The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-01

ness We coutd underSe1 them every
day of the year, and get rich at it
The cheapness and abundance of our
fodder, cured as they may be in this
climate, with an abundant and pure
water supply and COOL refreshing
nights, are natural conditions which
render this state eminently ADAPTED to
the dairy business. Nor need | limit
it is the dairy business. as / believe
those same conditions will enable us TO
grow all kinds of live stock with a
very large measure of profit if right
methods of breeding and management
are practiced.
One very important part of the agri-
cultural possibilities of the state yet
awaits the organized effort of a. master
mind. / have always been very much
impressed with the great horticultural
possibilities of the state. The natural
conditions of the climate and soil are
such as to enable US to produce in large
abundance a great variety of fruit of
the very highest quality. As yet but
few places have attempted to realize
on these great possibilities. In my
opinion this is a field which offers
bOundlesS opportunities to that person
who, with a requisite knowledge. skill
and enthusiasm, will take hold of this
virgin soil, solve the peculiar prob
lens presented and point the road to
a f1Ourishing and lasting success.
1t is almost sad to note, when travel
ing around, how few there are who
recognize the great possibilities that
the farm offers to them-a possibility
which awaits but the advent of a
trained mind to be utilized. 1t is sad
to note how few realize that upon them
rest the responsibility to make this
potential an active power. 1t is sadder
to note how many there are who are
content to make living. however
meagre, while with the opportunities
around them they should be up and
doing to make sure that both them
selves and their children shall be fully
equipped to meet every problem that
life may present to be able to utilize
to the fullest extent the latent posi-
bilitieS that but await the quickening
touch of an awakening intellect. and,
moreover, to enjoy to the full the
blessings which the Creator has so Law
ishly provided.
Many seem to think that the farmer
needs no education. L know of no man
who needs more. Since a course in ag-
riculture has given direction to my
studies. and, as for from eight to ten
years l have delved into this subject,
L know of no occupation that calls for
closer powers of observation a clearer
judgment, greater skill or more per-
siStency of endeavor The farmer who
rises to the fullness of his occupation
comes in touch with every known sci
ence, and, moreover. has to learn to
apply the principles which science
teaches. The principles of science are
not to him an end, but rather the
means by which he works out the
problems that are ever confronting him
upon the farm. Such a man is not
narrow in any sense of the word. Like
his Creator the whole of nature is his
field, and man is but one of the ele-
ments that enter into his life and
study and work.
Some say that the needs of the pres
ent demand that the young men of
our farms should learn a trade. That
is well. but 1 wish to add that he who
can handle skilfully and we'll. with
ease and economy to himself and with
effectiveness as to the work done, the
various tools and the machinery at
present found upon the farm, is no
mean tradeSman. 1t requires just as
much skill. though, perhaps. of d DIFF
ferent order, as is demanded by the
work in any mechanical line we may
mention. / fear that too few farmers
make this part of their calling study.
if we may judge from the wrecks with
which the fields and barnyardS are
strewn, and from the large dividends
which numerous implement agencies
are able to declare on stock, not a small
part of which is water.
1t is said again that the farmer has
nothing to employ his time during the
winter season. 1t is too true, but that
is the fault of the farmer and not of the
business. Such a farmer has not yet
half awakened to the possibilities of his
occupation. 1 have said repeatedly and
l again reiterate it without fear of sue
cessful contradiction, that if the farm
er will. during the winter season, con-
centrate the folders and grains grown
during the summer into animals and
animal products by using the right
kind of animals. ne might double the
returns he would get by selling the
crop, or, in other words, get as large
pay for the winters work as was OBJ
tanned for the work Of the summer.
That farmer who fails to find on his
farm profitable employment at all sea-
sons of the year has not begun to learn
how to utilize his opportunities.
However, while the above may be
all true, far be it from me to say that
the young men of the farm should not
learn and follow other lines of work
wish rather emphatically to protest
against the idea that it is necessary
for him to get away from the farm to
find something to do. L would like TO
say to nine-tenths of the young men of
this state. that the farm offers in ev-
the happiest and the most profitable
occupation that they can follow
through life. What is desired is not di-
rection away from farm life and farm
work. but rather direction how to util-
ize to the fullest extent the latent pos
sibilities of the farm.
Many young people say that the
work of the farm is dull and mOnotOn-
Gus, and yet when the farmer makes
it the object of his study, 1 know of no
occupation that affords greater d.
versity.
How many are the crops that the
farmer may produce. while the types
and breeds of animals he may handle
are numbered by the score Not only
is this so, but there are not a few occu-
pations closely related to the farm
which afford an opening for the tastes
of many. At the present time, one OF
the most promising of these is that OF
manufacturing dairy products As L
implied before, / believe that our ma
tural adaptability to the dairy bust
ness is almost unequaled in the United
States. We have just got nicely start
ed in the development along this line
and here, as elsewhere, it must not be
forgotten that our progress and de-
velopment must depend upon lntelh-
gence. All the more important is this
now becoming as we are reaching out
gradually to outside markets. For the
mast few years, particularly. / have
noticed that those who have carried
off the prizes for butter and cheese at
the various state fairs and dairy asso-
citation meetings have been those who
have made a special study of their
business 1t has been frequently re-