Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-09-02
HOUSER TALK TO FARMERS
AGRICULTURE THE BASIS OF ALL OUR
PROSPERITY.
The Secretary Of State Tells Boys to Stick to the
Farm-Abie and Interesting Address at the Hills
bsSo Falg There is Happiness. Prosperity and
Independence In Rural Lie,

Il
| the most practical speeches ever deliver
ed in the county. That portion on agri-
cultural effort and prudent farming Is
so thoughtful that we reproduce the
same Mr.. Houser also dwelt to some
extent on state affairs. The CENSOR
will aim TO give that portion of the adj
dress in succeeding issue. He said
'Tho artificial gloss which the past
has Impaired TO the pursuit of the
learned professions, and in a somewhat
lesser degree to commercial pursasts
vocations of the cities and villages
making them appear more honorable,
| or at least more desirable to engage in
than the tslling of the soil, is fast dis
| appearing This does not mean that
this practical age demands men of less
| education, it only means that modern
methods scientific methods, the fruit
age of careful trainin,, and education.
are demanded of the successful farmer.
| College bred men are turning to the soil
as the most desirable vocation under the
sun The most highly slucsted they
are, in the true sense the most opportu-
mites they see for the employment of
their abilities and the good use of their
training in working ont the problems
that modern agriculture presents. To
understand the processes of the soil; to
comprehead the forces that are await
ing his direction; TO win from the earth
and the air the greatest results for mans
necessities and comforts; to understand
the science of breeding. feeding and
training of stock; TO know how to cure
instead of kill the grasses into hay; to
understand the rotation of crops on di-
verse soils and the result In short
to be scientist of high order. an in
ventor, an investigator to be botanist,
a horticulturist. veterinarian, lawyer
and withal theologian, because tiller
OF the soil is a partner with God, and no
occupation puts man in such close re-
llationship with the creator as that which
keeps him continually in touch with
nature To be all this calls for a big
man All men do not fill the measure
of farmer Many men, too many are
blacksmiths at the business. | am talk
ing about the modern farmer, the one
who meets the demands of the times
He must approach closely TO thesc meas
Iurements il he would keep in the line of
progress Because Of these facts the
FARMER is reaching into the ranks of o1r
best young men and calling them for it's
l service. And they are answering the
call eagerly and willingly. IL is becom-
ing quite as honorable and ON the aver
tage mueh more profitable to the holder
TO be the possessor of diploma from a
school of agriculture. as to hold one IN
law or medicine lp short, farming
agriculture has taken its rightful place
and is no longer catch all for the leav
ings over after the best material has
been selected ont of which 10 fill the al
ready over crowded ranks of the pro
fession
There lie dignity in the pursuiso Of
agriculture. There is encouragement
in the work Of iielving in the soil. Thers
is inspiration in all that which intensi
fies the best side of life brought ont by
contact with the beauty and grandeur
of the creation. that the farm invites
IL deepens our veneration for the Maker
it softens and attunes our natures more
in harmony with Gods plans; it teaches
love, forhearance, tenderness. Justice,
virtue and piety II is an agency fol-
good The man must be very bad whom
the farm does not make better. The
an who owns and tills farm Is to be
envied He is TO be pitied il he does
not appreciate the great advantages he
enjoys or might enjoy. The profits Of
: | the farm, which cannot be estimated II
dollars and cents alone, are as great a.
the profits from any other Legitimate
business There are enterprises thai
, | are unduly thrifty because they profi
! | through the operation of laws that give
unreasonable advantages.
, Farm life ia beautiful 1t invites
: contentment, happiness. And this i
the great desideratum-h happiness.
love the farm The friendship and con
fidence between the master and hi
: | fiocks and herds are little less than hu
: man attachments. There Is less be
: trayal and fewer disanpf ailments il
their relationship than are % often ex
perienced between man and man. | re
/ joice that the American farmer is be
coming 80 much of a force in the Attain
of the country. congratulate him tha
he is getting 80 much of the world
i | comfort and luxuries. His work i
; made pleasant and comparatively eas,
as a result of the application OF more in
= telligent methods and improved ma
chinery Farming is business and no
/, | hap hazard vocation that men engag
in who can do nothing else it must b
conducted on business principles and II
a accordance with scientific methods, o
: else he who attempts IL will soon be
T come hired msn. my advice 10 tn
i young men of my audience is TO stick b
the soil The day has come when ther
I is no more dignifed calling than that o
agriculture In t if you follow il in
{ diligently, tahd th9 opportunities nov
9 provided are wi hin easy reach 10 prop
. erly fit yourself to ngsge in III you vii
: be fully as successful rs you would il
any calling. u"less, possibly yol
q have special talents for some othe
! work. Many young men endowed b,
nature to be god farmers, have beeI
. made into very poor teachers, lawyer
: or doctors.
) Stick 10 the farm II affords th
opportunities. in these days, for thi
, ideal life. The great inventions Of tn
: past half century, and the progress il
: all things have proven fully az beneficial
{ TO the farmer as to any other class, an'
I have brought to farm life many of il
: comforts and enjoyment of the cit!
home The day of the husbandman /
surely Frightening give sanction ant
I endorsement to every agency institutes
: 70 benefit and uplift the tiller of tn
] soil Wisconsin has done nobly as
+. leader in this field. The agriculture
! department os her university, her farm
3 ers' institutes, her county schools of az
riculture, her eounty fairs, the teaching
Of the elements OF agriculture in tn
z common schools are all exceedingly
! helpful and if made the most of will b
s of immense benefit to the farmer
], THE farm Is tae nursery OF good CT.
i izenship. Sel.Srated sfUm the crowd
4 a