The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-08-02
Whatever is Dome should be Well Done.

1t doesn't pay to half do anything. This
though It's suggested by the way thons-
ands of farmers conduct their farm opera
tons. Riding about over the country,
how often do we notice the slip-shod, halt
hearted, happy go lucky, dont.care meth
cd of farming. Here we find man who
goes through with everything in a rush,
merely giving touch here and lick
there, seemingly intent, solely on getting
through as much work as possible in the
shortest time, without any regard as to
how it is done or what the result may be.
Then, there is a man who runs in a rut.
He has learned one method of doing .hings
and no matter how differently science and
progress have taught others to do them,
he holds to the old ways and refuses to de-
part therefrom. He is hack farmer
one who follows in the footsteps of his an
cestors, and who never thinks for himself
Vie chances are that he does the most
work and chooses the most difficult ways
of accomplishing his aims, with the least
possible result. He works like a slave.
but his work is wasted. In his old-fash-
Toned away he tries to compete with men
who move forward, and who avail them
selves ofnew ideas and new inventions. |
He is what, might, with prOpriety be
termed a wooden-mould-b board farmer, and |
he does not half do his work, because he
does not do it in a practical progressive
sensible manner.
There are other farmers who do not more
than half perform their duties. There is
the man who runs to corn and hogs, and
who, yeai after year, without any regard
to market prices, or condition of his soil,
persists in raising corn and hogs. No
persuasion, no manner of reasoning, no
demonstration or observation will serve to
swerve him from his method. Men may
come and men may go; markets may rise
and markets may fall, but the hOg.and-
corn man goes on to the end in his hog
way, eking out bare existence
Successful farming in this age requires
forethOught and management, and the
man who performs his whole duty, and
farms to the best advantage must think.
He must get out of the ruts and march
forward in time with his fellow farmers.
He must not figure on planting the great
est number of acres possible, but he must
devote himself faithfully to thorough
cultivation of whatever amount of land he
can safely and prOfitably handle. He
must not settle down to the cultivation of
one crop, year after year, but he must al
ternate as often as the condition of the
or the state of his soil demands.
The prog -essive farmer never docs
things by halves. He never attempts to
spread his labor over twice as many acres
as he is capable of eultivating. thus per-
forming twice the labor that Is necessary
for the production of q good crop. He
does not rush blindly along, following the
So sssethod without ever once stopping
to consider the prorriety of it. He farms
by a system. He reasons, thinks and
moves Systematically. HI works to pur-
pose, and aecomplshes the greatest re-
suits with the least waste of time and
efforts.
Another thing. If crop is worth rails
ing, it is worth caring for and saving.
There are thousands of farmers who labor
well and steadily in the cultivation of
crops, aad who, when their crops are ma
tured, lose a large per cent of the result
by uarelessness, in allowing them to go to
waste for the want of attention. The
farmer is not through with his crops until
it is safely stored away; and if he allows
it to stand out exposed to bad weather,
and liable to damage and loss, lie is but
half performing his duty.
Tho farmer should think more. There
arc thousands of men who depend too
much on muscle and b:awn, and too little
on tho brain. This is an intelligent age,
and the mind can accomplish wonders
where the muscle fails. Thought, reason,
observation and study are absolutely es-
sential to success in any calling; and
farmers must learn these things; for unless
they do, they are but halfperforming their
duties. THos. P. MoNTFoRT.