Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-01-07
VIEWS OF AN INDIANA FARMER.

H tnlnk tnere IS nOtnlnR iaruerS ncet
more than a large supply of usefu
knowledge, combined with plenty Of
good common sense.
OF the two, common sense is the more
to be desired; for, having it, there are
many ways of obtaining knowledge
while if it is lacking there is no one
even in our best colleges and universi-
ties, who can cram more common sense
into the brain. There are many instan
ces where men who had little knowledge
of farming have made it their calling
and, by having an ample stock of sense
have learned the best methods OF farm
ing on the farm.
A striking example of this is L. b.
Terry, of Ohio. There are few, if any
farmers in this country who have made a
greater success of farming than he. Yet
he was middle-aged man before he be-
gan TO farm. He went to farm that
was badly run down, with little knowl-
edge of the business. BY using good
Judgment and obtaining information
wherever he could, he has risen to a
high rank as a successful farmer. An
other example is l.. III. Kerrick, OF
Illinois, the noted cattle feeder. Mr..
Kerrick was lawyer, but he has made a
national reputation as feeder by learn
ing the best methods of feeding after he
went into the cattle business.
These men have been successful be-
cause they used good common sense,
while thousands who were raised on the
farm have failed because they would not
get out of the ruts made by their fore
fathers. Other thousands have failed
by going to the other extreme, and drop
ping everything that was old, have rush
ed into new and untried experiments, and
have lost their all for their rashness.
Some may ask, What should farmer
know? There is scarcely trade, a
science or profession of which partial
knowledge would not be help to the
farmer at some time in his life. In this
age, when machines cut and bind our
wheat, husk the corn, skim the milk, dig
potatoes and help us in most of our
work, farmer should be an expert ma
chinist to be able to run all of his i'm
plements successfully. 1t would also be
a benefit to him to know how to use the
tools of a carpenter, blacksmith, harness
and shoe maker, mason, painter, and, to
a less extent, those of other trades.
Often when wanting to splice rope or
tie knot l have found that a little ex-
perience as sailor would be benefit to
me on the farm. To know something Of
natural history in all its branches would
aid the farmer at times, especially a
knowledge of the natural history of his
own locality-to know which birds to
protect and which to destroy, what in
sects injure the crops or torment the live
stock and poultry, and what insects are
friends of the farmer because they de-
stroy these pests; to know the needs of the
stock kept on the farm, how to feed and
care for them to bring the best results.
IL the farmer was geologist and chem
ist he could study the needs of the soil
of his own farm, and could know what
elements of fertility were lacking. He
could know how to supply these ma
terials in their best form for the differ
ent crops.
IL he were a veterinarian he could care
for his stock, and keep them healthy, or
could give the best remedies if sick.
The loss of live stock from disease is
large; especially is this the case with
hogs in the corn belt of the West. With
different methods of feeding and care
nine-tenths of the loss could be
avoided. This would be saving of mil
lions of dollars every year to Western
farmers. OF more Importance than the
health of his stock is the health of the
farmer and his family. To know how
to provide them with pure water and
air, wholesome food and suitable CLOTH
ing, and with enough knowledge of
medicine to use simple remedies in
time, would save the expense of many
visits from the family doctor.
Tho farmer should know enough law
TO know his own rights and those of his
neighbors. IL he is wise he will know
enough to avoid litigation where it is
possible to do so; to take warning from
such cases as that of two Indiana farm
ers who had law suit to decide who
was the owner of calf valued at about
$40. The winner lost several days time,
and was at an expense of $50; the loser
was out of pocket nearly 500 for law
yers' fees and court expenses, and also
several days in time, that should have
been put in on the farm. The gains
were not large. One gained the calf and
each had gained a lifelong enemy in the
other.
In order to benefit his neighbors, the
farmer should be enough of teacher
to be able to teach others what he knows
himself. Some know better methods
than their neighbors, but lack the gift Of
knowing how to impart this knowledge
to others. While they may be unselfish,
they would be of more use to their COM
munity if they could instruct others.
If the farmer knew all about the
trades, professions and sciences have
but had failed to learn that
1.-THE fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom" he would be far from wise.
He should ask himself every day that
question asked of old, "What doth it
profit man if he gain the whole world
and lose his own soul?"
If he succeeds in overcoming his
weaknesses, and lives a clean, honest and
unselfish life, although he may not have
accumulated much wealth, there is moth
ing he need to fear in this world or the
next.
The wise farmer will not try to pro-
duce everything he needs on his own
farm, but will try to produce surplus
of few things that will do best on his
farm, and exchange these for articles
that others can grow more cheaply than
himself. He will never think he knows
it all, but will always be willing to learn
from everything high or low, the ant
and the philosopher, the COW or the
chemist. He will take an interest in po-
litical matters, but will not spend all of
his time arguing on these matters with
his neighbors, while his farm and stock
suffer from his neglect. He will try to
deserve the good opinion of his neigh
bors, but he will not try to buy it by
spending money to make display his
income will not allow.
There are many things that are useful
to the farmer and are aids to him in his
calling. Some of these are fertile soil,
plenty of capital, labor saving imple-
ments, congenial helpmate, good
neighbors, stock, markets, health, suita-
BILE buildings, and other things that, in
the touching language of sale bill, are
''too numerous to mention"
While at least part of these are es-
sential If the farmer is to make great
success of his business, yet all of them
combined are of secondary Importance
when compared with wisdom. Some
who have had all of these given them
have failed and lost all because they
lacked the wisdom necessary to make
good use of their gifts. Others with
none of these have, by using wisdom,
added all the rest to their possessions.
New York Tribune Farmer.