Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-02-25
GENERAL AGRIcULTURE.

y - E
An Address delivered BY Ben c. Rich before the re-
cent Farmers Institute ct Wa-Keeney.
II have but one lamp by which my feet
are guided, and that is the lamp OF expe-
renee" Thus spoke a noted statesman
more than century ago. The words
had a political sense; but, as use them,
they are as potent now as when first ut
tered. though I use them only in an agri-
cultural sense. Why should not the
farmer learn what is best, not only by
his own, but by others, experience?
True, as class, the farmers are the slow
est of all industrial people to adopt what
the experience of others has proved to be
successful. This should not be. 1 can
see no reason why should 60 on in the
same old plodding way of our fathers,
trying to do things in way which thou
sands of men, as intelligent as myself,
have proved worthless. Rather should ]
observe that which is best, and then
adopt it; and, if want to experiment,
not go over the ground that others have
,trodden, but begin where they left of.
suppose was a mechanical genius, and
wanted to improve steam engine or a
printing press. Would I take the origi-
nal types of those machines, and exhaust
my energies and means in improving
them? or would it be best for me to &C
cept the experience of others, and, COM
mencing where they leave of, with the
most perfect machine known, try to i'm
prove it? This adoption of the best
methods is followed by the merchant, the
artisan and the professional man. Then
why not by the farmer? As President
Fairchild says, the farm is a machine.
Hence, if we want to improve it, we must
adopt the bestknown methods. It can
be done by the farmer as well as by any
one else. Knowing this, I have for years
striven to find out what is best, and then,
by adopting it, 60 ahead to success. I
can see no reason why the farmer should
not be literally educated, and then use
his education to conduct his business in a
business-like manner.
A prominent business man of Wa-Kee-
ney, the other day, said to me, eff the
business men of this town should carry
on their trade or avocation in the same
happy go-lucky way that many farmers
do, they would 60 to the wall in short
time" Now, brother farmers, had he rea-
son to make such statement as that?
See how many farmers are now out of
feed for their stock, before you answer.
I acknowledge that, as class, we do not
conduct our business on business princi-
pies; and I think he had reason for the
statement, for have observed the same
thing myself. How can we remedy this?
Why, just as we are doing to-day. Have
farmers institutes, and mutually instruct
and help one another. Here we have the
benefit of the experience of others, who
have made farming success. The sue
cessful farmer, like the busy bee, lays up
a store of food in summer sufficient to
take him safely through the winter. The
successful, farmer must read, study,
think, and work with both brain and
muscle. Brain work is just as essential
in farming as in any other business.
Take a good county paper. Many of the
best things written by the best farmers of
the locality are given therein. Take a
good agricultural paper. 1t will pay for
itself many fold, if read carefully. Use
Judgment in your choice. The American
AgrcultuyiSt, Rural New Yorker, Prairie
Farmer and others are good papers, but
they are not just what a Kansas farmer
needs, unless he can afford several pa
pers. I would say take the Kansas Far
mer if you can only take one, for it will
help Kansas farmer to just what is best
in Kansas. Read good agricultural
books. Prepare yourself to work intelli-
gently, and then do your business in
business-like manner. If you have fac
ulty for any specially, and your farm is
adopted to it, then I say, follow that
course, and you will succeed. Other
wise, follow a course of general agricul-
ture. Don't ride hobbies, for the expert
snce of our best farmers is against it.
For this county, unless it be upon some
Few peculiar farms, general farming is the
best plan to pursue. By general farming,
mean to raise diversity of crops, and
,otate them as best you can. Do all you
10 thoroughly, and never trust to luck;
md after your crops are harvested, turn
hem into the most salable form you can
30 as to get the most profit from them.
To illustrate: I would not plant my whole
arm to wheat or corn or any other one
crop, for it is not reliable; but have some
If each that is best adapted to our coun-
y. TO make it more plain, will give
plans for 1883. I have in now 43 acres of
we and Is acres of wheat. This was put in
asst fall, after thorough preparation, and