Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-10-11
Cor. Country Gentleman.

Cor. Country Gentleman.
Many persons look upon the life of
a farmer as one of drudgery. Some
good farmers characterize those
branches of farming in which they
do not choose to engage, as drudgery.
Others, born and self>educated to a
life of unhappiness, 60 reluctantly to
their labor and are always mourning
over the drudgery Of farm work from
which they see no way of escape.
What is drudgery? Webster says
"To drudge is to labor in mean and
unpleasant offices. A drudge is an
unwilling or reluctant laborer.
Drudgery is ignoble toll, servile occu-
patton" This illustration of the
meaning and use of the word is given,
"The drudgery of penning defni-
TONS" Adding long columns of fig
ures in which the bookkeeper has no
interest partakes of the nature of
drudgery. Recording deeds and
mortgages and other legal papers in
which the recorder has no interest is
very much like "penning de6ni-
tions."
Labor is not degrading, neither is
toll drudgery, to that man whose en-
ployment is such that while his
hands are at work his mind is busy
with interesting facts and problems
connected with his occupation. Years
ago, when 1 first began raising pota-
toes for market, some of my friends
said there was gread deal of drudg-
cry in that kind of farming. l had
been inclined to regard it in that
light myself, but soon became so
much interested in the management
of the crop that the manual labor con-
nected with it was rather pastime
than drudgery. The potato does not
appear to be very promising sub,
ject for study, but many questions
connected with its cultivation are ia
themselves interesting, and reliable
answers to them can be given only
through careful experiment and OBJ
servation. Shall they be planted on
old land or on inverted sod? Can
manure be applied directly for this
crop with profit? Hills or drills:
Which is best, one, two or four years
in a place? How deep ought they tc
be planted? Can purchased chemical
fertilizers be used with profit? How
often and how late in the season
ought they to be cultivated? Ought
any killing to be done, and if so a
what period in their growth? Wher
shall they be dug? What is the bes
method of caring for them in case o
rot? When shall they be marketed
What is the best method of keeping
them through the winter? If so kept
how much will they shrink? Doe
the crop greatly exhaust the fertilit.
of the soil? Will the thorough cult
walton of this crop contribute to sue
cess with those which follow?
These are only a part of the ques
tions and problems connected wit
raising potatoes. My experience ha
been that even hired help may b
greatly interested in these questions
and so far from regarding the labo
as drudgery take pride in contribut
ing to the production of fine crops.
any reader of the Country Gentlema
has raised a crop of 800 or 400 bushel
of fine potatoes to the acre, and ha
counted it drudgery to help pic
them up, his case is pitiable indeed
1 have known a man so enthusiast
over such a crop as to invite his vii
to the field to witness the display {
fine, smooth tubers literally GOVERN
the ground. She not only accepte
the invitation but thoroughly enjoye
helping to fill the baskets. The fal
mer who has studied his business an
by adopting the best methods an
using improved implements has raj
ed a fine crop of potatoes, and hi
marketed and received full pay fl
the same, never thinks or talks
drudgery, but Unsuccessful cultivatio
and large profits.
Some dairymen regard the labC
connected with raising potatoes {
drudgery, and one farmer largely el
gagged in raising potatoes alwa!
speaks Of dairying as drudger,
Dairying is not necessarily drudger,
any more than cultivating flower
fruit or potatoes is drudgery. Floy
ers are cultivated for their fragranc
beauty and cash value, berries an
fruit for the delicious flavor and f
the money for which they can
sold, and potOtOes for food and prof