Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-08-12
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
FARM WISDOM.
Daniel Rupert in Rural New Yorker.

Kindness to all around you is the cor
nerstone to happy farm life, and pays in
every way.
The farmer who makes it rule to hur-
ry his work for the sake of getting
through in time for an hours play spell
in the evening, will carry a lean purse,
heavy mortgage too.
The best calculating farmer can do
as to time, is to so plan his work as al
ways to have enough to do, and never to
be overdriven.
The farmer should realize that farming
has not yet reached perfection; that i'm
provements are possible in thousand
things; and his constant study and care
full observation should be to discover the
better plan.
The farmers motto should be, LEARN
something new every day" Never rest
satisfied with hearsay, but find out for
yourself. Experiments poorly tried are
like wet weather in haying; and to rely
altogether on hearsay is like frost in
June.
Make all your experiments fairly, faith
fully and effectually; measure and weigh
with exactness, and keep a true account
of all the details. Let your experiments
be on a scale so small as not to 1njure
you in case of failure.
Get your ground in good order, and
plant and SOW good seeds in good season,
faithfully attend to all after require
ments of the crop, and never mind the
moon.
It is better to make two small loads
10 4O1-@ oil 81
load and break down.
Avoid extremes, and always seek that
happy medium in which the least outlay
shall bring the greatest proportionate
returns. Avoid law suits and quarreling
with neighbors. Mind your own affairs
more, and your neighbours less. Quarrels
are like bad weeds in the garden, and law
suits like drought.
Have a careful eye on fences, gates, and
barn doors, and attend to all such things
as soon as you see they need it. Have as
good and convenient place for your cat
tie to drink at as is possible.
Accustom yourself to habits of regu-
larity and method. Be regular in all
things. Have regular hours for rising,
for meals, for feeding, and generally be
as regular as you can in all things.
When away from home keep your eyes
open to see how much other farmers may
be in advance or in the rear of you in
matters pertaining to farming.
When tired; rest; when thirsty drink,
and treat your horses in these respects as
you treat yourself.
Be sure that your calculations are not
larger than your means or your strength,
fOr lose iS
poorly done.
Labor with your mind as well as your
hands, and do not over-tax either, for to
be successful you will need both.
Have place for your tools, and have
your tools in their place.
Keep good tools, and keep them in
good order, for poor tools make hard
work, which is improbable.
Cleanliness is a promoter of health and
good morals.
Clean stables and bedding help to make
horses sleek and cattle look well.
[ have never known the farmer who
did his work neatly and in good season,
visited by constables or burdened with a
mortgage.
Slovenly farming tends to draw a far
mer down hill and slOyenly harvesting
is to be unthankful for what did grow.
| Slovenly hands in the field are like rats
in the wheat bin. The farmer who does
his work neatly will find it less difficult
to pay heavy, than the sloven will to pay
light taxes.
The farmer who keeps good fences is
likely to prosper, live at peace with his
neighbors and have something to give to
the poor; but the farmer who keeps poor
fences will have his crops destroyed,
have quarrels and law suits and nothing,
except harsh words, to give to anybody.
A man may so improve his farm as to
lose it.
A farmer who doesn't exercise sound
judgement is like ship at sea without
a rudder.
First improve upon what you know,
and learn as much more as you can.
You may read pithy sayings all day
and admire them in the even
ing, but your work will not be done ''un-
less you lay your shoulder to the wheel'
and push. There is no helping those
who will not take council and help them
selves.
To have many bad neighbors is sign
you should reform.
To hurry and furry to get our work
done shows much wind in the garnet and
little brains.
The man who cannot learn from his
neighbors mistakes, will teach his neigh
bors by his own.
To have more stock than we have pas
ture for, is to save a spoonful and lose a
shovelful.