The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-12

competition in farming is closer than ever
before, it follows that TO rank with the best
requires a better character OF farming than
was ever needed under old conditions. SAYS
the american CHLiiratOr. The business of
farming is no longer the simple matter Of
routine that 1t once was. IL demands skill
second TO no other ocCupation, and to be-
come very successful farmer must possess
q varied knowledge that would win success
In any other vocation. II TO this be added
the fact that good farming is necessarily re-
stricted to small areas of land, it is not
strange that most OF the men who might
achieve the greatest success in farming seek
employment where the same energy and
skill promises larger rewards
Compared with modern high standards,
much farming Of the present day must be
called shiftiess. 1t may have been up to or
past tne standard that once prevailed.
Really good farming in this country fs COM
paratlvely modern. No farming can be
called good which does not at least maintain
II 1t does not increase soil fertility. But so
long az virgin soil was cheap, the motive to
improve the soil was lacking This seemed
TO oolge farmers to adopt shiftless and re
trogade methods. 1t was cheaper TO take
up new land than it was to improve partly
exhausted soil. Certainly it was much
easier. The shiftless farmer was better
adapted to the condition of things, and IN
NSA VIC AnCAOIhDlo Ia Ol bub buEN1Fdl VI
the nttest be survived.
Of late years, however, the shiftless
farmer has been losing his old advantage.
When improved farming becomes more
common his retirement will be more rapid.
He is going as it is, but slowly. 1t is no
longer a common sight to see farmers plow-
ing with poor conditioned teams. Labor is
too scarce and dear to waste it in driving
team that cannot do a full days work.
Poor milch cows are in some sections far
less common than they were. Crosses of
the improved full bred dairy breeds have
greatly increased the average capacity for
milk and butter production. IL there are
other districts where scrub dairy stock pre-
walls 1t is only a question Of short time
when such localities must either change
stock and methods OF go into the list of
abandoned farm lands in the older states
The necessity for greater promptness with
all farm work is emphasized as never be-
fore. Not only 90 improved implements
help farmers TO attend to the cultivation
and harvesting OF crops promptly, but they
have reduced prices so that unless a farmer
does cultivate and harvest promptly all that
be does must be at a loss. 1t is the great
body of consumers Of agricultural products
the world over who make the most profit
from the improvements in farm machinery
and implements. The gain that the farmer
gets from it Is less laborious. but also, con-
sequently, less profitable, vocation.
just here the paradox comes in that the
shiftless farmer in trying to have an easier
time only makes his lot the harder. He is
all the time being driven by his work. The
easier way is to begin betimes and drive
work. instead of letting it drive you. 1t is
pretty nearly always true that the man who
shirks work is obliged to work longer and
harder than one who takes to work kindly.
IL is in these days especially true of farmer.
Not being himself afraid of work he can
get more work from the help he employs,
and thus can afford TO hire more os his work
done. If he begins the other way, by try
ing to see how little he will be obliged to do
and live, his hired help will make more
than he. Sooner or later they will super
sede the slipshod farmer, and work land on
their own account, while he with advancing
age will become unable to do anything to
earn his living