The progressive farmer., 1904-04-26
A FREE FARMERS LIBRARY.

preciate. If the glory of a sunrise could he seen
only once year, the whole world would get up
early and drink in it's radiance and beauty But
we have a sunrise every day, and who stops to adj
mire it9 If the opportunity of saying a kind
word to parent brother or sister or friend came
only once year, few of us would neglect it. But
it is an everyday opportunity and because it is
most of us wait till too late. If only one man
in ten were permitted to speak correct English
few would fail to envy the tenth man. But the
privilege is open to every one, and most of us
sin against knowledge and against grammar.
If the State allowed only ten children in each
school district to attend the public schools free
of charge, few parents would fail to have their
children strive for the prize. But the schools
are open to al, and many parents are allowing
their children to GROW up in ignorance
1t is not the object of this editorial however
to moralize this trait of human nature This
train of thought is merely suggested by the gen
eral failure of our farmers to avail themselves
of the opportunities presented by the Govern
ment's publication of Farmers Bulletins The
Government spends hundreds of dollars annually
for these bulletins, and each subject is handled
by an authority thoroughly familiar with it's
practical and scientific aspects. In many cases
the Government, in addition to its own tests goes
to great expense to find out the most approved
and satisfactory methods in use by farmers gen
orally. And if some great agricultural publish
ing house we're issuing these publications, fifty
cents would be about an average price for them.
Then if that publishing house were to announce
some day that for the rest of the year, the books
would be sent free of charge to any farmer de-
string them, how heavy would be the demand
and how rare would be the farmer whose
would not be sent in before December 31sti But
here the Government of the United States is Of
fering 365 days in the year-and 366 in leap
years--to send these Farmers Bulletins free of
charge to any farmer who applies for them, and
how few avail themselves of the opportunity
presented!
Now these bulletins are really of great practi
cal value, and we should greatly like to our
Progressi1 Farmer readers using them more
literally. And this is campaign year, our Rep
resentatives and Senators will be than usual
ly delighted to supply those of readers who
may be in need of them. We therefore print
ing herewith the official list of Farmers Bulletins
now available for free distribution, and we urge
every farmer reader to make list of those he
wishes and forward at once to his Representa-
tive Senator in Congress or to the Secretary OF
Agriculture, Washington, d. @. The copies will
be promptly forwarded, free of cost-except the
cost you have already paid in tariff and revenue
taxes-and you will have quite a nucleus for
farm library. Some of the bulletins relating to
gardening, flower growing, and household work,
your wife may need for herself; get them also.
And while we should like to believe that you are
filing your copies of The Progressive Farmer for
future reference, yet if you are not, you might
just cut out this page, mark the bulletins you
wish, and forward it your request. At any
rate, get the Bulletins somehow other; they are
worth having, and you help pay the tax money