The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-03-27
t'ls0.0~o.e~os6 sO~t..O o~O.l
HIGHER IDEaL|I.'S':;;
0N.gTHE
FHRT1
Diversity OF Work
and Thought Will
< eeP the M ind
Who1esonae1y Ao- /
Neutrality-suspicious. /
the Master Science;
|. Williams Chatham, N.

A. WllllamS, Cnatnam, N. I.
Higher ideals in agricultural life
will not injure any one, but will lend
strength to any cause of public in
terest that We may champion" These
concluding words by N. E. Cook in
The Tribune Farmer nearly a year
ago are worthy of study by those
engaged in agricultural pursuits
throughout the length and breadth of
the land. Nowadays we hear much
of the abandonment of the farm by
the younger generation and of how
to keep the boys on the farm. Sure.
ly to attain this object there can
be no surer or better way than through
higher ideals in agricultural life.
Though the first duty of the farmer
is the care and culture of his farm,
yet while toiling thus, and all honest
toll is good, he must diversity his
work. As in study it is we'll to have
variety of studies at one time to
preserve the elasticity of the mind
and prevent a centering of thoughts
entirely on one subject, which has
the effect of weakening rather than
Strengthening, SO the farmer must
bring more variety into his life, nur-
ture the garden of the mind, cult.
waite the ideal, bring to his home the
best journals and books, which are
now within the reach of all. Let
there be less of the monotonous druid
gerry on the farm Beautify the
home and give some thought to the
science of agriculture.
If all the readers of The Tribune
Farmer will for a little while give
attention and think what this life
on the farm really means we will see
what higher ideals may be brought
into agricultural life and how the
tfller of the soil may be broadened
out into an ardent student of ma
ture study, for
To the solid ground of nature trusts
the mind that builds for age.
If we pause for little in the daily
routine of farm work to consider the
broad fields for diversified study pos
sible in agricultural life, we may we'll
wonder at the desire on the part of
many to exchange agricultural life
for that of the city. It must surely
be from want of knowledge of the
opportunities for advancement and
the realization of higher ideals OF
the true study of agriculture as the
master SCIENCE
The master science! That is per.
haps an ambitious title, but it is one
which may be easily claimed
for Agriculture, as she calls
into her service a greater num-
Der of sciences than any other Industry
that man can choose-chemistr
botany, physiology, physics, are some
of those called into the service of
Agriculture; nor is the student linn.
tied to strictly scientific lines; he
has also the unbounded field of ma.
ture spreading out before his mind
and eye, new phases of study to in
terest his mind, to awaken that in
ner spirit leading men to desire
higher ideals in life. These things
should not be forgotten in the SEEM
ing isolation of farm life. Let those
who complain of the nIonotony of
farm work stop to think little
as they work, and they will find
there is no monotony in it, but that
it is work full of interest and variety
The mere routine of ploughing and
cultivating the soil may seem unin-
teresting enough, but consider the
purpose of this work, and it at
once becomes deeply interesting
preparation of the soil for the recep-
tion of the seed and growth of the |
plants; the aeration of the soil so
that there may be free passage of |
air for the breathing OF the plant
roots, and supply of oxygen to main
tain the existence of germs in the
soil creating plant food. Here, too,
chemistry may come in; chemical
analysis can tell what are the con-
stituents of the soil, but it cannot |
tell what the soil may produce: that
will depend on it's treatment and |
the action of the seasons.
Follow this line of thought through |
the life of the plant, from the tiny |
seed deposited in the seed bed on to
the harvested crop. Each week.
each month brings variety and
change. All around are natures
workings, giving food for thought.
Mark the bursting of the leaf buds
in spring. the fallings leaves in au,.
umn, with their ever changing shades
of color caused by the action of the
sun and air on the chemical consu- !
tuent of the leaf, carrying in its fall
to earth many elements of fertility
to feed the soil that grows those
giants of the forest.
Again, in that other branch of the
farmers work, the breeding of live
stock, he can have his higher ideals,
seeking after Improvement always.