The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-05-11
Many Settlers. Few Farmers.
(By Chas. NJ. Rogers)

by Chas. NJ. Rogersl
Ii is to be deplored that in the Up.
per Peninsula Of Michigan. where land
is practically cheap and most fertile.
and settled to quite large extent, we
find many settlers but very few farmers
that is, farmers in the proper sense Of
the word. BY this mean farmers
who are advanced enough to have ideas
above the simple raising Of hay and
potatoes, keeping scrub stock and
growing because farming does not
pay. These are now occupying our
farm lands. plough, SOW and toll. both
early and late, live in the country and
are termed farmers. The majority OF
them are content with cheap cattle,
very few keep sheep and hogs, their
wives take care Of the poultry, the
latter having 10 struggle along in poor
buildings, without light, and il APP
pears to nle that they exist simply be-
cause nature has endowed them with
great endurance. simply "a survival
OF the fittest" or toughest When
there is an opportunity TO attend a
Farmers Institute they do not attena.
but laugh at the idea Of people coming
from the lower part of the state TO
teach them how TO farm they know
nothing of rotation OF crops, do not
realize the difference in the value Of
the raw product, in the form of hay.
oats and potatoes, or the horse. COW.
sheep or hog as finished product. II
you call this TO their attention, they
say. 1--WE are too poor, and cannot
afford it, They will argue that they
cannot raise stock in this cold climate,
il costs too much 10 build suitable
buildings and so on. To get what we
want, we all have to pay for IT, With
ont spending time, money and labor,
can a merchant or any other business
man in business, succeed in his under
takingg We cannot get something for
nothing Right here is where the
farmer has the advantage over the busi-
ness man. His crops and mis- stock are
growing multiplying and gaining in
value while he sleeps or while he is
talking politics at the saloon In the
nearest village. Most Of the farmers
have some timber. and buildings can
be put up cheaply, because a farmer
need not study architectural beauty as
ia man in town Is expected TO do.
Let him devote more Of the time fritz
cred away in running 70 town, in keep
| ing mp his buildings aud fences, and
he will soon note the difference.
Now about the farmer Of whom we
have 80 few and need 80 much. Who
are they. look around your township,
almost anyone can name them. You
can count them on the fingers OF one
hand. Who does not know the men
who are successful farmersI How did
they startf Why just IN the same way
as lots Of their neehbors perhaps with
less What is the reason they do SO
much better them Why they attend 10
business. are frugal. honest and in
dustrious When they do anything.
they know why they do il. II they
plant certain crop they get some
thing that will consume 10 10 the best
profit. II they have a calf, IL is fed
well from the start, and when matured,
IL become a good animal. and the same
may be said OF the rest Of their work /;
they study their work. They are an
xious 20 learn. They read the farm
papers take In seed catalogues and buy
a better grade OF seed than they Bnd at
the country store. They do not put all
their eggs into ons market basket. they
believe in diversity Of crops. and 80
we might 60 on.
our merchants. in many cases. do
not take the pains they might TO
obtain good tools and seeds and when
a farmer brings in his produce be is
met with laugh and the statement
that they can buy this OF that, 20 much
cheaper down below. Yet they ex-