The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-12-18
FARM. GARDEN AND
HOUSEHOLD.
DR.. Twitchell's Address
BEFORE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
Al WORCESTER, MASS.


the following abstract of DR.. g. NJ
Twtchel's address, heretofore mention
ed In the REPORTER.
! Some conditions for success In New
England Agriculture was discussed by
/ DR.. q. NJ. Twitchell of Fairfield, Me, Lee.
turer Maine State Grange aud associate
Editor Maine Farmer. Agriculture is in a
| peculiar condition, he said 1t is passing
through crucial period. The past de-
cade has witnessed wonderful progress in
the arts and sciences, and the results
with the multiplied inventions Of the age,
have been poured out to cheaper, in ey-
cry way, the cost Of living. AS all food
and raiment comes from the soil, aud the
products thereof 1T follows naturally that
with every step tending to decrease the
cost of the manufactured article, addi-
tlonal burdens are placed on the producer
Of the raw material. In considering this
question this fact cannot be Ignored. The
blessings we all recognize only serve to
increase the burdens already too heavy TO
be borne. If prices have been dropping
by reason Of competition the first condi-
ton for success will be formed by COM
bining for production. Combination
must meet combination, organization
contend with organization, competition
pitted against competition until the
great question Is solved. All this is nee
essary because it Is beyond the power of
the individual to work out the problem
alone. There must be coming together
for specific work, and the organization
pledged to this oilers more than can be
found In or through any other channel
1t stands committed to the supreme work
of bnmi
thought. The day for extreme prices has
gone, and men engaged in agriculture
must keep In constant touch with each
o her In order to realize what may be
gained. One of the conditions for sue.
GEES lies within us. 1t Is that We look
for success, that we believe In success
and that we In faith. nothing doubling,
work for success. Drifting does not de-
velop. During the past ten years the
public print has been full of dark pictures
of agriculture; even the agricultural
press has thrown its influence In to swell
the volume. Doubts have grown into be-
liefs. questlonings have filled the ears Of
the children, until they turn with disgust
from the farm. To seal the lesson, state
bureaus have advertised every deserted
farm, no matter the cause or location. Is
1t any wonder that faith In agriculture In
New England is lacking when even the
state itself throws its power against 1t.
No man ever rose above his Ideals, and II
rus UoIis. ne quesaUns' auu uouots, the
end IL certain. Failures may be noted
everywhere along the business line but
they are charged against poor methods
or location while here they stand against
the industry. Success will be found
ahcn we cease to do evil and learn to do
well, whep we cease to do negative teach
ing and preaching and Ill our hearts and
minds with positive things Plant faith
| in the young man and he will go out up
on your Massachusetts farms and find
success. Plant a single doubt and you
will destroy all hope. Another condition
of success lies 10 checking the outgo Of
SO much treasure for farm products
which might be produced at home. II re
is the work Of the future In New Eng
land to multiply farm products adapted to
to our farms. Business In agriculture
must be our rallying cry, and 1t must ring
out from every hill top until the valleys
send back the refrain. More Intensive
ton to every detail and steady reaching
after that knowledge which insures
faith, these are the conditions to be met
The lower range of prices sure to prevail
In the future Gun thus be made to yield q
fair measure Of profit. The dairymen of
Maine who are finding success In agri.
culture do not question, do not doubt, but
they seek ito solve the problem by study
of the great question Of breeding and
feeding, by weighing and selecting, by
testing and wedding, until their herds av-
erage three hundred pounds per head, and
all the while they are searching to find
the poorest COW that she may give way
for better one. They also seek for that
perfect ration by which food may be con-
verted into butter fats at least cost to the
animal and greatest profit to the owner.
1t is not the heaviest yield of milk, not
tho greatest number of pounds Of butter
they are looking after, but the COW pro
ducing two inches Of cream at the least
cost. The dairy is our sheet anchor In
New England to-day, yet we have not en-
tered into an appreciation of what 1t may
do for US. Our animals are but tools ir
our hands, to be changed. corrected,
moulded and perfected as we enter In and
appreciate the laws which govern them.
The milkmen of Massachusetts,, whose
cows yield annually 5000 pounds of milk,
are not vexed about this problem, provid-
ed that by the same study of rations, by
the same care and skill they know that
each COW is source of profit. 1t Is this
want of knowledge which has emptied so
many barns and chilled 80 many hearth
stones. To know that any line OF opera
tons is successful gives confidence and
courage. Give us this knowledge and
agriculture will at once step to Its proper
position. For want of this application Of
business principles, tho keeping Of ac-
counts and knowing where profit may be
found, we are crying, ''Show US the way
to success" To my mind there is no
future for the farmer doing little OF
most everything and not much Of any
thing. The drift Of all business Is tow
ards larger operations to overcome the
lower margins. Success Is to be secured
by any thorough concentration Of ener.
gies upon lines for which the individual
Is best adapted, and whom this spirit Is
manifest every door will open toward
success. The perfect standard is yet be-
fore US. The highest results have not yet
has brought US thus far can insure more
in the future II we but consecrate our
selves for the work. There is no room
for scrubs in the market Of today. No
matter what the line of breeding, we can
not rest on blood. The call to be met Is
for individual merit, no matter what the
class.
Success lies in turning the current into
the channels most desired, land thus fix
ing tendencies. All conditions are unnat-
ural and dependent upon mans highest
skill. Unless we keep ourselves In touch
with the forces and agents operating
about US, there can be no true success. II
living near good markets, meet their
highest demands, II more remote, then
convert raw products into what will re-
present the most In value and remove the
least from the farm.
One condition IL too often overlooked.
We are "a TO 60 hours nearer the great dis
tributing centres than the prairjes of the
West. Fresh products of superior value
are the possibilities for New England
farmers. Agricultural education must he
made TO point the way to the best means,
measures and methods In every day farm
life. The atmosphere Of the library and
laboratory b away from the farm, and
teachers must guard closely or they will
drift beyond the reach Of the every day
faymar. Rslisf must come through our
common SCHOOLS, where . love for
pakuraI things may b absorbed. q the
eAild takes II hrat lessons. Tho text-
bo>k tedSy, tlased - Il . with metro
|potitda t6yoa9kt I'D full Of superAclal
~ 66iaI Ae0e Of rural life. must
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