The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-08-01
HE PUT GEESE TO R0OsT.
The Amusing Experience of an Amateur
Farmer.

Don't talk of agriculture to a
farmer" was Daniel Webster's advice
to a friend. Discuss any other sub
ject with him-art, literature, political
economy, finance-but never farming;
for if you once launch forth on that he
will find you at fault in some particu-
lar and conclude that ignorant IN one
thing you are ignorant in ALL"
This advice was recalled by a gentle
man of this city recently upon hearing
of the experiences of an amateur
farmer, a friend of his, who, after~a
long and active career, in which he
had achieved fame and fortune, relin-
pushed an extensive practice Of law
for bucolic superintendent over an
estate not a hundred miles from
New York.
Shortly after he assumed the man
agement Of his farm the lawyer re.
ceived a visit from one Of his neighbors,
a shrewd old farmer who had never
been a hundred miles away from his
home. Various matters were dis
cussed, as together they walked about
the farmyard inspecting the new wind
mill, improved water troughs, cattle
sheds and other new tangled fixings."
Naturally the amateur betrayed his
SAOSo4 Sl4C C~11OO W llh0 11OAO III dCulC21
and experienced companion. The lat
ter was something Of a wit at last, in
visiting the poultry yard, ventured a
suggestion. ''TGiS is all very fine"
he said, as he glanced about, but where
do your ducks and geese roost at
night?"
Il never thought Of that, " replied the
amateur. I've seen them 'squatting'
around at night ana thought they liked
that. I'll have it attended to at once.
Low r0Osts I suppose would be the
best?'
The farmer thought they would.
"Place them about two feet from the
ground, " ne remarked, and then, smil-
ing in his sleeves, unhitched his old
mare and drove away home.
Not a moment was lost by the former
New Yorker. He erected his duck
roOsts, and at nightfall visited his poul-
try yard to observe how the fowls en-
joyed the innovation. To his chagrin
they appeared to ignore the roosting
place and were squatting as before ON
the ground.
Poor things, I've neglected them too
long," thought the human amateur.
They don't realize the change" With
that he began to grab at ducks and
ACe~ In SC|CS Ola SOIOCLS ana uS-
post them by one on the r,ost.
There vas a terrible cOmmotion among
the fowls, which attracted all the farm
hands with shotguns to the poultry
! yard. When they arrived Their taey
saw their employer, perspiring ard red
in the face, trying to balance the web
footed creatures on the roost, from
which fell with terrible ''quack,
quacks," the moment his back was
turned. 1t was not long before the
truth dawned upon him that ducksand
geese were intended by nature to
''squat," not to roost.
He returned to his hou e deeply
ashamed of his ignorance and speedily
became the laughing stock Of the
country round. The illustration OF
Webster's advice came in the formof
an entire disregard thereafter OF any
opinions expressed by the IN
New York his utterances a pee re,
garded as words of wisdom, upon no
matter what subject addressed, put
IN the country they were greeted with;
uOL shaw, he don't know nothing;
He nuts geese to roOst, N 7. Herald