who -
gan life in one Of our Western States
thirty years ago. with . few hundred
dollars and new farm. may see him.
self today ready TO leave TO his son =
farm clear OF debt. with fairly good
buildings and comparatively well stocked.
and whereas the father has been obliged.
in the past thirty years. to pay for his
farm, put up his buildings. fence and
perhaps drain the property. demands
which have taxed his resources to the
ottermost the son who succeeds him be-
gins life comparatively well Of BeTond
the necessary repairs Of house and
buildings, fencing, etc. there are but
few demands upon the income OF the
farm. improvements Of various kinds,
such rs his father never dreamed Of,
will be available to him. The herd Of
scrub stock will soon be . herd Of high
grades il not Of pure-bred cattle. II be
has been wise, education will have beer
added to his other advantages. and ne
will bring to his aid careful method d
accounts and scientific system 81
farming in which. so far. the English
farmers certainly excel Us Another
change to be noted il Ameri
} can farming is the large increase o.
| well-to-do business men. who have o.
late years invested in farms and stock
Take il altogether. we viii venture x
say that II the aforementioned English
Commissioners will pay another visit x
| this country just ten years from tn
, time OF the last one they will find many
| notifications to make Of the opinions
! they then formed. On the other hand
, our own farmers can not do better thar
| realize that there is much to learn from
farmers who can. in addition 20 paying
ten or twelve dollars an acre rent
spend twice as much for foods. manur'
and labor. and still have . fair prof
pcr acre left. With the changes Il
: their own circumstances have conn
! changes in the condition Of their farms
!. the nature Of their market and charac
: | ter Of their competition The man WHIT
b satisfied to "get along" will b
I | amazed. IL he ever wakes up to see how
: far he has fallen behind in the process
sion. We confidently commend on
! young farmers, g IN aid TO keeping ri
Z with Or getting ahead Of the throng, 9
|. study some Of these English mode
farms their methods and ways Il
America the farmer has. At least tn
I pleasure Of knowing that whatever b
can add to the value Of his farm d hi
4 own--Lirc Stock Journal