Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-03-20
A COMBINATION THAT ALWAYS WINS.

the DesG that accOmpllshes the most
IN the end. 1t is not always the best
educated who are the best farmers.
Many a collegian and many a graduate
from the agricultural college has failed
as a farmer, while in the same pursuit
many another man who has been en-.
tirely successful could scarcely write
his own name. The methods of the
one were largely theoretic; those OF
the other practical and based on COM
mon sense.
This is an age OF progress. There
have been many Improvements in
farming methods, but at the same
time there are certain old methods
and practices which have been dis.
counted merely because they were old,
not because they were supplanted by
better-indeed nothing as good has
been substituted in their stead. There
was time when farming paid and
that was when those old methods
were in use. A good idea founded on
sound principles IS everlasting, and q
blending OF some of the old practices
with new ones OF value will work a
great change for good among many
western farmers.
The improvements in agricultural
machinery have, as every one knows,
wrought great and radical changes in
farming methods. So much can be
done by machinery that many farm
ers are 10th to do anything that can
not be accomplished by horse power
or steam engines. There should be q
return to some OF the old practices;
but it will not be necessary to discard
the reape" or thresher for the sickle or
fail. All modern machinery ought to
be employed, but it ought not to be
wholly depended upon. There are
other features in agriculture OF much
consequence. Most we want of the
old time, however, is its industry and
economy.
DIVERSITY OF CROPS MEANS PROSPERITY.
/ The farmers OF the olden time de-
pended very largely upon themselves
for almost everything; hence they
were forced, by reason of circumstan-
ces, to diversity their industries and
employments, and therefore they
planted whatever their lands would
produce, and they made use of what
ever they gathered. If some crops
were scant or failures, others were not
If one dependence was lacking wher
the time came to utilize it "a substitute
was at hand. At all times they lived
within their income and bought less
than they sold. Ifthefathers succeed.
ed, why should not the sons prosper?
They can or else they have sadly de.
genated, and that tney will not admit
for an instant. We have not too
many men farming, but there is too
much tendency in producing most
that which &C SITS the least labor. The
world has not too much to eat nor
too many wholesome kinds of food.
How do Eastern farmers on poorer
soil, with higher land values and dear
er products, compete with Western
farmers with better and cheaper soil,
and cheaper grass and grains? They
do it by utilizing everything. Those
who will not economic and fail come
West and fail again. The farmers OF
Minnesota and the Dakotas depend
upon the grain crop. One reason for
this probably because that crop can
be planted, harvested and prepared
for market by machinery. The result
is that If the grain crop fails the farm
er fails. He has but one resource.
The moral isplain.
The want OF system and the general
waste which characterize the work of
many farmers would bankrupt any
railroad, factory or business house as
quickly and as readily as does the
farmer. The great packing houses,
which come in for q share OF public
condemnation, survive because they
utilize everything; nothing is lost ex-
cept the squeal OF the pig. Down in
Maine where l Was raised, and where
a whole township will hardly produce
as much as q section OF land here,
without fertilization, vegetables are
canned and line the shelves of the
Western grocers, and, doubt not.
help feed Western farmers.