Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-01
THE HIGHER LEVELS OF AGRI-
CULTURE,

There Is room enough at the top" ID
I'm expression frequently used In relation
TO the professions. So, too, there Is
ample opportunity on the higher levels
of farming. There is q constantly iu-
eressing and never satisfied demand
among consumers for the best that can
be produced directly or indirectly from
the soil, Of everything thSt can be nam
ed that goes into consumption BY the
people. And nothing In this line Of the
wants Of the people Is ever so choice, so
superior, so attractive but still better Is
wanted. The value, too, Of all these
productions, increases on parallel with
their superiority.
Ii Is the largest and choicest strswber-
ries that always attract first attention,
the best grown and most perfect apples
that find first sale; the smoothest and
most attractive vegetables that are al
ways wanted and which command the
highest price; the most delicious butter
that human knowledge and the highest
skill can bring forth that never finds the
market crowded or the tables OF critical
consumers over-supplied: Ii Is the purest
and most perfect milk that everybody
wants and so few are getting; IL is the
early broiler, the hot-house lamb, the
baby beef that are In unsupplied demand
for the tables of the millionaires. In all
these directions the demand is never sup
piled, the limit Of desire never reached.
There Is always room for more and n call
for better, and the cost is never Ques-
ito aed. The field of demand In the d.
rectiou OF the best possible productions
is /. broad one, and ss inviting as IL IL
ooundless in extent.
Wealth Is increasing among con-
sur,ers Of the products OF the farm at a
rats never before conceived OF, and with
it AL comes An increased demand for
everything Of choice grade that people
Can desire and wealth command. There
can be no point st which this demand
for the best can stop and say enough.
The only limit 70 extension is the ability
Of producers TO 90 on TO better products.
Ii requires knowledge 10 mount up to
the,e higher levels Of agriculture. With
the multiplication OF fungi, insects, dis
casts, both animal and vegetable, ex-
hSu stion Of fertility, II calls for close aud
continued study on the part OF the pro-
dueT TO even hold his balance against
these increasing obstacles In his way
WHEN he IL asked to advance 70 meet
these better products and higher OPP
portunities, still greater demand is
made on his intelligence. We have been
in tie way Of looking upon professional
men AS the embodiment Of all learning.
Thir k for moment what Is involved In
painting that field each season red with
It's crop Of luscious Crescents. or what Il
calls for TO create that thousand pounds
Of b, by beef in 90 months time, that the
consumer may be supplied with
a delectsble sirloin st breakfast! Science
and art are both called into requisition
In working this field Of advance farm
ing.
Here Is sn opening that, up to the
press Mt time, has been almost entirely
overlooked. Our young men, on going
out from the schools, are taught to look
TO tn, law, 10 medicine, TO engineering
Or 10 trade as the only inviting oppor-
tunities for the cultured mind or for
posi- ,ilities Of business success. The
agricultural colleges now established In
every state were designed 70 give train
ing &c meet this special want. The field
Is an inviting one. There is ample room
for educated minds and skilled hands on
the h CHER levels Of farming In supply
ing tile growing demand for the best
that advance knowledge can bring forth.
Maine Farmer.