Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1897-11-11
FARMER AND PLANTER.
STARTING OFF RIGHT.
Que Of the fssentiais Of Successful Farm
inE l. to begin Right.

enough as5ik for them. the merchant
who comp aimed 10 his seed dealer that
his potato vines had no potatoes on
them, and the Uicrman housewife who
boiled her cutfee with pork. Just n she
would other beans are each and all
creatures of the Imagination. liut be
nat As II may, the writer knows a gen
tlslnan who had just retired from BUSH
ness, having bought uici Little farm.
and one u his hrst preparations was
u buy a bushcl Of roasted peanuts FOR
planting. II any reader doubts thi,
statement or j. inclined "a class BE- un-
der the reportorial jokes first neutinu-
81. let i go that way. We shai. not
bother about the proof. The duuhter
has NJ advantage over rs in the mat
ter. anyway. for II he were the narra-
tor. we would promptly take his place
A. doubter. But whether fact or tic-
tiou. we may all agree that these arr
fair Illustrations Of the neeI II e,luca-
tlon in practical affairs. Example. ~
extreme ignorance may be used legiti-
mately for such purpose. There are
men who would riiiculc tAe par>ou.
the merchant and the German woman
whose errors are just A. mischievous
a. theirs. They may not he 80 pa pa
bly, absurd. but they are equally the re-
suit OF ignorance. Farming Is a sell
euce that admits 81 every degree OF
proficiency. from utter failure u the
most conspicuous success. NO man
can in lifetime learn all there is
II 1t by experience. Practice don Z
make perfect. This Did saying II
not even founded on facts. and
has nothing 10 commend il but
age just a. in any and every
science, Que needs u b., well grounded
IN the elementary principles. Mathe-
mntical reasoning i. nonsense to one
who has no knowledge Of the detini
lions aud axioms. To attempt to ac-
quire scientific knowledge without
FIRST learning the simple elements j.
like trying t. build a house by com
mencIng at the top. This is why many
industrial school, fail To meet the ex-
pectations OF their friends They turn
out industrious laborerS. but not mas
ter mechanics; most admirable plow-
men and hoe hands. but not successful
farmers. Special knowledge is neces-
sary to special skill. Bestow the
theoretical knowledge tirst-pruc-
ticr can be had whenever occa-
sion requires. But we started
out Ia write agricultural educa-
tiou. Learning % pillow aud plant
and gather in the harvest j. not agrI-
cuit ure, II j. probable that many igno-
rant African, can do these things bet
ter To be farmer worthy of the
uame-the kind If farmers the country
necds-one must know the soil, its
chemical constituents, its deficiencies.
and how To remedy them; - redun-
1ancic-, aud how - mitigate their eff
fleets. lie must have some acquaintance
with the laws IF plant aud animal
growth For Lack u these we see intel
hgent stociSmen purchasing grade and
cruss-bvd males for breeding purposes.
farmers selecting their seed from bulk.
ed grain, and planting varieties in lux
Imposition, feeding mich COWS hca vii ;
with corn and cotton seed Because
these are good feed stuffs they conclude
they are good for any purpose. To b,
good farmer one must have a practi.
cal know ledge Of agricultural chem,
istry. botany. veterinary medicine
comparative anatomy. entomology, the
chemistry Of food stuifs. physics. tie
[ principles Of breeding aud the laws oi
animal aud vegetable growth 1t i.
not necessary u begin with that Ia. b,
expert in any or all these sciences. bui
T If he has ImbIbed the elementary prin
cipIes he knows where To 90 for any
further knowledge he may require
There are two distinct classes oi
knowledge, that which we know ana
that which we know how, " hen am
where IA obtain. One IL a. useful u,
the other. IL is like Il merchant VIII,
has more goods than his shelves vii
/ contain lie fills his shclveswith tina
which he thinks will be first needed
all properly classified and labeled with
cost aud selling prices. The rest Ia,
stores III warehouse. Then when hi
business requires something not in Tia,
salesroom he knows where to go 10
it. The man is fortunate who know
where 70 go for any information II,
NAV require in his business. The tim,
- rapidly approaching when in all agri
cultural aud horticultural operation
only those best equipped will be abb,
To remain near the top. All Others vii
be mere unsuccessful drudges Iaborin,
diligently for bare subsistence undeI
load of debt they can never dis
charge. he branches most useful I.
the farmer are equally necessary 10
4 a aaan Il a a..
farms he is gamer by having learne,
and eomprehended the elements OF tn,
sciences involved in agriculture. Al
should be taught these scienceS-the,
are necessary to general intelligence
The agricultural aud mechanical col
leses of the American states aud terri
tories are especially charged will
teaching the branches of natura
science involved in agricultural an,
mechanical operations. This duty i
made compulsory by the general gov
eminent, which largely endows them
They are regularly inspected by III
agent OF the national government. an,
their condition aud efficiency official,
reported The faculties of these insti
tutions embrace many teachers of higl
scientific attachments and nationa
regulations, and the revolution in ayri
cultural and horticultural practice
which has characterized recent year
N largely the result of their labors
Our Texas agricultural and mechanical
college stands deservedly high anon.
these institutions, and the people o
the state are beginning to realize it
worth and efficiency. 1t is wei
equipped with teachers and an
plianees, and is filed with brigh
-oung lien TO its utmost capacity
Mere room Is needed. and it is hope,
the next legislature will provide il
Instead of 800. there should be- so
Texas boys there learning. among 9th
or things, the elementary principals O
ali the natural sciences involved il
agricultural and mechanical opera
tions.-Texas Farm and Ranch.
RAISING CORN.
some Figures Showing the Actual Coat q