The Colfax chronicle., 1903-12-19
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE NEW FASHIONED FARMER
The Up-tO-Date Farmer Avai1s Hlm-
self of All Methods of Making
Farm Lsfe Easier.

/
believed that the only qualification for
his business that farmer needed was
to have been the son of an old-fash-
ioned farmer and born ON a farm As
Tor "book-larnin," of course teachers
and doctors and lawyers had to have
1t; but farmers didn't need anything
OF the sort, except to read and write,
for he must consult the almanac for
the phases of the moon and to see II
the sign" is right for planting. As
to studying sciences, farmers had
neither time nor use for any such nom
sense. AS he had been taught, plow-
ing and hoeing and harvesting was all
q farmer need to know, and all this
he could learn by seeing it done, or BY
actually doing it. AS to the why's and
wherefores of any sort of farm work,
1t was useless waste of time to both
er his head about such things The old
fashioned farmer can be found in
places even in this enlightened day
men whose hereditary characteristics
and opinions could not be changed by
any array of object lessons. AS a
mans nature or the color of his eyes
or hair can not be changed by argu-
ment or evidence, so are hereditary
prejudices ineradicable. But the old
fashioned farmers are rapidly disap-
pearing. Soon they will all be dead of
old age or inanition, and the places
where they were we will find the stir
ring. energetic new-fashioned farmer.
The old bow-backed, frazzled-out farm
er, who Is superannuated before mid
die life from the effort to overcome OBJ
stacies by main strength and awk-
wardness" just as chicken thief pulls
hen OF the roost, has no reasonable
excuse for his condition, unless 1t bt,
that he prefers to carry in his person
the curse of Adam, rather than to
straighten himself up like a man and
require his head to help his hands.
Fortunately, the old-fashioned farmer
is disappearing by the operation of ma
ture; for he can not live always. On
the contrary. he gets rid of his youth
early in life, and gradually fades
away.
1t can not be said that the rew-fash-
loned farmer has taken his place, for
the up-to-date, new-fashioned farmer
wouldn't have his old rundown place.
or he would make 1t over, and oblit-
crate the tracks of his woe-begone pre-
decessor, and this could not be termed
ming the place of the old-fashioned
farmer. The new-fashioned farmers
knowledge, vigor and success puts him
In the majority as to results Secretary
wilson, himself new-fashioned farm
er, has this to say about him: "He
must be practical scientist. The man
who does not understand the science
OF the soil has no business on a farm.
II a boy wants to become farmer, 1t |
is Just as necessary that he take a
course at an agricultural college, as 1t |
is to the boy who wants to be d lawyer,
a doctor or preacher. to be educated |
In his profession" and again the Sec
retary says: 1T is in everything the |
farmer has to cultivate and grow that |
the reason for his being an agricultural |
scientist is found II he knows the |
reason why things don't grow or do |
grow. or his crops are large or small.
he gains the wisdom that will help him
to increase his crops the next year, and
so make his income greater
The old-fashioned farmer was. and
what there is left of him still is, a
plodder The new-fashionei farmer /
avails himself of every modern i'm
provement in methods and imple-
ments, attends farmers Institutes.
reads agricultural books, papers and
bulletins, but does not necessarily Le-
lieve everything he sees in print, but
considers the source, and exercises his
Judgment, discriminating as best he
,an between a well-educated Judgment
rs to the reliability of persons and pa
pers He may not be a graduate of an,
agricultural college, but he has eyes
lc see, ears to hear, and a desire to
know, regardless of obstacles which it
s his delight to overcome Such a man
s usually well-6eveloped physically,
mentally and morally. He raises first
lass live stock, which he takes pride
n using, showing to his neighbors. or
It fairs, or selling If he elas not a
comfortable home. and happy family.
{ Is because he has not had time to de-
'elop his estate; but he will Jways &c
ound on the road to sure success
long this line, and providence permit
ing, he will be found at the top of the ]
ill of success in due time. He does |
lot exhaust his effort in growing crops
nd stock and marketing his products,
'ut home comforts and ornamentatson .
laims portion of his labor, time and
tudy. If he breeds an extra fine horss,
e does not give all his attention TO
the animal. but his children
re trained with even more care and !
fection than the finest animal These
farmers can be found 6
II over the country; but at farmers
Institutes, and at farmers congresses,
hey may be seen in large numbers; ,
nd where they are instantly recog-
lied as the hope of the country. The /
reatest producers of wealth, and the a
rmest supporters of the laws, and be- /
ond question the only large class of
itizens who always favor prudent and
onest government, for they compose Il
he only important class who ask no 2
Decial favors at the expense of 9th c