The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-11-28
Procress in Farming.

Farmers are becoming more pro-
gressive and are also beginning to
work on more scientific lines. At
many OF the experiment stations the
sons of farmers are taking special
courses in agriculture, with the result
that they become largely instrumental
in improving farm methods in their
communities when they return to their
homes. The period has passed for eX-
pressions of contempt for the theoreti-
cal farmer. as theory and practice
have demonstrated by actual tests that
no advance can be made by practical
effort alone. The theoretical farmer
may have been lacking in skill when
handling the plow or in the use of
other implements, and his theories
may also have failed, but he aimed
for something better and became an
educator of others. The most progress
sive agriculturists are those who are
not satisfied with present methods.
They are willing TO experiment, to
learn and to teach, and they bring into
the community better breeds, improved
fruits and superior varieties of
grasses, grains and vegetables. Some
of them have gone into bankruptcy
because of unwise expenditure in their
efforts to do more than others, but
they left their neighbors better off
and also better supplied with live
stock and more fertile farms.
No farmer can progress unless he Is
willing to study and learn. In all oc-
cupations theory Is a mighty factor,
for education is considered essential
to success. The farmer of to-day who
maintains that only practical farming
is worthy of his consideration, and
who believes that his sons can learn
all that is necessary about farming
on the farm itself, daily witnesses the
sons of those outside of farming deriv-
ing knowledge at institutes in which
instruction in mechanics Is impaired.
The best engineers, machinlsts and
wood workers endeavor TO enter their
sons in schools or colleges at which
they can be taught all that is possible
from a theoretical standpoint. The
farmer has kept himself back by his
opposition to theoretical farming, the
book farmer" being, to him, one ut
terly destitute of knowing anything
except to eXpend his money foolishly
In the effort to accomplish an impossi-
billty. The farmer. however, is a close
observer of operations, for, while he
will not become a pioneer and gives no
encouragement to those working out
side OF practical lines, he quickly Sc
cures the benefits derived through the
efforts of the experimenter. OF course
all farmers are not alike, for many Of
them are progressive. but many prefer
to wait for developments, and when
they become convinced that a change
in their methods of farming is neces-
sary viii accept the inevitable and en-
deavor to improve.
The class known rs breeders" has
made many sacrifices In the effort to
improve the breeds of live stock, the
greatest obstacle TO progress being the
Indifference of farmers. But the
breeders went on with their work,
every year witnessing an advance in
the Improvement of horses, cattle,
sheen and swine, Records We're made
and live stock went up In prices.
Where before an animal was sold at
only a nominal sum prices rose ten or
q hundred fold. While the farmers
were obllvious TO the work of the
breeders the latter class was making
rapid headway. To-day hundreds of
farmers are breeders, and their farms
are operated on the most scientific
methods known. The result OF the
combination OF practice and theory
has increased the value OF live stock In
| the United States to thousands where
formerly the figures were given In hun
dreds. while the increase In the yields
CT crops has been very marked. What
Is more important, however, is that the
fertility Of the farms Is now much
greater than before. Abandoned
farms are fewer. ''worn out" soils are
brought again under cultivation. q
lnrger and more selected variety OF
fruits has been introduced and Tho
general condition OF the farmer has
been greatly improved.
Much Of the advance made by tho
farming class IL due TO the heretofore
dcspIsed theoretical farmer. who ha.
always led the way, even II years wers
required after his decease TO demon
6tratc that be was right. though dur
Ing his time unsuccessful and unlor
tuuatc. philadelphia Record.