Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-04-30
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
GETTING THERE.
Some Suggestions to Farmers Who Are ut
the Ladders Foot.


the Ladders Foot.
This article is neither intended nor
expected to interest farmers who have
already achieved success unless 1t be to
pleasantly remind them of the means
by which they have reached the envi-
able position of successful farmer
one who owns, free of incumbrance, as
much good land as he can utilize, who
has his farm we'll improv well
stocked and is out Of debt. Nor to In
terest those who have inherited the
success which others have achieved.
There is a larger class of farmers we
hope to reach and benefit--who are at
the bottom of the ladder, with a foot
upon the first round and are anXiously
looking up. If any such have health,
common sense, no expensive or demon
alizing vices, and agood wife, there is
no reason why he may not, within a
reasonable time, be numbered. with
successful farmers. At the outset he
must realize that whoever obtains sue
cess in any hon orable calling must pay
the market price, which is industry and
self-denial. He mustwork Industrious
ly, live plainly, spend judiciously and
plan wisely, and all with the main OBJ
ject in view of owning home. Itmay
be well to rent land for year or two
until he has time to Survey the pros
pect DER" so that he will make no mis-
take in the selection of permanent
home. In such cases great care should
be taken in the selection of a land
lord. There are good and bad
landlords, and all means of informa-
ton should be utilized before making
choice. Having selected the right
sort of landlord make arrangements to
remain as long as you please, for if you
are the right sort of tenant there will
be no trouble about it; your tenure will
depend upon your own volition. But
let your ambition reach beyond the
condition of tenant. Let tenantry be
only stepping-stone to the mastery
of home, held in fee simple to be be-
queathed to your children when the
proper time arrives. AS soon as the
way can be distinctly discerned, pur-
chase piece of land. 1t need not be a
wide domain, but should be as much as
YOU need, and not an acre more. Ex-
cept for the purchase of home avoid
debt as you would the bubonic
plague. Having made purchase, and
apartial payment, when the struggle
begins in earnest; but there is an in
centive to labor and joy in it the con-
firmed tenant can never know From
this point the plan should involve in
dustry, self-denial and careful saving.
1t is better to live for time in tent
or a dugout on your own land than in
six-room cottage on the land of an.
other. Once the home. is paid for, the
rest is easy. just at this point may be
INDUCED the only extravaganza in the
entire process. When the last pay
ment is made and the mortgage can
celed, feast, to which friends and
neighbors should be invited, with
music and merry-making may
very appropriately be enjoyed, fol
IL is time long to be remembered. In
improving farm adopt no temporary
makeshifts. Build as if for posterity
Let every post be set deeply and every
board nailed on to stay until it rots
This should apply to every sort o.
structure from chicken coop to 9
barn, from a wash-shed to a modern
dwelling. This should be done not be
cause it is the European plan, but be
cause it is true economy. Some people
spend half of their lives making repairs
or suffering for want of them. A
good share of mechanical ingenuity il
useful endowment. A man withou
it may become good farmer, but will
it he would be better one. One VIII,
can do his own mending, his owl
building, his own rough blacksmith
ing, mend his own harness or half-solt
his own boots, will be enabled thereb,
to save many dollars and many days
time, which otherwise would be spen
or lost. Then let the surplus earning
be devoted to the improvement of tn,
home, rather than the purchase o
more land; to the education of the chill
dren rather than providing for thei
future physical needs. In this way on,
can, with certainty, provide for I
smooth descent of the declivity of life
and peceful rest at the foot, and hi
children will rise up aud call hin
blessed.-Texas Farm and Ranch.