The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-01-31
WINTER ON THE r
How the Soil Tiller May Probably Employ His Time
When Regular Work is at a Standstil. Sc

When Regular Work is at a S~tandstill. &
Messrs. Editors: When we were enjoy
ing those beautiful days in October and
most of November, the practical farmer
had little time for meditation. Now that
this housing work is generally done, this beauti-
full autumn weather gone, and Boreas with his
icy clutches has penned us in, we can sit by the
fire and plan, mediate, retrospect and prospect.
We will now look over those field accounts.
Which plat of ground shows up best as to yieldz
How does that two-acre patch of sweet potatoes
show up as to winter stored roots and fattened
porkers? Which made the best and cheapest corn
lot manure, guano Or unfertilized soil! Did
that field I plowed and sub-soiled twelve to four
teen inches deep pay for the time and trouble!
These and hundred of other questions the far
mer can ask and answer sitting by his desk while
the icy breath of winter prevents any active out
side operation. These-to some people-cheerless
winter days are to the real thoughtful farmer the
very best days of the year; they afford a convenl-
ent and suitable time for planning the approach
ing campaign after quietly and carefully looking
over the results of the work just completed.
With his church paper, his farm paper, his 1T
erary paper, his Sunday-school paper, and per-
haps half a dozen others of varied interests on
the farmers table, something for every varied
taste and intelligence in the home; something be-
sides the mere food for the body; something to
help each member of the family to become not
only an intelligent citizen, but also a happy, cheer
full working force in the advancing energies that
20 to make up this busy world. 1t is the duty of
every citizen, every household, to prepare intel
~lectual and spiritual food for those dependent up
on that household. Laying in store for winter
not the sum total of a farmers duties; and when
he has provided those other essentials for real life
IN the home, those dreary days and long nights are
transformed into cheerful, inspiring periods of
growth-not physical growth merely, essential as
it is, but growth in a real knowledge of the things
that go toward making the best of life as we go
along.
Brother farmer, go out to your school-room oc-
casionally. Be a boy again just for an hour and
see how much better you can appreciate the boys
when they return home at night. Take a book
home with you and read it. There is a rural
library in most schools now where there is a pro-
gressive community, and we old farmers ought to
go out occasionally and get a book-even if it be
"Gllderoy's Book for Boys" or "Dombey & Son."
something to spice up the long evenings and thaw
out that crusty, frozen heart and let the renewed
intellectual Or spiritual circulation start afresh
during these chill winter days. You will be bet
ter for it; your home will be by far the better,
and the world around you will present beauties
and joys even amid the chilly winds and sleets of
winter; and when spring returns you'll have the
glow OF sprlngtlme in your soul and not be look
ing back with dreary thoughts of the hard winter.
Craven Co., N. @. D. [.
A A " Dorl1o- &c I'LL T---L- II II