Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-11
OAKLA No.
Evidences Of a Thrifty Farmer.

paper by f. II. Gerald at Kennebec Po-
mona held at Oakland. March 100
Order is heavens first law. How can IA
farmer expect to prosper, and his farm
this law. 1t is not my intent to dwell
long upon this subject but leave. it. for
ADLER ones to discuss. AS we look; around
in our own communities. in our own
towns, and in our own county and
State we can see evidences of thrift
evidences of enterprise. of thought
a 3hs carried oat
from one town to another and COM
pare the different modes of management
on the farm 1t does not require very
keen observer to distinguish the farm
that is run by the farmer. from the farm
er who is run by the farm. In the for
mer case you will see and feel an air of
thrift. The buildings. will present tidy
appearance. the roadside neatly cleared
of rubbish. fences in good repair land
well dra med. farming tools well cared
for, stock well groomed and fed. and or
der reign supreme. OF the latter we will
not speak. But ] want to draw Il few
pictures for the brothers and sisters to
take home with them.
We are all well aware of the fact that
we have reached period in the history
Of agriculture, when the profits of the
farm have reached almost cipher
Land values are therefore constantly
upon the market they -Wjll not in many
instances bring the cost of the improve
ment thereon. | hold that this abnormal
condition is not the result of a lack of
often alleged by the fiippant political lee
turer. but it has grown out of unjust
legislation and other causes of which !
shall mention. Competition is at pres
ent so great that all land owners are
called upon to exercise great care and
economy in the management Of their
made to produce something.
prominent physician of Somerset
county had occasion to stop with me over
night a short time ago, and during our
conversation 1t led to the subject of
farming as now conducted by some.
He remarked that In whatever calling
man Is engaged In he must push it for all
its worth II he would succeed. There Is
sicians.
Don't idle your time away at the coun-
try store. Usefully employ it and you
are on the road to prosperity. To become
thrifty farmer means to he in earnest
we must have taste. a liking, for the
farm. Never rest until you find some
ture. So that you can throw yourself
into 1t with all your might. There Is
nothing that pays SO well as being ire
| mendOusly in earnest.
Farmers like business men must know
their business and study 1t or they must
fail. When a man finds his expenses
fifty dollars per month and his income
| are told that over production is the
trouble. The idea that small crops are
more apt to bring success in farming
than large ones is entirely preposterous
| ! believe that the ratio of consumer and
producer Is adjusted by the supreme be-
ing and the present year though some
what cloudy financially will work for
good to those who study and receive its
lessons.
What effect would 1t have on a farmer
who was trying hard to make his farm
produce all that Is possible to tell him
that large crops are just the cause of
hard times. If he partly believed IL he
might relax his efforts just enough to
| make him a halfway farmer. This idea
| of half way farming arouses no enthu-
siasm and without this mighty factor
all work is crippled.
A man who works with little interest
can never be a successful farmer
Perhaps there never was time when
more thought and energy were needed in
farming than now. All classes are liy-
ing beyond their means. And right here
| is nearly the whole root of the dissat-
| isfaction with condition of farms and all
other classes.
1t is very true that the more Intelligent
people become. and the more they learn
| the more exacting they are. or feel. as
TO the necessity for a higher mode of
| life. greater civilization, more refine
| ment, more leisure and means of study
And all these add to the cost of living.
We need better incomes than We had
years ago. When every farmer was prac-
tfcally a recluse from the world, living
much like hermit In his cabin and de-
pending upon himself for every necessity
| Of life and going without the Injuries
and cOnveniences which we now feel 10
be actual necessities for satisfactory