The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-01-24
THE VALUE OF A FARM.

GENTLEMEN OF THE CLUB AS you already
aware that I am not much OF an essayist. it lie
rather difficult matter to introduce subject
that will bring about much of an enlighteniDg
discussion As we are a band of farmers it would
be well to keep on that line. therefore have taken
for our copside ration the value of farm. There
are few farmers who place proper estimate upon
the value OF their farm. do not refer to the sale
able value OF the land alone. The question for us
to decide is. what is our farm worth to us for the
purpose of furni shing a home and livelihood !?
Well may the farmer of to day be grateful, the
opportunities that are his. the obstacles he mus
overcome. are vastly different from those our fore
fathers had to face The advantage is wholly ours
and the farm boy of the future will have even
more opportunities and advantages to be thankful
for Years ago the Young farmers could enter
public lands. To-day those free lands, improved
and increased in value. are splendid heritage te
our farm youth. Against the virgin fertility
the new lands of the pioneers which required
neither sciences great skill TO make them yield
abundantiy the farmer of to.day has at hand the
accumulated knowledge of two generations OF
bright farmers and of the agricultural institutions
for education and research established for his
benefit. There is now = hercer competition re
4uiEAuB WiocH AhoWlouS0 ouu BEcotcH cAhis Oue
improved machinery has made the physical work
less of strain In those early days the chances
for one with no capital were better, property was
increasing in value more rapidly. Now the
worlds markets make easier the production Il
yearly income. Then the farmers could only look
forward to life of isolation. now modern trans.
portation. rural delivery and rural telephones
have put the farmer in close touch with neighbors
| aud the town.
The wealth accommodating in cities is as never
before ready to pour out to the farmers In
| munerative prices for standard and choice pro-
ducts. The non agricultural classes not only fur
nish wonderful market for farm products. but
they yearly adding to the supply of things the
| farmers need to make farming easier and country
lie more enjoyable. The one thing country peo-
pie lack is close association with one another that
education which comes from constantly touching
elbows in all the affairs of lits knowledge Of this
fact led Congress to institute system of country
life education the agricultural colleges. and every
year since they were started the completely of the
problem of scientific agriculture has become more
evident and the future farm boy will be q large
factor in Clean strong. civil life. He will remain
long enough in the agricultural high schools.
where with organ ization. cooperation and work in
deliberation assemblies, he win be taught by
actual practice the elements of public work and
cooperative management He viii have with his
technical education 9 broad training. fitting him
for good citizenship.
A study Of the profits from American farms
shows that the farmers mind and habits and his
ability as farm manager are the largest in his
success. To succeed he must have not only q
good plan for managing the tarm but he must have
executive power Il has been acknowledged that
the farmer is the basis of the prosperity of the
country aud farm product Is nations prop. Sec
rotary Wilson in his statement said that the farm
quantity. while its value is much above that of
any preceding year It is not what America con.
sumes alone, but to think of our exports
stream of wealth has constantly been sent from
farms to foreign countries. 1t is he who has pro-
vided the immigrants with millions to send every
year to his friends in the old countries. and ii
there is still any credit to dispose of the ia, mer
has provided the American traveller in foreign
countries with his pocket money. And the great
est heritage Of the coming ia m boy is the spirit
Of achievement which the recent past brings to
him The atmosphere Is full of progress, yet The
world has level head. and only gives up the old
for the new when the innovation proves itself
rthy.
After considerable favorable com
ment on the essay had been in.
dulged in, the following committee