Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-07-11
Sunday Raaf#B,
Success in Farming.


Hon. f. P. Root, before the Rock
port, N. Y, Farmers Institute.
Success in any pursuit in life is the
attainment of an object, and implies
an aim, which effort is made to
reach.
The Professionalism gains his sue
cess in lucrative practice; the mer-
chant, when he sells his goods at fair
profits and for ready pay.
Judged by these rules, not only, but
by higher and nobler standard, do we
measure the successful farmer. AL
though we admit that the shrine of
mammon has been, and is, where
most worship, the truest and best hap
piness is not in the attainment of
more gain of gold or stocks; and
where can we find greater degree of
happiness than the intelligent, con-
tented farmer enjoys, surrounded as
he is, by a wealth Of beauty and
verdure?
An enlightened agriculture is the
surest guarantee of natural wealth
and greatness. Prosperity cannot
long attend a nation in want of
bread.
1t is estimated that in our country,
only about 5 per cent, Of those who
engage in trade succeed in gaining
wealth. AS a contrast, it may be
shown that about ninety in every
hundred of those who engage in agri>
culture, succeed in gaining a COM
petence for the enjoyment of a COM
Portable and happy life. Yet the
cultIvator of the soil who relies upon
the rewards of his own industry, can
not expect the accumulation Of large
means. While a great majority of
farmers do gain such success as affords
abundance for mans enjoyment,
there are those whom we know who
for the capital invested, make their
business pay as well, or better, than
those engaged in any other business
or industry, and establish a reputa-
ton and credit unquestioned in bust
ness circles. The successful farmer
will be an intelligent business man;
he will have system and order in his
farm management, and he will be as
methodical in his farm records as the
merchant in his business. He will
. regard the adage that "time is
money" The successful farmer is
also progressive; his knowledge of
the improvements of the age inspire
him to seize upon every means of
doing work cheaper and better, thus
enabling him to produce at the least
possible cost. He allows old ways
and methods to pass away, and ac-
cepts the modern measures which
science has taught us.
He uses the best seeds or plants and
does not reap chess or cookie from
clean soil. He keeps the best blood
ed animals adapted to his wants, and
keeps them well. His animals are
sheltered from inclement weather, he
knowing that warm stabling is cheap
er than an extra amount of feed to
produce animal heat.
He regards the preserving the ma.
nure as one of the sources of gain and
a sure remedy for hard times.
In preparing his fields for a crop
he takes no chances for a favorable
season to give him fair yield, but
prepares it in the. best manner as
against the most adverse conditions
that may arise, always aiming to in.
crease his yield from year to year
which is the evidence of an improved
husbandry.
He does not allow his work to ge
behind the proper season, but always
has it done in time and order. HI
knows that the limit of production
has never been reached; that we arr
many decades behind the nations 0
Europe as to yield per acre. 1t is pos
sible to raise 100 bushels of corn pc
acre; why may we not strive t,
reach that as an average yield, whel
it is reported, on good authority, tina
155 bushels were raised on an acre il
one of the Atlantic States? Is it i'm
possible to raise 80 bushels of whea
per acre when we have repeated
yields reported of over 60 bushels
Or 300 pounds of butter per year from
acow, of such quality as will readil,
demand % or 80 cents per pound
when two pounds per day has BEEF
repeatedly returned by good cows?
The farmer who raises large crop
will in the main become successful
and he who aims at excellence vii