Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-12-15

GOOD MORALS AND MANNERS.
What some farmers need most, from
one point of view, is brains. The abilit,
to make his possessions pay him a goo(
return for his labor is what many ;
farmer lacks, and that gives him dis
taste for his work. The old time farm
er understood true economy; that is
making everything of use on the farm
He raised the meai hi family consumed
beef, mutton, pork and poultry of al
kinds. He raised wool and flax, which
his wife and daughters, by spinning and
weaving, transformed into material fol
clothing, sheets and towels. Feathers
from his fowls and straw from his grair
furnished bedding. On rocky hillsides
unfit for planting, grew the trees whicl
supplied him with fuel, and lumber t
repair his buildings. The beeves which
were killed in the fall lighted the hous,
for the ensuing year by their tallow
which was made into candles. AShe:
from the wood fires were leached fol
lye, which, with refuse grease, mad,
soap for laundry use and cleaning
WOrnout garments were cut and sewed
then woven into carpets TO cover tn,
floors. Sheepskins made rugs. Egg:
and milk and butter were in abundance
Bees made honey without any glucose
in it. He raised broomcorn wherewitl
to make broOmS. Stones were gathered
from the fields and made into fences
Vegetables of many kinds grew in the
garden. He had fruits also, both large
and small; potatoes, pumpkins, turnips
corn for stock and for household use
rye for bread, and feed for swine. What
need is there to speak of field crops
which every farmer knows so well.
That farmer in the long ago reared
a large family, and they all had enough
TO eat and TO wear. Oftentimes ht
worked out his taxes with his own team
upon the highway. n
Times have greatly changed in the
last century. In the present one there
may be even mightier changes. The
farm problem confrOnts us because
somebody will have to go back to the
country. There was an exodus to the
city once, but in the future, although il
may not be the near future, there viii
be an exodus to farming lands. Cities
are becoming congested with inhabitants
lt is difficult for the wage-earner TO tinC
a place, there are so many applicants
Huge department stores are destroying
the trade of small stores. Nearly al
kinds of business show a tendency tC
cOnsolidate-to grow into monopoly
Meanwhile people must be fed. Some
body must raise supplies on the farm
They must be of good quality in order
to sell readily, too. No one rule car
apply TO all farms, as they are situated
in such a diversity of soil and climate
The difficulty in some places is to make
farming return a good dividend. Mucl
can be learned from the thrifty habits OF
our ancestors, who made the best OF
their means. They did not have much
money; their trade was mostly in barter
or exchange. And that keenness, that
shrewd knowledge of the best side of 8
trade, which has made the Yankee fam
Gus everywhere, was as characteristic
then as now.
There are many compenSations IN
farmers life. Pure air, pure water
fresh vegetables and luscious fruits; arr
such things trifies or necessities? To bt
far away from strikes, from anarchy
from the strife between capital anC
labor, is an unmixed blessing. Ii il
considered feat worthy of mention tC
make two blades of grass grow in the
place of one. Millionaires have bought
many farms and stocked them according
to their fancy. Wild animals for game
preserves and bloOded horses and COW:
come within the range of their power tt
purchase. Such a solution as that /:
easy when one inquiries about abandoned
farms. The puzzle seemingly is how Il
make a small farm profitable.
And now | begin again at the be
ginning, and say the farmer needs
brains-thatis is, thorough business ability
He ought to understand his work well
and be enthusiastic over it. He needs tC
know the nature of his soil, and what
fertilizers it requires; how many crops
he can raise during the season; how
many crops the same piece OF grouno
will produce in year. These are only
a few things out of the many which ex
perience will teach him. A strict &C
count of profit and loss ought to be kept
so that he will know whether he is pro
crossing or the reverse. In all Other
kinds of business there is hard labor
and plenty of it. Farming is not a sine
cure, by any means. The laboring man
expects his need of work wherever his
lot is cast. The laborer of the present
day enjoys luxuries which were denied
his ancestors. Railroads spread theii
all over the land. Facilities OF
mean cheaper pri
ces of products which come from
afar. Newspapers and magazines &C
everywhere. They carry instruction
with them as they go. Gold brick vic
tins are growing fewer in numbers
every year. Bunco men may as wei
keep away from the farms, for the pa
pers have been there before them. The
race of Reuben" is passing away. Be
fore day dawns the Eastern sky grows
light with approaching sunbeams
Even now the renaissance of farming IL
begun, under different conditions from
those of the olden times. AS farms diff
fer in size, in fertility, in proximity to a
market, so do their products and profits
differ. The men who work them diffel
also.
Good morals and manners are line ad
iuncts to level head. 1t may be tha
the farmers of the present century Will
not only be industrious and successful
they will probably make their land fer
tile, will plant trees for shade, for frui
and other purposes. They will tak'
good care of their machines and farm
ING tools. Their minds may not b'
wholly absorbed in their various labors
but they may also take an interest IL
science and in legislation. And, not
withstanding the fact that some farm
will be long distance from the market
and means of transportation may b
limited, there will be a generous suppl!
for the owners of the farms. Their toi
will not be in vain.
This is by no means an exhaustive
article on the needs of farmers, or thei
greatest need. 1t is merely an outlin
sketch which those who have brains ma.
fill in to their own satisfaction. Elk
perience will also be one of the farmer
greatest aids and helpers. In England
estates are entailed to following genera
tions. Why should not Americans tax
pride in their estates, and bequeatl
their children goodly heritage? An
other bequest, too, can they make-th
Influence of noble life and example,
Cor. in Tribune Farmer.