Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-22
FARMING Foa A LIVING OR FoR
PLEASURE.

FARMING Foa A LIVING OR Fol
PLEASURE.
rHE RETIRED BUSINESS NAN AND aI!
ANrICIPATIoNs OF OWNING FARM
HIS BEST PREPARATION.
IL, as Washington expressed II, "Agri
culture Is the most healthful, most use
ful, aud most noble employment Of man
then it Is not strange that we so offer
hear men in other csllings saying thai
when they have accumulated enough Il
afford il they intend To spend their lie
clining years In the country on a SINUS
little farm. Practical farmers who h,,v,
followed the business for living some
times smile at such remarks. They
know that men who have spent theil
best days inside shops, factories ol
Offices have little idea of what one need:
10 know 10 make even q fair degree ol
success In the cultivation Of the soil
They usually know just about as much
as most farmers do of the requirements
for success In other kinds Of business he.
sides their own.
Thousands OF farmers, weary and dis
coursged At their small degree Of suc-
cess in accumulating wealth in their vo.
cation, have sold at sacrifice To 20 irto
the village or city aud open q store OF
Office where they have waited for the
trade or custom which they expected
would make them quickly independent.
They have waited In many cases ill
Sctual hunger has driven them back "a
the farm, where, as hired men, their
services were better appreciated than In
the position they had attempted To I'LL
without the necessary training, without
which no one has right 10 expect sue
cess
To an onlooser any work seems easy
that Is done by one who knows how 10
do it, whether IL Is forging a horseshoe,
running locomotive or preaching ser
mon. The years Of training and practice
that have made the results possible do
not show TO the mere locker on. SO
when man who Is doing fairly well st
his present occupation tells me that he
always had taste for farming, and be-
cause it is the ''most independent" life
one can lead, Is looking ahead to the
time when he can retire and enjoy him
self on farm, never feel Ike urging
him 10 hurry In making the change.
Most men Of that class are considerste
enough 70 admit that they do not expect
TO farm Il for the profit, as they have
doubts about being able 10 get much
profit out OF the business, but when
they have gathered enough at their trade
or business 80 that they can own a farm
clear of debt and have other investments,
the income Of which should be enough
TO support them comfortably, then they
hope TO enjoy their declining years "a
happy. independent farmers. Well
have known of q few men who have
nearly accomplished what they sntici-
pated, but In every case they have been
men who all through their earlier years
were really preparing themselves for the
By reading agricultural books
aud papers and by careful observation
Of everything in the agricultural line
that could In any way aid them In fitting
for the new sphere OF action.
City men who succeed As farmers are
frequently better farmers than the aver
age OF the countrymen around them.
They have been trained 20 doing busi-
ness In businesslise way, and they put
In practice theories aud plans that have
been developing In their minds through
the years they have been observing
farmers methods They have noted
wherein these methods might be improv-
ed upon. They have also learned not 10
be discouraged st occasional failures,
but to up aud try sgsin. Successful
city men are not those who are con-
stsntly changing from one line OF trade
to another, but they stick 10 IL and build
up a trade Ia some branch they endesvor
70 learn thoroughly, and thus secure a
reputation that will help TO hold custom
once obtained.
Too many farmers and those begin
ming In the business shift about making
a speciality OF numerous branches In
turn, but stick 10 none long enough 10
learn il well or secure reliable market
for what they produce. They are too
easily discouraged by bad seasons, insect
enemies and plant or animal diseases. So
while rarely advise persons fairly well
situated in business or AZ trade TO give
II up for farming, still believe that the
chances Of success 10 an unframed per-
son are ia favor OF farming on a moder-
ate scale rather than otherwise, ss CON-
pared TO most other kinds OF business.
Healthy growing farm and garden crops,
especially Of fruit, are pleasing TO 81
most all eyes. The liking for animals,
too, Is very wide spread and strong
among a large portion of the people.
What other business compares with
in the way of sure home market
for large part OF what may be produe-
ed: A mechanic may save something
perhaps by making some OF the tools he
needs or furniture for the house, but
most of these things are lasting while
the food requirements are constant, as
one dsy follows smother. Farming, both
for living and for pleasure is, and must
always continue 20 be, commendsbie.
would like TO see every aspiring family
in a home of their own and that home
surrounded by more or less land under
cultivation "a garden or orchard. II
may be that staple crops like wheat,
corn and other grains and some OF th'
fruits are 10 be raised In the future
In a wholesale way more than at present,
but would not like 70 see all the homs
gardens and small farming wiped out by
corporation farming. Few persons car
long find much pleasure In farming un-
less they 90 meet with affair degree ol
success. But success cannot always bt
measured by a money standard. liz poor
health Is exchanged for good, that OF II
self NAV be sufficient reward. Out
door air with healthy exercise and good
wholesome food from ones own vine:
and trees may be better as well as cheap
er than drugs. Que thing is certain, 4
great many persons now ia other line-
will at some stage in life try their hand:
st farming. Nv advice TO such Is tc
prepare themselves as best they may IL
advance By reading aud observation
y. E. Farmer.
Solon Chase writes TO the 'Bostor
Globe concerning old home week II
NJ siue that TOO much dependence must moi
be placed on the cities, and says: ''Tb'
grange can help the old home week Jus
where the work Is needed-in the rura
towns. The grange is an organization
OF the farmers, their wives aud theil
sons and their daughters. The effort O.
the grange has been 10 break up the isr
ln,ion of farmers. Before We had th'
grange we lived more apart, and knew
little Of the people outside OF our lon
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