Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-04-16
Farmer Must be Business Man.

Inc paper was SUBSTANTIALLY d. ISi-
lows: We find in all the large bust
ness houses some one person who
looks after the financial part OF the
business, who is particularly well
fitted for the position by his keenness
and sound judgment; this man mus'
have at the outset a taste for this
particular work, and the same rule
holds true for the farmer. He must
have natural taste for his business,
he must love his business and fling
his whole energy into it; if he has
not these qualities, failure awaits
him. A man to be successful in bust
ness land in speaking of business |
include farming, as | consider it the
most important business of alb must
have at the beginning a clear and
definite object.
A man to be a good farmer and
success finacially must be careful to
start right He cannot use too much
care in the selection and fertilization
of soils, in the planting Of seeds, in
the choice and gathering of crops, IL
the selection Of a market, in the
breeding and feeding Of animals. The
practical farmers are endeavOring to
ascertain and apply the best rules.
The first step to be taken by him
who would make farming as profit
able as well as pleasurable bust
ness is the selection of his land.
The choice of selecting a farm in
this country is great. There is nc
absolute necessity for undergoing the
hardships and privatiOns Of frontier
life. The necessity for this has
passed away. The farmer viii find
chances enough for his strength and
skill and enterprise in the older fields
which lie near the populous market,
and bring him within the reach of
the library If man has by nature
a taste for the active associations of
life, he should select a farm near the
populous center, and adapt his farm
ing to the wants of those who supply
him with his market. From one eni
OF our land to the other these Op-
pOrtunitics now exist. But whatever
may be the location, the choice of
suitable land should not be forgotten.
If you would cultivate a nursery of
fruit trees. choose your land accord
ingly; if you would plant a vineyard,
select a proper site; if you would sup
ply market with early vegetables,
select warm and strong soil. For he
who has good land, and the proper
material, to which he can add ZONES
and ashes and lime, to fertiliZe that
land, needs only industry and skill
and good judgment to prove that
farming pays as literally as any
other occupation on earth.
The choice of crops is allimDOTtant
to the successful farmer. The farmer
soWs his seed in autumn on land
from which a crop has first been
taken. and waits with confidence for
the return he is to receive: and the
dividend is large in proportion TO
the investment. The cattle feeder on
rich pastures never has any lear with
regard to his annual return from his
herds. The market gardener who
gathers from an acre of land near
Boston or New York a crop valued
the interest on such valuable pos
sessions and the heavy taxes. he has
still an ample reward for his labor.
We have all seen acres devoted to
asparagus and to onions and to early
potatoes and to sweet corn, which
were mines of wealth. The earth
never fails to respond to him who ap-
peals to her with Judgment and skill
and untiring care. We all agree, |
think, that farming requires more
Judgment, prudence and foresight
than any other occupation. A skilful
farmer exercises great care in the
choice of animals for his farm, he
will insist that his animals shall be
healthy and thrifty, knowing we'll
that next TO poor soil, a feeble animal
is the most improbable possession.
Should his object be the dairy, he
cannot exercise too much skill in
selecting his herd | have noticed
that medium size in all animals is
the hardest point for the farmer to
preserve. Large cattle and horses
fascinate some; they may be good in
their place. but not for general use.
The medium-sized animals are the
most profitable. most easily fed, and
can endure the most hardships,
Select we'll and feed well, and you
may be sure that the animal will re-
ward his owner
We are often told that ample build
ings should be provided as the first
step in the organization of a farm,
but | think necessary buildings should
be first erected, and enlarged ana
improved as the wants. of the farm
require and the means Of the farmer
allows. Farm buildings should be as
near the center Of the cultivated lana
as possible In this way the dis
tances of travel and transportation
are shortened. The buildings should
be neat, well-propOrtiOned and i'm
posing, if large; modest, if small.
We remember when the old-styIe
gambrel roof and the long, sIOping
rear roof were in fashion; the door
yard, as it was called was always
adorned by a solitary elm tree.
which may now be seen standine
sentinel in its old age, towering in
some cases above the spot where the
house stood. From this solitary
illustration we have gone on to the
extensive landscape gardening. The
farmhouse is now, or should be. sur
rounded by trees and shrubs and
flowers, and by a welI-kept lawn.
The additional labor required for