The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-03-08
THE FARMERS CLUB.
Another Successful Meeting and
an Interesting Discussion.

ne FalhieiS Cluo Oh UnlS place met
on Tuesday night last. The subject
for discussion was "Why do farmers,
sons leave the farm, and what is the
remedy for it?' The question was
raised by Mr.. Edward Rem, followed
by other members. "Why do far
mers' sons leave the farmv' First. b =
cause their parents do not impress
upon the minds of their sous that
they are an imp htant fact n upon the
farm; they do not talk with them i'm
regard to the best way of tilling the
SOIL, the kinds of grain to SOW and
raise, the kind of fruit trees and vines
to plant that would bring the largest
returns for our labor; they fail also to
converse with them in regard to I'M
prOvements telIding to the beaulifying
and comfort OF the farm and home i'm
general. In my opinion it is an excel
lent and good idea to give them some
stock of their own to do with as they
think best. or a piece of ground to cul-
tivate and plant with such grain or
root crops as they may fancy, and to
cultivate the same in the best manner
possible to bring in larger returns for
their labor. Give them the privilege.
II you think right and proper, to do as
they please in handling and selling
both stock, fruits and vegetables, also
that CT buying minor articles and pay
ing for the same and receiving the
benefits therefrom. By SO doing they
will be far more fitted and prepared to
manage for themselves and fight the
battles of life alone, when placed in
such a position, than heretofore when
dependent upon their parents to tell
them what TO do in the management
of the farm and in regard to buying
and selling articles, etc.
l will repeat what / have before
said. | think it would he good idea
to let your son manage the farm in
your absence from home, and make
him capable of so doing so at any time
Feeling the responsibility and the ne
cesslty of his services, he would work
far better, aud take more interest in
the work concerning the farm. l
think the greatest reason for our Sous
leaving the farm is the one have just
named. Some parents have not
enough land to give all of their SOUS
employment SO they would not have
to hire out to other farmers, and as
they cannot always give employment
to their children, the consequences are,
that they seek the cities to learn some
trade. Some do not like farming at
all and prefer other occupations in life.
There are some men who are such poor
farmers that they neglect their crops
and do not attend to them in the
proper way, and when harvest comes
they have but small crop to gather
in, while the returns and profits are
smaller yet. This class of farmers neg
lect their fences and buildings and the
Thousand and one other things that
come in the same channel. The grow
| ing crops are neglected aud everything
about the farm and home has such a
gloomy look, and there is no attrac-
! tons or inducements whatever to en-
courage the younger ones to keep IN
the same branch of industry. On the
otner band to seek some other kind OF
employment is very naturally expected
of some of them, and very often they
find their way to cities, as they are
more attractive than the old farm left
behind them. There are some farmers
who work from morning until night,
from year to year, and do not try to
teach their sons for what they are
working, whether for health and
/ wealth, or misery and wretchedness.
1t seems to me that they try to teach
and impress upon their minds that
they never should have any purpose
in this world but work and work hard,
and hobble over the clods year in aud
year out. If they want to go any
place, they have to sacrifice many
comforts, which is not always agreea-
BILE. If he wishes his parents to give
him horse aud vehicle that he may
have the privilege of having some
thing to call his own and take his gill
friend around as other young men of
| the neighberhood do, he sometimes
fails very sadly. Every young fellow
has his bonnie lassie and it is hard
not to be able providing his parents
can afford him the pleasure) To show
her the proper attention., which in the
country means frequent drives and
calls. Often their parents, especially
the pdter fumHids, tells wonderful stu
ries of having walked many times In
the week, ten or twelve miles, to see
Sarah, Betsey or what not, and came
in ahead of some other youth who
sported IA double team and wore fine
clothes. Many unreasonable objections
are made by parents when lad wishes
to take an inexpensive pleasure trip OF
desires new suit of clothes. Some
times the plea is made that he did not
do as much work as he was capable OF
doing, and other unreasonable things
A little kindness now aud then il
sometimes productive of more good
than even the most generous bestowal
of money or other gifts. 1t is natu,
raj that anyone should get discouraged
at this kind of treatment, and in some
way or another they manage to resent
it. Finally by planning and studying
they secure employment aud far bet.
ter salaries than they received whilst
lab0ring on the farm, and at generally
easier work. Many of them become
useful citizens in the community III
which they live, and never regret the
change in their positions. Others dc
not fare so well, and oftentimes long
in the dark hours of adversely for the
plentitude of the old farm and its var
ious pleasant environments, Now fol
the remedy There is in my opinion
one, and only one remedy, that should
be put in practice at once. AT an early
age the minds of the youth should be
implanted with the rudments o.
knowledge and, when at proper pc
Rod of understanding, the true and
proper methods of conducting the farm
and its numerous side issues should be
fully and carefully explained. He
should be informed what are the best