The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-05-09
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
The Returns for Ma brain Work are Far
Mere Important than ANY Other
Confederation 60 the Pro-
gressiys Farmer. u


Uraln WORK Tn inc TArm-
There arc several factors which en-
ter into the materials which the farmer
offers TO tho world for which the re-
rauneraiions differ widely. First, there
Is the plant food In his products. That.
in the virgin soil il the direct prod
net OF the forces OF nature. and IL not
very highly valued In the markets OF
the world. This plant food is largely
air and water and mankind Is not dis
posed 20 pay much for what Is so album
dant everywhere. Small proportions
OF this plant food are minerals, which
have some value In market, and nitro
gen. which, although one OF the most
abundant ingredients OF tho air, Is SO
elusive that the forces OF nature fail 20
utilize IL 10 large extent Ia products,
and that Ina the market commands n
good price. II Is very doubtful wheth-
or the average farmer receives much
remuneration for the plant food OF
which his products are compounded.
2. There IL the capital the farmer
has invested In his farm. In acquiring
the title from government In clearing
his land; in fencing H. in draining It,
in building shelter for his stock and
store houses for his products; in stock
ing his farm with live animals and
with the necessary implements and ma
chinery for It's cultivation and for the
transportation OF It's products 70 mar
ket. Now the farmer ought TO receive
enough from the profits OF the farm 10
pay interest on these investments and
deterioration through use and age. Are
farmers certain that they receive what
they are entitled 10 here?
8. Then most OF our farmers do a
great deal OF severe manual labor,
working more hours in the day than
almost any other class OF laborers. So
far as this Is mere manual labor. such
as hired laborers could perform, IL Is
rated al about the lowest rates paid TO
any class OF laborers in the country.
and II is 10 be feared that this Is about
the only kind Of labor that some OF our
farmers have TO offer I'm markets. IL Is
not surprising that such farmers find
themselves poorly paid and running be-
hind in this age OF the world.
4. Another factor which farmers
put into their market products Is brain
energy, and this Is the most valuable
OF all that the farmer has TO offer In
the markets OF the world. This energy
Is expended In selecting and purchasing
farm, In planning its division so as 10
promote convenience. In fencing IL
with the most economical material,
and 10 no greater extent than IL Is
necessary, in locating, planning and
erecting the necessary buildings, In
stocking the farm with the most useful
and profitable animals and the most
necessary implements and machinery,
in adopting and carrying out the best
rotation OF crops for each individual
farm. In selecting the best varieties OF
the different species OF crops. in saving
and applying fertilizers, In the best
cultivation for the particular soil. in
planning and directing every days
labor. in selecting and employing as
sistance. in converting the crude pro-
ducts into the most profitable forms
pra cticable. under existing circum-
stances. and in placing all marketable
products upon the best markets at the
best time. What vast opportunity
for the profitable employment OF brain
energy. the most valuable kind Of
energy man possesses. Does any one
doubt that the farmer who employees
the most OF this factor makes the most
money. achieves the greatest success?
This species of energy Is just as inn
portant in converting the crude pro-
ducts OF the soil into more valuable
forms OF use, before Offering them In
the markets, as in growing the crops,
and in future issue we will essay TO
show how the farmer can increase his
income in that direction. The great
majority OF our farmers are doing quite
enough. in fact too much. mere physi-
cal labor; they should study how TO
use more skilled educated labor. so
that they may receive more OF the
remuneration which the world cheer
fully awards TO such labor.