The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-05-17
HORTICULTURE AS A VOCATION
PART II.
A Good Calling For Young Men.

fAhf 81.
A Good Calling For Young Men.
In addition to its prospects of fnaq-
,cial reward, hortieulture has other ad-
yantages as a vocation that should not
be overlooked. 1t was the first, and
may. justly be regarded as one of the
most useful pursuits Unlike many
other yocations, it IS calling in which
success is in no way complicated with
the misfortupes of others A good doc
tor may be very useful citizen, but he
prospers upon others a1vers.tv. An
honest lawyer may be helpfu'. but he
thrives upon the weakness of poor hut-
man nature. 1t is different with the
hort:culturi,t His calling is to supply
the human race with daily fool, by
fneaps of which life is prolonged,
strength is mainaained and health Sc
cured. His gardens orchards nd vine
yards may Sroan under their burdens
OF wholesome food products, and no
one else is poorer or suffers any ,n:sfor-
tune thereby. The horticulturist earns
his own living and helps to feed the
world by cultivating the soil. He is
Jess elements of the soil AMI air are
combined, forming products that please
the eye. crafty the taste ami support
the life of man.
In addition to its usefulness, horti-
culture has other advantages that must
not be overlooked. 1t is 4 healthful
calling. Few yocations promote that
fulness of strength and vigor that is
here to be found. As rule. continued
good health is only vouchsafed to those
who spend Q large part of their waking
house in the free, pure air and open
sunshine. This, together with the in
yigorating, healthful bodily exercise
incident to this calling, adds much to
its desira bility. Good health mems
happiness in this life, and wealth is a
poor compensation for its lack l do
not mean that everyone engaged in
horticulture is healthy and prosperous.
There ere some that do too much work
and some who do too little Men may
wear themselves out by excessive and
unintermitted toll here, as elsewhere;
or they may go to the other extreme
and fancy that because they are horti-
l.llow idleness. profits will be realized
from light crops, and they are some
how or other going to attain success
without correspon ling effort.
Perhaps there is no vocation more
conducive to genuine independence and
thorough manliness of character than
horticulture. No one expects a man in
this profession to curry favor by cring-
ing, or to bow to any prejudice, or de-
Fer to any irrational public opinion.
His products will sell for what
they are worth, irrespective of
politics, religion or opinions on
social questions. He suffers little or
nothing from the intolerance of
views on current topics adverse to
those generally accepted by the COM
,nunity ip which he lives. He is not
obliged to suppress his convictions for
fear his business will lie injured. He
is not called upon to sacrifice his self
respect or compromise his integrity in
order to be successful The merchant,
the journalist. the lawyer, the doctor
and even the minister and teacher are
often tempted, and not infrequently
compelled to suppress their convic-
lions, because they are in opposition to
the equally vehement and irrational
views of the community in which they
labor, and where favor is to them the
breath of life.
Another point in favor of horticul-
ture. What calling tends more con-
stantly and more powerfully to incite
regard for truth than does this occupa-
tionS The horticulturist deals directly
with nature. He is controlled and gov
erned in his operations by her immu-
table laws There is no temptation to
cheat or defraud in these transactions
because man very soon learns that ma
ture never has and never can be cheat
ed. Man may cheat himself, he may
defraud his neighbors; but he can not
in any way deceive nature. The scrip
tural injunction, Whatsoever man
soweth, that also shall he reap" comes
directly and Immediately true to him
who deals with Ter. No deception is
possible. no juggle or trick can avail
II you SOW the seeds of noxious weeds,
noxious weeds will appear. We ''can
not gather grapes of thorns or figs of
thistieS"
In speaking thus of horticulture,
would not BE- understood as depreciat-
ing or trying to disparage any other
calling. Many of them are honorable,
some are Indispensable A man may
be a useful citizen without cultivating
ihs soil and raising valuable food prod
ucts therefrom. l do not know that
horticulturists as a class are better
than other men. have simply pointed
out sorse of the possibilities, some of
the more obvious tendencies of this
vocation. / trust that many of our
young men, especially those who are
attending the Ohio State university,
and who are soon to choose a calling
will thoughtfully consider the advant-
ages of horticulture, and in view of the
reasons given above, will decide to
make it their life work. r.
Lazenby, in Farm and Fires:dc.