The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-06-11

mally high when measured by an in
fated currency. These conditions
could not fail to mislead and disappoint
many when the population and the
currency were restored to normal con-
ditions. At the close of the civil war
in addition to a vast influx Of foreign
ers, there were added to the farming
community many soldiers who, in the
high prices, saw quick and large re.
turns from the rich lands which had
by this time been opened to settlers by
the const'uc ion of extended systems
of railway During the third quarter
Of the century inventive genius so i'm
proved the appliances Of agriculture as
to quadrupie the productive power OF
each farmer.
From 1870 to 1880, the pcrcenla- -e
increase of new farms was SOIL per
cent, while the petcentage of increase
Of population was 3O.s per cent. From
1880 to 1890, the increase was but l3.-
SO per cent. This shows that. for a
time, the percentage increase of farms
vastly outran the percentage increase
of population. 1t also shows that the
conditions prevailing before 1880 are
being SO rapidly reversed that the per-
centage increase in population may
outrun that Of farms far enough to
greatly improve the home markets Of
many farm products in the near future
Be this as it may, the farmer is wise
who adjusts himself quickly to present
conditions, so unlike those Of his tatE-
er. So do this, he must see clearly
and think straight; he must have good
executive ability, as we'll as training
and practice in we'll defined business
methods. To see clearly, the eye must
be trained to take in a multitude Of
objects quickly, to sort, compare and
photograph on the sensitive brain
those which are worth preserving. To
think straight, many scientific facts,
or items of knowledge, arranged in or
der. must be acquired, and these can be
secured only by long, painstaking
effort.
But to know is not enough; the abil-
ity to execute must be joined to knowl-
edge, and executive skill is acquired
in its highest form only by the direc-
ton and management of large affairs.
1t cannot be learned in the classroom
nor formulated in a text book, and it is
seldom learned by the farm boy be-
cause of want of opportunity, hence
the lessons of the beginner are usually
manifold, the tuition for the first term
high, and the whole is paid for from
his own resorces, while young teach
ers, profess 10 al and business men get
free tuition because they learn at the
expense of their employers. What has
been said of the executive ability ap-
plies with nearly equal force to busi-
ness ability, the lack of which in city
and in country is evidenced in the
news papers by the word 'assign-
ment."
To the clear eye, to the intellectual
equi ipment, to executive ability and
trained business methods must he
added manual dezterity. Until re-
Gently the untold fertile acres, the tav-
orable conditions, and the simple wants
of the people, have arrested. in agri-
culture, the operation of that great law
the survival of the fittest. 1t has
been said that "anybody can farm" "
That was, but is not true. From this
time on the struggle in farming will
be such as it has been in mercantile
affairs for some time. The untitled
in agriculture will have to yield for
the same reason that many little fac
tories, located off the lines Of transpor-
tation. furnished with Inadequate pow
er, machinery and brains, have becl
abandoned. Many hilIsides will lie
left to cover their nakedness with the
new growth of hardy vegetation. 1t
will thus be seen how well equipped
the farmer should be, how fertile in
brain, in imagination and in resources
how full of wisdom, of enthusiasm. o1
faith; how quick to see, how prompt tC
execute, how patient to endnrc under
difficulties, if the fertility of his land
is to be. transformed into abundant
and perfect fruits and flowers.
This book is dedicated to the Young
farmers of America. | am we'll ac
quaintcd with you all though YOU are
not acquainted with me. and being ac.
quaintcl and older than YOU are.
cannot tOrhcar entering into a little
familiar chat. | know your thoughts
your tolls and sorrows and discourage
ment; your aspirations hopes and JOYS
| know too, what fiber, endurance and
patient farmwork gives to the boys
who make the most of what an out.
door life with nature has to offer.
know how hot it is in August under
the peak Of the tlat.roofed barn, how
large the forkfuls are that the stal
wart pitcher thrusts into the only hole
where light and air can enter.
know how high the thistles grow, and
and how far the rows of corn stretch
out. | know, too, the freedom, fun
and work of the old farm that make
opl ovnopl and .rrru- and