Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1906-02-22


the cost is so small that any
young man who has the time
to spare can acquire an educa-
ton. Yet we know that there
are a large number of young
men who are tied down by cir
cumstances. They have people
depending on them for support,
which would prevent them
from attending college. For
this class of young men there
are an almost endless variety of
correspondence schools which
teach every variety of profess
sion through the mails, while
the study can be carried on
during spare hours or at night
outside of their regular occupa-
ton. Some of the large col
leges have added correspond
ence courses to their institu-
tions. The advertising pages
of the magazines are full of
advertisements for courses in
almost every branch of occupa-
tion in existence. The cost of
these correspondence schools is
so small and the plan of pay
ment is so easy that any young
man who so desires can acquire
an education.
An audience of farmers will
naturally be interested in the
possibilities of the young man
who desires to devote his life to
farming. While a comparison
of the possibilities of the farm
err, past, present, and the com
ing future of the farmer is an
interesting and instructive
study.
To begin With, | would say
THAT there are several hundred
million acres of farm land In
the United States, which must
be farmed now as we'll as ten
years ago, and must be farmed
not only so we'll in the future
but, the rapid increase in popu-
lation demands that it be farm
led better.
All of this farming will be
done by the boy who is raised
on the farm. The city bred
man may take up farming as a
recreation, but seldom as an oc-
cupation. This is caused by
the fact that it takes a boyhood
on the farm to enable a person
to grasp all the details and ac-
quire the experience necessary
for successful farming.
Successful farming is a very
difficult and scientific occupa-
ton. The management of a
modern farm calls into play the
most varied powers of a persons
mind. A farmer must neces-
sarily be a fairly good veteri-
nary, and a good mechanic to
handle the complicated machin-
cry which is used on the farm
now DAYS. He most thOrOuph-
| ly understand how to raise the
best cattle, horses, and hogs
with the the least amount of
expense. He must also under
stand the composition and con-
| dition of the soil and how to in
crease its fertility by rotation
of the crops. If a feeder of
cattle and hogs he will have to
be acquainted with the markets
so as to pick the proper time to
buy or sell. All of this calls for
much preparation by study and
practical experience.
The young farmers can be
divided into two classes; those
whose fathers are successful
and. independent farmers, and
those who have no financial
backing.
For the first class where their
fathers can and will give them
ground and an opportunity to
farm, all that is necessary is
good judgment and the appli-
cation Of modern scientific
methods, which combined with
broad markets have made it
possible for the young man to
make more out of a piece of
ground than ever before.
The second class are those
who have no financial help, and
who must start as hired help or
as renters. If this class of
young men would thoroughly
prepare themselves to become
practical and scientific farmers
they would have no trouble in
securing long time leases or in
getting farms to rent on the
profit sharing plan.
There is no landlord but what
would rather rent his land to a
thorough and LID to date farm