The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-09-12
Why Farming Doesn't Pay.
cnrresnondence 81 country Gcntleman.

From all over New England and the
Middle States | hear the cry that farming
doesn't pay; read it in the papers; minis
tiers manage to have a little to say about 1t
in their Sunday sermons; city merchants
discourse on the subject; | hear it on the
cars. at town meetings and even at public
funerals, until it would seem the idea was
founded on facts
Let us look the situation square in the
face. Why doesn't farming pay in New
England? To the observant man there Is
but one practical Observation-Disclosures
laziness. indifference and lack of effort
Now know in making this statement thatlt
will make some farmers "kick like steers,
for the reason it knocks the skin oft the
most tender spot of their disposition, but
kick as much as they will, they can't kick
HIGH enough to knock the truth out OF this
statement; their extra exertion would better
he spent on their land. For more than
twenty wears have observed that not one
farmer in ten puts his whole energy, time
and thought into his business. will make
the broad assertion that but one farmer In
ten devotes half his time, force or brains
to the development and success Of his
calling. Is this not an allsuffcient reason
why farming doesn't pay? What mer-
chant, financier, railroad manager or other
business man would for one moment think
his affairs could continue to prosper and
retain the income they should, if he adopt
ed such a course, and devoted but a small
norton of his time and thought to his
affairs? Any mercantile agent will supply
the information at once, that such course
would result in disaster, failure and a gen
eral wreck of such mans business. How
can much different results be expected
from the men who are engaged in agricul-
ture and follow such course-and still
they do, thoughtlessly perhaps.
One has only to visit country village
any day in the year, no matter how busy
the season, to find lots OF these farmers
who "can't make the farm pay sitting in
grocery store or at the postofiice discussing
their sad situation One has only to visit
the homes of these same tillers of the soil
(?) some stormy day to find all the men
folks gathered around the kitchen fire and
having a real good time. 1t storms little
and they can't work; nothing to do in doors
or under cover, of course. In many cases
visit on any pleasant day will find them
industriously engaged in resting under
the shade of some trees. Resting from what?
their labors, you will think, perhaps. oh,
no. simply resting from the efforts made to
L. Of Of
days are something like this They are
up bright and early and stir up everybody
else. especially the woman folks, so as to
have breakfast underway. No thought
has been taken or plans made what they
should do on that day. They are going tC
dash right in at sOmething-"hi or miss
But they can't do much until breakfast is
off their minds and into their stomachs
Then they are ready-but hold on! the
harnesses are broken and the pillow or cul
tivator needs a little repairing. These
of course, must be fixed. Didn't have
time that last shOwery day, as we were
needed around the store. After an hour
spent in fixing things right, or about SO
they are ready for the field, but just ther
neighbor farmer (whose farm "doesn't
paw drives up; says he is going up to the
corner, and invites his friend to go along
"Well that corn needs cultivating bad
but guess it will keep until this afternoon
is the reply, and off they 60 and away goes
the forenoon. They are generally pretty
sure to get home to dinner, and are ready
for good afternoons work, but.when they
90 to the stable to "hitch up they discOv.
er much to their surprise, that the grain
for the team is out. This will never do
for ''if my team is going to work t?) they
must have their grain so the old mare is
hitched into the wagon instead of the cult
vator and away they 20 to town for Thu
bag of grain, and away goes the afternoon
Nothing done; nothing accomplished al
day; twenty-four hours lost. At night Thu
farmer is as "tired as dog" and his poo
wife's sympathy is aroused to the highcs
degree for the many hours John has t.
work and the poor returns he receives fo
his labors.
This is no fancy sketch, but the plail
matter-of-iact English oft, as any thinking
observing man will testify and it leads u
to the conclusion that any farmer VIII
will devote the labor, energy and mind t
his business that we find displayed by me-
in other occupations, will in return rccciv
fair compensation and profit for the SAINT
his property will improve from year to yeal
he will be the recipient of good Twin
(all any one can really have) and will fin
that farming in New England and the Mic
die States does pay fair compensation fc
such efforts