Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-11-24
NO 81
THE AMERICAN FARMER.



Why His Future Looks Moro Promising
Than Ever Before.
At no time in the history of the coun-
try has the future of agriculture been
more promising. There was time, not
long ago. when the soil and the farmer
were not on friendly terms, when there
was conflict between them But that
time is past, or is passing with the pro-
gressive farmer.
He has learned, is learning every day,
that the fault was with him and not
the land The soil, lacking certain in
gradients, could not produce good re-
suits The horse cannot be expected
to work at the plow all day, many days,
if fed only on dry hay.
To-day the farmer is coaxing his land
very much as he does his stock, or he Is
providing food for his plants with al
most as much care as he feeds his ami
mails, if he expects to be successful
The farmer tests his land for himself;
he does not wait for the chemist, or
prefers TO be his own chemist in his
way. Hpotash, nitrogen or phosphoric
acid are wanted, he adds them, and he
has come to the stage of independence
when he mixes his own fertilizers, and
knows exactly with what he has to
work. That's progress Commercial
fertilizers are the farmers aids, but the
government analysis and inspection
has opened his eyes, and he sees now
that he may prepare his own fertilizers
and save money.
The farmer no longer plants haphaz-
ard; he has begun to see that agricul-
ture is an art, science more intricate
than any other; that to be successful in
its prosecution he must know several
sciences. No longer does he merely
drop potato in the earth, cover 1t up,
keep down the weeds and dig the in
crease in the fall He studies the soil
and the fertilizer and then the potato
Shall he plant large or small potatoes,
cut or uncut, one eye or more, the stem
end or the seed end?
Thus throughout the range of agri-
culture every step is thought out and
practically made in advance. There are
many croalxers about agriculture, some
editorial croallers in newspaper offices
who, possibly, might be able to tell
hay-cutter from grindstone, who rise
up periodically to say with loud voice
(more or less, according TO their circu-
lation) that agriculture has black
eye; that it is limping along on one leg,
and not very strong leg at that. and
that the whole fabric of agriculture.
like the sheep, is going to the dogs.
II these croalxers had attended some
of the winter meetings" that have
been held in the different states last
winter and seen the interest and enthu-
siasm, seen the men-aye, the women,
too, assembled and spent two or three
days in asking each other questions and
comparing notes, the agricultural pessi-
mist would admit, IL honest, that there
Is force behind agriculture that will
not let it stand still. Let every farmer
| keep his shoulder to the wheel 1t
turns easier than it did, and does not
have to be helped out of SO many ruts
| and quagmires as it did. Let every
farmer be proud of his calling, stick to
| it, dignity it and swear by IL (not pro-
| fanely).
Why, it is not long ago when the
farmer at gatherings OF any kind took
| back seat; it was rare to see farmer
on the platform All the speeches were
made by the lawyer. the clergyman
| and the 'good talker" of no calling or
| profession. That has changed. The
farmer got nearer and nearer to the
platform, and now, forsooth, he is on
| it and doing the talking, and taking no
odds of any man. This is not idle talk;
| it is fact Agriculture is alive. George
| Appleton, in Farm and Fireside.