The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-07-06

more than ten hours n day. Nor wa,
he a farmer when ne began his life In
the woods: on the contrary, he was q
banker. broken In health az well az IN
circumstances. He raises chickens and
makes butter. One OF his daughters
keeps his books. and she says the
proht on each hen. accurately ascer-
tained. In si.si annually. says James r.
Morrow In his Washington correspond
ence 10 the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
went TO the agricultural depart
ment with the question: Does farming
really pay?" Other inquiries followed
naturally. There In more stir among
the farmers OF the government than
viii be found anywhere else. except In
with energy and enthusiasm. being
evangelists. an well as scientists. The
secretary. James Wilson. might be
called the boss farmer OF the nation.
possibly or the whole world. He has
been a land owner for half a century.
settling In Iowa when he came here an
immigrant from Ayrshire. In Scotland.
acres. and that he wrought In the
ground with Scotch diligence and sa-
sacity until he amassed a large for
tune. Anyway. he lives In good style.
drives a spanking team OF horses and
bears all the signs OF content and pros
perity.
But he will not talk about his own
land: neither will he touch upon his
own experiences. He In n shrewd. un-
emotional and practical AGRICULTURAL.
When 1 saw him he was up to his ears
In business. and his spectacles were at
the tip OF his nose. A kindly man ordi-
nartiy. and mighty wise one. His
face today. however. was an inscrutable
as grindstone. Mckinley found him
TO be an able counselor I'm general mat
ters and sure reader OF agricultural
sentiment: 30. also. has Roosevelt. Nor
Ia there reluctance among democrats I'm
congress To say that James Wilson 10
the greatest farmer ever called TO the
presidents cabinet. His whole branch
or the government 10 auickened by per-
sonai ardor and stcadiness.
In ancient Persia the people were
taught that they must have children.
plant useful trees, destroy noxious ami
mails. bear water to the dry lands and
attain TO salvation by the iabcrs of az
rtcuIture. He who sows the ground
with care and diligence" they said.
ACQUIRES greater stock Of religious
merit than he could gain by the repetl-
ton OF 10000 prayers" In the sprtng
OF each year the farmers ate nd the
same table with the king and his minis
terr. In the spirit of all these thtnxs.
James Wilson IL an old fashioned Per-
sian. a ri rewd and conspicuous bust
ness man OF the central west, a man or
banks. factories and Wholesale estab-
iishments. was here the other day.
The people," he said TO me, don't
know what the agricultural department.
of their government 10 doing. Tor the ma
tional welfare. 10 IN the most useful
agency there n In this country for ths
pSomotion % prosperity and happiness.
A nj hu hSu 49, fo An4 A. is..r L..
free. A postal card from any farmer
VIII bring him every scrap, of informa-
ton that he needs. but ha must read
t. study n. and not throw IL away
Among my interests In n factory
vhere fin~ fruits and vegetables ara pun
Into cans for those who can afford ~
pay foe them offered good prices to
too ignorant and slipshod In supply mo
with the things wanted. So bought
two or thrce big farms OF my own. L
Was not a farmer. but I thought could
learn to be- one. and could apply oonl-
mon business principles to the produce
ton OF crops. The scientist az the axrt-
cultural department told me ho~ to-
plow and plant. gave me informafian
about my soil. advised me all know.
Under these conditions went to work.
The ciodhoppers came and hung over
my fences and called me a book farmer.
but 1 showed them how To groM los
bushels Of good pens instead OF -
bushels @f poor ones on an acre &C
ground. l gave them lessons In beans
and asparagus and In tomatoes aud
fruits. and now the whole community ~
alert. busy and prosperous"
Bright young men," James Wilsou
says. ARE needed In the country. The
opportunities offered by the cultivation
of the soil seem to- be as great an tn
any other field. So far. however, lit
tie effort has been made To overcome
the general belief that there h always
large amount of drudgerY connected
with farming. and. that the chances are
narrow and limited"
But" l asked. isn't hard toll n
necessary condition Of farm life
1T is hard work to run a farm-yery
hard work. and always will be. There
must be hard work everywhere"
But times and methods are rapidly
changing In all respects. We are en-
tering transition period" Secretary
Wilson says. In which the cheap wood
construction Of former years 10 giving
way TO permanent structures OF stone.
concrete and Iron. Farnhouses. through
better water supplies, plumbing and
sanitation. are being made as conven-
lent as those OF city. Moreover. no
more Significant change IL taking place
In American agriculture than the ex-
tent to which different kinds OF motive
power are taking the place OF men and
animals. Through use OF the traction
engine and automobile In the place OF
the horse on the country roads, the en-
ployment OF gasoline. steam, wind and
electric power to operate mowers,
threshers. plows, feed cutters. corn
huskers and dairy machinery are IL
Illustrations OF epoch making changes
that are now going on among modern
American farms. On one ranch In
California there Is $4,000 worth OF
farm machinery operated by some
other power than animals or men"
III a young man with $1,000 or. per-
haps, only $500. wanted To become a
farmer where should he 20 and what
should he dor
That IL ar academic question" the
secretary answered. 1T takes money TO
farm. A man can't go anywhere nor
do much OF anything without capital
Against the testimony OF James VIII
son may be put the observations and
experiences OF David Rankin. OF Tarkio.
Mo, whose remarkable achievements
are often referred TO by Secretary VIII
sons experts In soils. plants and farm
management.
Rankin is a Scotch Irishman. feet
tall and 81 years old. He owns $4,000
acres OF land. Fourteen thousand OF IL
ne plants In corn and 1000 or IL In
wheat. Cattle and swine and their feed
ing are his specialties. Il just farm"
a..