The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-09-26
FARMING FOR YOUNG MEN.

y
strong an inclination to some one trade :,
or business that he really would be un-
wise not to make that the occupation
of his life, there arc many who have
no such strong tendencies to guide !
them IN their choice, says American |
CultiYator. They take up with that !
which offers itself to them, feeling
that they can leave it for something |
else very readily if 1t does not suit
them. The days Cf long apprentice
ships are over in this country, and it is
not unusual now to find young man
of % who has tried half dozen differ
cut kinds of business, and has not
been successful in any of them, simply
because they did not especially interest
him, and he was ready to change
whenever there seemed TO be slack
season for the article he was hoping TO
produce, and better demand for labor
IN some other direction.
Our present system of factory work
is partially to be blamed for this. No
man Is given chance to learn how TO
produce the finished goods he helps TO
make, be it boot or Il steam engine.
He has not learned how to do more
than small part, winch by some
change III style or in the machinery
used may cease to be in demand when
he most needs steady employment.
This must lead to change, even though
he has no licklcncss to cause him to
desire new work and new surround
ings.
A half century ago there was little
in the farmers life that was attractive
to young man. Those who remained
on the farm were apt TO do so either
because of family ties which seemed
| to bind them at home, or were those
who lacked ambition, energy or ability
to find employment elsewhere. Few
| cared to come to the farm who were not
born and brought up there, while cities
| an manufacturing towns were iilled
| with farmers sons and daughters who
were seeking for easier and more re-
munerativc employment than they
! found at home
1t was not necessary TO seek far to
find the cause Of this. The hours OF
fam labor were longer during the great
er parv of the year. Neatly every task
indoors or out called for strength rath-
er than skill, and perseverance more
than Judgment. A living might DC
obtained, and some managed to accu-
muatc property, but there was little
money TO be handled, and it really
seemed as if it was a life OF hard toi
and little compensation. The change
of seasons brought some change OF
work, and yet it was monotonous. NJ
machinery lightcncd labor, and there
were but few anuscmcLts excepting
during the long winter evenings. Tho
farmers and their wives who worked
during all the hours of daylight hat
little chance for sociability, and little
to interest them outside Of their owl
affairs.
To-day farming is far different from
what ii was as we remember 1T. Ma
chincry has been introduced so lha
horses or steam power arc doing thos
things which were then done by human
strength. Skill to direct and guide az
in demand, and the muscular power
not severely taxed in the days labor
Even the few tools which uIvivc frOr
that day, the scythcs and forks, hoe
and shovcls arc now made so light an
perfect that they seem more like toy
, than the implements of hard labor tha
our fathers used.
Better animals and poultry hav
come into fashion, and the care Of thCI
! becomes an interesting task becauS
we can see how they can be improve
or made productive by better method
of feed and care. The young man VIII
} once begins breeding and growing fin
} stock is likely to learn to love tllcl
while he is watching Their development
and Improvement, even almost as we
, watched from infancy.
Better fruit and better vegetable
have been introduced on the farm, an
not only is it pleasure to watch thCi
, growth and to taste them when matur,
, but they can be converted into cash a
quicHly as gathered, and the farmer o
farmers son need not 90 for weeks o
perhaps months at Il time without
coin 10 chink against another, as farm
els used to do who had but little TO Sc
until after the harvest of the late fall
Now if he manages rightly the iarmc
Will have crops to harvest almost ever
NCtN liolii tilS tilttNill vi illC Siotlil
in the spring until snow covers il again
The farmers life is less solitary Il
he grows more interested in his buSi
ness. He desires TO keep up with tn
modern improvements, and to do thi
he visits other farmers TO sec what the
are doing and how they do ii. ii
must meet with them at The Grange o
the Farmers Club or the Institutes [,
talk it over with them, and cXchanm,
experiences in such works us they hav,
been doing. Nor is he Contcntcd will
being limited to the wisdom of his owl
county or State. A good ncwspapc
brings him hints and suggestions ant
new ideas from other States, and per
haps from foreign countries He know:
that IN every State there are mel
studying, investigating and expert
mcnting to gain knowledge that ma,
be useful TO him or to other farmers
With all this, the farmers home has
become more attractive. He has not
checked the march Of Improvement al
its threshold. Here are devices &c
Tighten labor as well as in the field. In
the house and around ii arc things that
are ornamental as well as useful The
bleak, bare house, without shade around
1t or flower excepting the wild flow
crs OF the field, is not often seen now,
and many little changes have taken
place to render 1t a home instead of a