New-York tribune., 1899-12-17
, knows but what has thus far been examined
is certainly curious and interesting.
THEORY AND PRACTICE.
AN AMATEUR FARMER FINDS THAT THE
BALANCE IS ON THE WRONG SIDE.

BALANCE IS ON THE WRONG SIDE.
This is about the time Of year when the man who
previously lived in the city, and who thought early
in the year that he would try farming. closely
scrutnizes the pages Of his account book. IL gem
orally tells an interesting story, there is great
difference between theoretical and practical farm
ing The city man wants TO be practical farmer,
but he almost invariably works on strictly theo-
retica lines, according to reports with the result
that after two seasons at the farm he pulls
up stakes" and returns more 10 his old haunts
in the city Several men who lived in this city
until last spring and who tried farming this year
were comparing notes the other day
II know a man who has just returned from a
little place UP the State. where he owned farm
until recently" exclaimed one Of the men who had
told about his experiences on the farm. L thinS
he has suffered more than any OF u.s." continued
the sneaker This man thought that he could
make large sums Of money running farm That
was two years ago. and he recently told me that
he would not live on a farm If l paid him big
salary for staying on one"
What made him sick of farmins| asked one
OF the hearers.
"Ob. his complaint was not an unusual one He
slmply didn't know how to combine theory and
practice and Of course. he lost much money and
naturally became disgusted.'
Did he take up any special kind Of farming3"
asked
the farm he bought many books on farming. Some
of the titles Of the books were as follows: How
To Make $4,000 a Year With Poultry The Effect
OF Lunar Beams Crops. When and When NOT
To Plough "A Few Facts About Tree Grating.
He had twenty-five books poultry raising
twenty-one about onions. seven on farm drainage
fifteen about small fruits. nine about the apple
crop sixteen on strawberries, and many more books
relating 10 the farm. lie first built henneTy anu
started In 10 raise fowls and ducks. Al the De
ginning he had fair success. one night after
hard days work, he sat up late TO ma good
cure for chicken Group lie quickly discovered IN
one of his books a recipe for the disease but un-
fortunately for him Il was on the same page as
a recipe for horse cole, and as he was very d tired
and sleepy he eOt the recipes mixed he IeIt w9ta 1t
chickens the following day and as result mr fr Slr
killing chickens quickly and palnlessly tnat was
ever made He didn't want his neighpors 10 Know Know
NetuT 50 more T fowls TO put in his hennery Soon
afterward one of his neighbors visited him to learn
'o"".WReTe's that yellow hen you were going to
keen for me for setting next spring. said the
visitor looking over the fence in 'front.' OF the
Can't you see the hen? That's her; that big fat
hen in The corner chuckng to herself. said the
"9'WGy. that hen is black and not yellow
al know il Is black I'm not color blind ana
did not think that you We're . 49,
But how can yellow hen be black, that's what
Simple matter. You have either got TO paint
her black you nave got TO give her food that VIII
turn her black. why, there are dogs in CUBA that
were horn white but now black just because
they were given tobacco TO eat as regular
diet The tobacco got into the pores OF their skin
and made them black. And ] suppose you nave
read about human beings eating arsenic 10 make
their skin white, and IL did It? Well thought
would experiment with hens and have discovered
an herb that will make yellow hens black lie spoke
In that vein he thought he would nave some
fun at the expense OF his visitor. and, moreover
he did not want to admit the sudden end OF his |
first lot of chickens -, 80, -
What a great discovery you have made; ex; ex
claimed the visitor she looked at the wonderful
hen You Will make a fortune OUT OF your uis,
covery. oh, no; i won't tel any one ABOUT ~
But she did and the news spread so rapdly that IN
a day or two many inquiries were made at the |
farm I'm regard to the great discovery. For eacn
inquiry he had the same answer ~ MIS- so 20
came TO see the remarkable hen. Finally he be- |
came bored with questions about the narveli9us
food he able TO mix for hens that ne decided !
10 let his neighbOrs into the secret When they /
learned the truth they laughed at him, and he /
laughed too but his smile soon faded. for in /
little while many came TO tell him how 10 raise !
fowls. He spent many hours listening TO such ad- |
Vice and az last he sold his remarkable hens
We'll what did he DO next!
"Oh. he thought he would take resi- ana stuay
he corresponded With friends In ms city. In one |
OF his letters TO his friends he told them that ne
could live much cheaper IN the country man IN @ tne
OF good wholesome food to eat every day ana that |
he spent only twenty-five cents day to supply his
table with meat and extras. ~, -
What could you realize from the SAFE OF Vege- !
tables YOU consume in your country home every |
month? one OF his friends asked MIN by return /
mail. He made a rough ejaculation ana was a. |
farm for him at least, was Just as much as city |
II overlooked he said in letter which he sent
in reply what II cost me 10 raise vegetables ana
other things here which find their way 10 the !
table I am going to give up farming and 60 back |
10 the city,