The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-01-17
PROGRESS IN FARMING.
What the Tillers of the Soil Have
Accomplished.


and among the most important matters
to be considered is the improvement Of
the live stock and the varieties Of
crops. 1t has been demonstrated in the
past that as many improvements have
taken place on the farms as in the
workshops, though differing in forms
and methods, and the farmer stands as
high in the line Of progress as do those
in other avocatiOns. The horse is made
to do duty in several capacities, and
breeding has produced several varie-
ties, each adapted for speed or draft, as
occasion requires Cattle have been
greatly improved within the past half
century, each breed being classified for
certain. duties. The COW is no longer
an animal for producing milk, as the
class that excels in milk production
may not prove superior for butter pro-
duction. 1t is the same with sheep,
swine and poultry also, for the farmer
can now select what he desires as a
farm animal. Breeding has separated
each from the other, aud given one and
all peculiar characteristics which have
been secured by patient and careful
selection from the best. But for the
work OF the breeders and farmers, who
have made such wonderful progress
with the breeds of live stock, the wealth
of this country would be much less
than at present, for it may be truly
claimed that the advancement of a ma
ton can be noticed in the succ IS Of its
farmers with live stock. The live
stock Of to-day shows that our farmers
have kept pace with the progress of the
age. The cattle, horses, sheep aud
swine Of the present differ widely from
those existing in the year 1900. and the
condition of the farms has improved
with the stock.
THE WORK OF A CENTURY.
Since the year 1890 there have also
been many wonderful changes in the
varieties of fruits and vegetables. The
tomato, caulifiower, celery, satisfy and
other weIl-known vegetables were not
in existence as articles of food. The
cabbage was a sOft-headed plant, known
as ''eollard'i; the carrot was but a
small root, and the beet and turnip
were almost Insignificant The list of
fruits and vegetables has been so ex-
tended as to give almost an unlimited
variety. The fox grape was king in
this country in 1900, and the Concord,
Catawbs, Delaware, Niagara and other
varieties were produced from it. The
blackberry, which grew along the road
sides and bitches, has been brought
into the garden and fields, while the
wild strawberry has been converted
from an Insignificant berry into va
rieties which bear bet little resemblance
to the original. Apples, peaches, pears,
ounces, plums, cherries, gOoseberries,
currants aud raspberries have also been
greatly improved and modified, so
much so that if one living 100 years
% could be brought back TO life he
would be unable TO recognize some Of
the fruits presented for inspection.
There has been no ''chance" in the i'm
prOvements made. Not single breed
OF animals or variety Of fruits or veg
stables has been brought forward that
was not the result or skill and indus
try, aud only comparison with those
existing in the past which Is impossi-
blel will demonstrate what the farme-
has done. Others may have invented
Isbor-saving implements for his use,
out be has been forced to dispense with
the spinning wheel, the loom and
other appliances now unknown on the
farm, but in his lines the farmer has
walked side by side with the Inventors
and with each new discovery on the T
part he can point 10 a corresponding
improvement on the farm as the result
of mis- skill.
PROGRESS IN CULTIVATION.
With what may have been done in
the past there is yet more TO do on the
farm. In the year 1870 the farmer
knew nothing of artificial fertilizers.
He did not even understand how 10
feed for best results; in fact, he consid-
cred it economical 70 turn his live stock
into the woods that each animal should
seek its food. The sunny side of a barn
was warm shelter, and the OK did
more service than the horse. Tue list
Of fruits was very short and the mul-
berry was regarded as entitled To a
p ace among the fruits, the walnut,
hickory nut, chestnut and psrsimmoa
holding high places in the affections Of
the young people. The roads were feIr-
full, and the shipping of produce TO
market was very difficult. Live STOCK
went to market ''on the hOOf, and
turkeys We're driven ia large droves
hundreds of miles. The farmer now
understands the use of fertilizers and
plant foods, aud he actually employs
the bacteria of the soil to increase his
yields of crops and puts bacteria into
his cream to make the proper butter
flavor. IL is no exaggeratiOn to state
that bacteria is sold 10 farmers to be
used for different purposes, and before
another decade has passed the farmer
will probably be master Of the drought
and be in position to control the moist-
ure supply. What is more in favor of
the farmer as compared with inventors
Of machinery is that he had no patent
laws to protect him. His improve
ments passed ont of his hands and be-
came public property as soon AS his
work was finished, aud the only reward
he could secure was to make quick sales
the first year, as competitors met him
the next with his own weapons Great
fortunes have encouraged inventors,
but the farmers work has been done
without hope of any reward other than
that which could be derived from the
farm.-Philadelphia Record.
''I am entirely cured of nervous
trouble which rendered my life f1ll Of
restless gloom. wish that others
whose lives are miserable could know
Of its merits" So writes Rev. f. Mil
Ter, South Whitley, Ind, Of Wheeler's
Nerve Vitalizer.
The superior merits of Brant's Cough
Balsam are-cures quickest and largest