Graham guardian., 1908-05-08
Farming News

literature for this reason, it is
eternal truth.
The farmer and all men want
literature because they want truth.
They, more than any one else,
need to know how to think
scientifically or rightly, and so act
rightly. First the farmer needs
literature IN business farming.
Government experiment stations
and schools are conducting ex-
periments and making investiga
tons, tho purpose of which is to
learn the truth about things, the
right or scientific way of doing all
agricultural work. The results of
these operations are printed period
ically, and these bulletins the
farmer may have for the asking
Any question the farmer may ask
will be answered by experts at
these stations. The United States
and state departments Of agricuI-
ture issue literature of this kind,
that is easily obtained. The state
farmers institutes are often re-
ported at state expense. and the
reports furnished to the farmers
who take local newspapers, or he
may apply tor the reports to the
state department of agr culture. |
know the farmers do not appreciate
the work the editors Of the agricul-
tnral papers in this country are
doing. | believe they are men
who are conscieutlously trying to
give their readers the truth about
farming, and that the most success
ful farmers give their experiences
in these papers, and they are ready
to submit any question the farmer
may ask them to the best authuri-
ties in the country.
All the literature | have named,
the farmer is surely in need Of l
have been In the country and seen
the farmer and their sons go to the
mail box and get from it one of the
city dailies, and spend the noon
hour in reading details OF CRIMINALS
or sensational news. He spends
his time in reading this history Of
depraved human life, which to-
morrow has 20 interest for bin.
There is animal and vegetable life
all around him, which most farm.
ers know very little about. An
application to the Agricultural
Department Of Connell University
would bring to bin and his child
ren, free, Nature study reading
course and is literature that could
take the place of the city news
paper with far more beneficial and
permanent results in his work as a
farmer | believe the farmer should |
take paper or magazine that
contains brief and clean history
Of human events for the week or
month, but | believe this is obtained
from one of the high class maya.
zines, and not in papers that are Of
the type of most Of the city dailies.
There is one kind Of literature
that | do not often see in the homes
of farmers, the writings of such
men as John Burroughs, Thoreau,
Bailey and Burbank. | want the
farmer to see nature more as these
poet-naturalists see it. | would |
have the esthetic sense Of farmers
so cultivated that they are able 10
see and enjoy the natural beauty |
10 the midst of which they dwell. |
| believe most farmers do not see
beauty in the landscape, in the
trees, plants and flowers as they
must do to get the fullest enjoy
ment from country life.
The farmers poor health is II
well known fact. He rea DIS patent
medicine advertisements, aim anacs
has imaginary diseases, and no
other class takes more patent
He needs meta physical
literature, mixed with good sense,
and that which tells him about
cooking and sanitary liv-
ing. The farmer needs, more than
all else, the literature that reveals
to him great moral or spiritual
truths that govern all right actions.
Every truly successful farmer must
be good man. His work is to so
direct great Natural forces, that
they are caused TO serve him
THIS is work that requires II
thoroughly moral life, honesty aud
integrity of character of the high
est order. Nature always CO.
operates with the conscientious
and honest worker, and gives him
an abundant harvest. Those who
grow farm produce or their
neighbors Cor for markrD must be-
lieve in, and practice the golden
rule, if they would b. permanently
successful.
| would be glad to see on every
farmers table one of the religious
weeklies or monthlies, or some
periodical that be looks upon as a
spiritual help or guide. l want to
see in the farmers library what we
call the classical lteraturc-the
standard poetical works, history,
biographies ana fiction, but these