Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-10-26

brain work. He must know more, resd
more, think more and consider more
Farming has become very complicated
business. More knowledge, judgment
and skill are required in order to sue.
ceed in it than were needed even a few
years ago. The farmer of to-day is
something more than a producer. He
must be n successful merchant in order
to make money. For improving a
prairie farm almost every thing must
be purchased. The only natural pro-
duct of a piece of prairie land is a sod
that must be subdued before any thing
but grass can be raised Instead Of
destroying forest the prairie farmer
must set about raising one. To this
end he must buy trees or seed that will
produce them. He must invest quite
heavily in machines, and great judg-
ment is required to decide how many
and what kinds to buy. Unless he has
quite large means he must hire money,
and if he does not make a judicous
loan the chances are that he will be
financially ruined. Many farmers lose
their places while attempting to i'm
prove them.
As the modern farmer has so many
things to buy, he must raise much to
sell, or the "balance of trade" will be
against him and he will fail. If he has
hired moneyhe must make arrangements
to meet his Indebtedness. He must be
iinancier as well as producer and a
merchant. He must keep himself i'll
formed in respect to the State of the
market at home and abroad. In order
to do this he must become acquainted
with the condition of the crops in all
parts of the world. He must also study
TO find out the demands of the market
so as to know what to raise. He must
not, however, neglect to supply his
family and help with food to the fullest
extent possible. He must be prepared
to substitute new crops for those he has
long raised when for any cause their
production ceases TO be profitable. II
he raises articles for which there is little
demand, he will be obliged to sell them
at very low price He must exhibit
as much shrewdness and enterprise in
supplying what the market demands as
successful manufacturers and merchant,
do. He must read and study as well a,
work. Intelligence is essential to sue
cess in farming now that it has becom,
q complicated business.
At the present time much knowledg,
and excellent judgment are required t.
determine which of several breeds O
horses, cattle, sheep and swine TO keep
Each breed has its advocates, who from
, prejudice, real admiration or persona
motives, are presenting its claims on al
occasions. The fashion changes in re
!, lation to live stock as it does in regar
, to articles of dress, and the breeder VIII
expects to make money must endeavo
, TO ascertain when any kind of animal |
going out of style and another is com
ing into fashion. The preference 70
. different breeds of domesticated animal
a changes with rs much certainty as til
I fashions for hats Of peculiar shape,
: it does not change quite as often.
i stock-raiser must now give much after
Z ton to determining the feeding value (
;. the different kinds of grasses, clovel
n and roots He must also find out by e!
4 pertinent or BY visiting farms who
silos are in use the value of ensilage f,
!. feeding to dairy cows, store cattle an
a animals in process of fattening.
:. short, the time the farmer once gave
q thrashing small grain with fail al
q shelling corn by hand must now
= given to reading and study, Chica!
N Times.