Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-10-31
SHALL IhE FARMgR WORK

II 0FvASl tNG tSN1sN WSNNs
Certainly-with brain and hands
who succeeds without work. The Ques
tion h how much physical labor should
he perform! We all know that menta
labor ls OF first importance. that it 4
the hzr,i-thlnking and studious brain sp
piled directly to ones own business thai
guides his hands along the line Of suc
cess.
Can the farmer, without shortening
hls days or impalring his strength, dc
full days work In the field and properly
attend to all other necessary business
aud planning! He should act the mer
chant In buying and selling, the ma.
chinist In operating and keeping hii
machinery In repair, the engineer In lay
Ing out drains and selecting suitable
tiles, the chemist In management OF ma
nures, soils, commercial fertilizers, &c.
In short, farming Il q sort OF comblns-
tion Of nearly all trades and professions,
and the farmer to keep up with the
times, must ever be q student In all the
professions pertaining to his business.
He should read agricultural journals and
should study the best articles carefully,
When shall he do this. At noon when he
Il tired and feels like taking short nap
on the lounges At night by lampllghi
after he has completed his days work In
the field With the hired man aud done up
all the feeding and chores: Or shall he
consider that this reading and studying
Of his business IL not work, and inas-
much as he WAS very tired all the week,
it would be Of no harm to do IL on the
Sabbaths
II Il thought by ii. s. N. that the
farmer can do his thinking and planning
while at the plow or milking the COW.
Il not that too much like trying to
bore aud saw at the same time, and
making little progress In eithers In this
age Of progress and sharp competition,
Il takes continued hard thinking 10 keep
abreast Of the times. Can a farmer exert
his whole brain power and at the same
time keep up lively business stroke at
his work. Notice the hired man (or
yourself for that matter) huskiug corn
while In deep study; does not the stroke
become uncousciously slow? Does not
hard mental labor detract from ones
physical ability. and vice versas This
subject IL very Interesting TO me, and
think should be to all readers OF this
journal. I hope the discussion msy
continue, but be more In line Of practice
and experience than Of theory. Tell Us,
Mr.. Agee, how much physical labor you
do In addition TO your mental labor, and
will your help take an interest In your
business without your working With
them, as well as II you were leader In
the work.
I have for many years worked almost
constantly with my hired "help," and
they looked upon me as a leader--when
went they went, when ! stopped they
stopped. They would not see or think
Of ANYTHING 10 be done, except as ] d.
rected. find Il difficult 20 work con-
stantly with my help without becom-
Ing q leader and being depended on TO
keep In mind aud look after every little
detail Of the whole routine Of operation.
When starting to the field after dinner,
I must tell them TO take with them an Ak,
mattock, wrench, chain. or whatever 10
needed. No difference II we had talked
of the needed articles In the forenoon
while at work, must direct them after
dinner or there will be an extra trip from
the field to the barn. Now then, doing
full work, besides thinking Of and d.
recting every little detail In the field, to-
gether with all the anxieties, cares, per-
plexities and business of various kinds
attendant on successful farming, makes
Il seem to me like too much. The ques-
ton IL. can I do as well or better by
making my hands their own leaders, l
doing the necessary odd jobs and chores,
aud helping them In times Of emer-
genciess will they respect me any less'
Who can answer this from experience'-
Country Gentleman.