Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-23
Written for the oxford Democrat.
SUCCESS m FARMING.


With the present advantages, every
practical farmer can soon learn the best
methods of tilling the soil, the proper
way Of raising stock, correct science
Of making butter and cheese, fattening
beef and pork, feeding and taking care
Of poultry and other branches of work
connected with an agricultural life and
indispensable TO the farmers prosperity.
The practical, Industrious farmer
who is the fortunate owner of good
productive farm and does not succeed In
his enterprise, may ascribe his failure to
some potent causes unheeded by most of
farmers themselves, vet constantly oper-
ating against their own interests.
/ Notwithstanding the State Of Maine
I has contributed literally to endow a
college To aid the farming industry, n
board OF agriculture established, farmers
clubs, fairs, oranges aud institutes have
been organized all over the state to en-
courage and stimulate the husbandman
in his vocation, yet il Is reported there
are many towns in Old Oxford, with an
industrious, intelligent population,
which have deprecated in value during
the past three years. This fact OF itself,
unless otherwise explained, seems to
indicate that the farming industry in that
section Is not aourishing as the farmers
welfare actually requires.
The reader can readily preceive that
the lack Of prosperity among farmers Is
not owing TO idleness, extravaganza, q
wrong system of agriculture, unfavor-
able seasons or scsnty harvest, but TO
a combination of causes, which for some
reason is seldom mentioned in the public
journals or presented TO the public mind.
When IL becomes apparent that the
agricultural towns in Old Oxford are
making no financial progress, but are
growing poorer from year TO year under
the present conditions, IL seems high
time, TO Use a military expression, that
the agricultural fraternity should change
their tactics, point out the obstacles
which obstruCt the farmers progress,
and unitedly apply the remedy. Ii Is
not enough for the husbandman simply
20 supply his wants from day TO day,
but his Income should enable him To iit
his children for the duties OF life. be-
sides laying up something for times OF
adversely.
4 farmer with the present appliances
can do three times the work he could
some years ago, vet his financial con-
dltiOn comparatively with wealthy
classes. bears a less ratio than IL did in
former decades. At that period there
were but few exceedingly rich men in
the country, now IL l. estimsted by good
authority, that 10000 citizens of the
United States count their wealth by
millions, among whom, We will venture
tO say, not one has accumulated any
considerable portion Of hi property by
tilling the soil. Almost every steamer
from Boston and New York, bound %
the Eastern Continent, i freighted with
pleasure seekers TO the oriental world,
while but few 81 the farmers of New
England have time and money for that
purpose.
IL the farming industry Is conducted
on the same lines in future as heretofore,
il might be well If the many Intelligent
citizens who hold the pillow would investi-
gate the reason why their scanty earn
ings are not saved in their own pockets
instead Of going 10 enrich other people
who take from the mouth OF labor the
bread il has earned" Though the hus-
bandman should practice economy, and
use all reasonable efforts 20 make his
land productive, his future success will
depend upon the removal of certain
obstructions 10 his prosperity, which
lie far beyond the reach Of any agricul-
tural science, known to tillers of the
soil.
Pembroke, Mass, July, 1898.
FARMER FROM OLD OXFORD.