Oxford Democrat., 1909-03-02
The Vision of Better Things.

The Vision of Better Things.
The farmer who is ambitious to do
better things than he has done in the
past is the hope of this nation.
Men do not always realize that they
may be called to be farmers, just the
same as some are chosen to be lawyers
or doctors or preachers; but hold 1t to
be fact that men are set apart for the
farm in exactly the same way that they
are for any of the go-called learned pro-
fessions. IL We understood this truth,
there would be far less uneasiness
among the farming classes, still less dis
position to find fault with ones environ
ment and even less still of willingness To
follow the same narrow channels year
after year.
The farmer who in some degree real.
ICES that great things are awaiting him
if he does his best TO fill the places to
which he has been predestined, will take
long looks into the future. He will see,
not simply the end of this days work,
but the object which can be reached
only by years of faithful earnest en-
deavor.
Let us now apply this to the dairy
farmer, just as practically as we can.
First set it down for a fact that we are
on the farm because there is something
really worth while for US to do. The
great plan for us is that we shall do
something which shall make this old
world little better. How can we do this?
Begin just where We are. That seems
10 be the most sensible conclusion pos
sible. We may never be able to strike
twelve all at one time; but by keeping at
il we may in the course of time get in
the twelve strokes and make them count
just the same. IL we have not the
money or the means to get about us the
herd of cows we would like at once, let
us do the next best thing and, with the
vision of the better dairy we would like
TO have clearly in mind, strike toward it
with all our might.
Every man of us has a foundation for
such a work under his feet. II he has
not more than five or six COWS, he is in a
way TO make his little herd larger and
better. The thing is to go about it with
an eye and heart single to the duty
and the privilege before him, and never
be satisfied until he has reached the aim
of his aspiration.
Now, say man has these few cows,
what next? Well, next, let him hold a
council of war with himself and decide
which of those cows are the best. BY
the best mean, those which by virtue
of their age, physical characteristics and
actual performance are best qualified to
act as breeding stock. Some of the
tests which may be applied here are,
quantity and quality of milk; build of
body; capacity of udder; condition Of
health; aud hereditary tendencies.
These tests may strike out some cows
which have been looked upon as choice
and which have held first place in the
affections of the owner. Let that be as
it may, sentiment must not be permit
ted TO hold sway at time like this.
Having determined which are the
cows best fitted to become the mothers
of the dairy herd which is to be, let the
owner mate these cows with the best
possible sire. If he has none of his own,
and does not yet feel able to invest in
such a one as will satisfy the require
meuts of the situation, let him look
about among his neighbors for such
sire. 1t may be he will be compelled to
go long way to reach such an animal.
This should not discourage him; neither
should il stand in his way that he must
pay a considerable sum for the service
he secures. The money will all come
back to him in the long run.
When the calves begin to come from
these cows, let him make it the work OF
his life to bring them up to maturity in
the best possible condition. Calves are
many times neglected. This is sad
mistake. Ii makes all the difference in
the world how we raise the calves. We
lay stress on the treatment of children
when young. Even the colt is cared for
with great solicitude. Why not the
cows which are to furnish US our living
to- o-morrow?
At the same time that the calves are
coming up, let the ambitious farmer be
doing other things in the way of rearing
for the better dairy which is in his
dreams. A better barn, with silo to
furnish succulent food; a good system of
some good dairy require
ments, if he intends to make up his milk
at home; good churns, and in fact all the
for better work in the house
and at the barn.
Also let him see that be has a pure
water supply which will never fail. Let
the pasture be brought into the best
possible condition. The brush and
weeds may be cut off, the old moss.
bound turf rooted up and seeded down
TO good pasture grass, and the water
supply attended to. In the meadows
the same system of improvement may be
adopted. Fences may be rebuilt and
stones all picked up clean.
Following this plan carefully and sys-
for a few years the farmer
will see the vision coming true. He VIII
become more and more convinced that
he may do what he wants to do and full
ill the mission upon which he has been