The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-02-02
gRgFIzRD and
aAz)s!GARDEN
THE COMING FARMBoY.
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THE COMING FARMBOY.
The time is fast approaching when
the intelligent, Industrious and en-
ergetic farmboy will occupy more
prominent place in the affairs Of the
State and nation than he has occu-
pied in the past. The rapid pace which
has to be taken by people engaged
in the professions and in mercantile
pursuits in order to successfully
meet the competition on every hand
is not conducive to the mental en-
dowment Of the descendants, and the
farmboy of rugged constitution and
industrious habits will be in great
has ever been known. Much as has
been written in regard to the prom
inent part that such breeding and
early training in the country have
contributed to the successful man.
agement of great enterprises and
the successful prosecution Of profess
sional matters, much more will be
said in the same direction in the fu-
ture. The farms of the country have
been and will continue to be the nur-
series where the ranks of those with
overworked brains and shattered
nerves will be replenished.
There is also most promising fu-
ture for the farmboy who takes up ag-
riculture as an occupatioL Farming
is no longer drudgery and muscular
exertion, in which the man occupies
about the same place as the beasts OF
burden, but is an industry calling
for the keenest intelligence and the
application of well-defined principles
If the farmboy can be made to UNI
derstand that the cultivation of the
soil and the feeding of stock are bas-
ed upon principles as well and
clearly defined as the principles that
underlie any mechanical or mercan-
lille business. and that when the same
skill and energy are applied yield as
profitable returns as these, they will
offer greater attractions to them.
When to these facts are added the OPP
portunity to participate in public at
fairs and the assurance that because
they become farmers they do not sur
render all claim to public recognition
and renown, they will enter upon
the work of the farm with greater
courage and less forbodings.
In order to obtain these results 1t
is necessary that they be fitted for
the work as thoroughly as persons are
fitted for work in other matters. They
must study agriculture as the person
who is to become a physician studies
medicine or a person who is to be-
come an attorney studies law. They
must not only know how to do things,
but why they are done. They must
know the effect upon the soil of diff
erent methods of culture, and the eff
feet upon animals of different sys-
TENS Of feeding. They must know
a thousand things that were unknown
to anyone a generation or two ago,
and then, and not till then, will they
be in position to practice farming
as intelligently and as successfully as
does the physician practice medicine
or the attorney practice law.
It requires time and some money
to acquire this knowledge, but not so
much as is required to prepare for
other occupations and professions
that yield good returns. There is no
preparation necessary for the labor
er who uses the pick and shovel at a
dollar and half day, but prepara-
ton is necessary for the person who
earns three or four times that amount
in any kind of work. There is no
preparation necessary for the farmer
who is content to harvest what the
soil produces of it's own accord, but
preparation is necessary for the far
mer who produces three or four times
the normal yield of the soil. The man
who manipulates the soil and directs
the elements of nature in an intelli-
gent manner in the production OF that
crop is the important factor rather
than the soil itself. Fathers and
mothers who desire their boys to be-
come farmers should encourage them
to make the requisite preparation for
their Iifework, and then there Will be
less abandoned farms and less dis
couraged and disheartened farmers
Manchester American.
CONSUMPTION OF MUTTON.
One Of the causes of the growing
10. Irx4 ovid