Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-07-28
farm Copies.
AS A BUSINESS.


In spite of all the teachings of science
nd the professions of esteem by men
who are in Office or hope to be through
|he aid of farm RS votes, the word
farmer" is still used as term of re-
broach, and is intended and accepted as
] n insult to those to whom it is applied.
This fact shows that there is an under
current of popular estimation aud that
laid current is fed by source that
hows no signs of being reduced but Is
'ather on the increase. The slang of
treet vagabonds is of no Importance,
but there are people who would like to
be called respectable and intelligent who,
When they want to do little worse than
falling a man Il fool or a SLOUGH, will
'ppease their wrath and express their
Contempt by calling him a farmer
This custom finds its counterpart in the
opinions manifestly held IN regard to
'armers by people in other business who
eem to think that if they should make
Ihange and go to farming, all the edu-
alton and business ability which they
have acquired would be thrown away.
This is shown by the men who are in
Business in the cities and buy farms
With their surplus capital and attempt to
un them with hired help and supern-
.endents. In many cases they do better
han they would to manage the farms
themselves, for almost any man who can
|e hired TO care for a farm and stock has
lad experience and observation, which
re worth more than a head full of
heory.
1t is significant fact, however, that
b such cases, where business men have
one to farming on the strength of what
+ hey supposed it was not necessary to
now, their Figures, if they kept any,
:. breed them to admit that they could not
lake the business pay, and they usually
ell out and charge their failure to any
hing but the right cause.
The fact of the case Is that farmer
llst be weather prophet, chemist, a
nancier, stock breeder, a botanist, an
ntomologist, veterinary surgeon, a
Mechanic, and have capacity to enable
i'm to apply his skill in all these depart
hents at once when occasion calls. He
annot depend on the daily market
aports for the standing of his crops and
ne condition of his stock and the needs
. his soil. These things must all be
ept in his mind and under his eye, and
e knows that failure of any crop can
ot be repaired before another year and
his fact makes him conscious of much
bsponsibilitv, and exercise much thought
nd study at every step, which he gets
credit for. He may try experiments,
ut he must wait months, if not years,
. efore he will know the result, while
he mechanic or the merchant can change
lis plans and start on another track al
: by time.
The skill and knowledge of the farmer
r re not always associated in his mine
it'll the name of the science to which il
elongs. The knowledge which enable;
I'm to recognize at a glance the frs
aves of any cultivated plant among the
eeds is botany just as much and i:
ore reliable than if he had learned it il
he books, and the same is true of many
her branches of learning that he mus
skilled in: and while he may not b,
master of the ceremonies of sOciet,
nd the most customary construction o
:. ntences. his mind is full of knowledge
hich almost any other man would b.
s roud of if he had got it in the popula
ay, from books Mirror and Farmer