Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-07-18

BRoAD-MINDED CITIZEN.
| Special contribution 20 The New Englan'
| Farmer on The Chief Needs of New Engant
A gricu,ture, by Mr.. y. Il. Douglas, Sherborn
Mass, past master of the Massachusetts Stat
Grange.
One of the chief needs of New England
agriculture is, in my opinion, more faitl
in the business. From my somewha
extended acquaintance with the farmers
of New England | cannot escape the
impression that as class they are in
clined to look upon their occupation as
lacking the dignity and honor of Other
callings. Too many of them seem t
think that to be plain farmer is not
quite all they desire. They are prone to
look upon their limited number of acres
often of rugged soil, as insurmountablt
handicaps in the race. They fail tC
appreciate the fact that no acre of sol
in New England has as yet been pushed
To the limit of its productive capacity
Nor do they seem to realize the fact that
small area under the intensive method
is far better than many acres carelessly
handled.
The fact that the best markets of the
world are at our very doors seems to
have escaped their attention. The long
haul and heavy freight charges should
trouble the New England farmer but
little. He should cater largely to the
markets near his home. When he must
complete in distant markets let him
strive TO so concentrate his product thai
the toll of the carrier may take the
smallest possible percentage of the re,
turns. Our successful New England
farmer is ever alert to discover the needs
of his market. He strives 10 fill those
needs in the most attractive manner
He will not strive to educate the public
as to what it wants but will give it what
it does want and is willing to pay for.
He should make rule that his goods
are Just what they are represented to
be. and are honest in weight and meas
ure. Never try to make fifteen ounces
pass for pound or seven feet for a cord.
lie is not to be discouraged because his
first attempt TO secure market foI
sterling goods attractively put up does
not secure instant reward. Good things
are usually of slow growth. Under the
old order of things our ancestors raised
wheat and corn, beef, pork, mutton and
wool. for the then distant markets and
found a handsome profit in so doing.
Conditions have changed and their
methods would land us of to-day in the
poor house. Our fathers could not grow
cucumbers or lettuce with the aid OF the
electric light under glass, nor could they
take the milk warm from the COW and
with the separator place the delicious
cream at the door of the consumer with
in an hour from the time it left the COW.
While the New England farmer of fifty
wears ago might often figure net proh'
of five to ten dollars per acre, his wide
awake descendants of to-day may often
Ind a net of five or ten times that
amount.
The study of our surroundings and
conditions is TO greater extent need
of New England agriculture to-day than
ever before. In choosing the line OF
agriculture which one hopes to follow to
success it is of the greatest importance
that he select that particular branch tol
which he has liking. No man who
hates the sight of cow will ever make
a successful dairyman. When special
line has been fixed upon, study we'll the
conditions and surroundings.
Subscribe for ana study carefully
papers that make a speciality of that
particular line of agriculture. Do not
think that everything that you may SEE
in those papers will fit your special case
Study to gather ideas that may tit youl
needs.
The time spent by many farmers IL
attending auction sales where old plum
der. spawned horses, played out cows
and other trash are often sold for twice
the value of the same, might be proh
ably spent in visiting other farms where
one special line of work is carried on
IL is not necessary in all cases that the
farm visited be a success as often times
the most valuable lessons are those tha
teach us what not to do.
Another great need of New England
agriculture is that the farmer be broad
minded, public-spirited citizen taking
an active interest in municipal affairs
not a low, cunning politician but a mar
who votes as he prayS.
No one thing at the present time Is
doing more for the upbuilding OF agrl
culture in New England than the grange
Nothing will do more in the future IL
that direction than the grange If the
farmers will avail themselves of it:
help. The grange is not one OF those
machines where you simply press tht
button and Providence or the othel
fellow does the rest. Those who arr
not willing to work and pay one hundred
cents for each dollar of their indebtnes'
need not expect to get much value iron
the grange. 1t is as fallow field anc
as we SOW so shall we reap.