The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-10
TUESDAY. JANUARY TO- 1899.
Up TO DATE FARMING.

We had some hing 10 say the oLhti
day acout intelligent farming, and we
have since read with interest a com
munication 20 the Boston Transcript on
the same subject. The writer says that
the complaint IS frequently made among
New Englandcrs that farming does not
pay. but the fact remains that it does
nay II conducted by men who know their
business. The proof of this may be found
by visiting the farms in that section,
where the business is so managed as TO
show a good profit at the end of each
yea. Thousands OF such farms can be
found in New England. and if these men
can farm at a profit why cannot other
men do the same? There is but one am
swcr he concludes. and that is they can
do so provided they have the necessary
mental equipment.
Several days ago West Virginia
farmer dropped in at this Office and re-
cuested to bo permitted to- see The Times
modern equipment. He said that early
I'm life he had been connected with
newspaper. setting type by hand and
using oli-fashion hand-press 20 work off
the edition. lie wanted TO see how times
changed and what Improvements had
been made in newspaper machinery. he
saw the typesetting machines. he saw
the stereotyping apparatus. he saw the
great printing machine downstairs which
turns out g.. o.. s. and 16-page papers
pasted and folded not only faster than a
man can count them. but almost faster
than ne could see Them and he was
amazed
lie saw at a glance the wonderful
strides that had been made in This branch
or the business. and he also saw how
ridiculous 81 would be for "a Richmond
newspaper in this day 10 attempt 20 do
business with the old-time equipment
that ne had employed when ne wac
publisher. And yet that same man is
farming exactly as his forefathers farm.
eddy the same old methods and with
the same old implements that were used
nifty years ago.
It may be said that the parallel is not
fair because there is not the same OPP
portunity for development ana improve
ment in filling the soil as ia printing a
newspaper, where so much depends upon
machinery. Yet after am. the principle
IS the same. The successful newspaper
man in this day must keep up with thu
times. must study busines conditions.
must read the great newspapers Of the
country. must read tho publications or
bright men who make ncwspapcring "A
study. must learn the art of gathering
the news and distributing it in the best
way. and must ass We have already said.
have good equipment OF modern ma
chinery.
In the same way We may say OF the
farmer that ne must understand his bust
ness. that ne must know the character
OF his soil 30 that he may fertilize it in-
tclligonuy tnat he must improve his
lands and make them yiol the best re-
suits. that he must cultivate hia land
not with oid-fashionCd implements. but
with the best lab0r-saving implements
OF the day. that be must have sufficient
capital TO carry on his business So as 20
buy his supplies at the lowest cash
prices. and so as 20 enable him to hold
mis- products for the best selling prices.
in short. the newspaper publisher and
the farmer must both act in the living
present II they would succeed. and must
80 labor as 10 Doe able 20 turn out the
best possible article 40 the lowest posi-
bic cost. each cult,atng dis field. hgu-
ratvely and literally speaking, for an
there IS in IT, As they sow so shall
they reap"
There IS no difference so the principle
between up-to-date ncwspaper.ng, and
up-to-dato mcrchsndising ana up-to-date
manufacturing and up-to-date farming
II men engaged in these pursuits are an
up-to-date they have good reason 10 OK
pect success. II they are not up-to-datc.
but n they print newspaper or sell
goods or manufacture according 90 the
methods Of nifty years ago they must cx-
pect 10 fail Take any live. cnterprising,
successful merchant Of Richmond and put
him 70 farming giving him the same
intelligent understanding Of farming that
he has OF merchandising and let him