The independent-reporter., 1909-10-21
PAPER on ATTRACTIONS
OF FARMING
lead Before J.. somersei PemenA Of
~ Alhsns, by ar<. 4. u. Trscy.


soil is In closest touch with Mother
Earth. He learns the secrets of Ma
ture. watches the seasons aud In the
alchemist at whose touch base soil Is
transmitted into golden grain lie
feeds the world and clothes IL as we'll
II the farmers by concerted action.
were to take years vacation, the
trader, the artisan. the teacher and
the members OF the learned profes.
sions would soon be petitionlng up
on bended knees for their return To
work Those who are content to live
without considering the source
whence comes the necessaries OF life
scarcely realize how dependent they
are upon the farmers brain and mus
Gle. That the farm gives a good
foundation for mental training, Is ev-
ident to any one who has compared
the school records of country boys
with the school records of the boys
In the cities. Habits of application
OF industry, and of thoroughness In
school come naturally enough to one
who has been trained to farm work
and not only does the farm furnish
mental athletes for the city but the
average farmer possesses more in
formation of general value than the
average resident of a city. If he has
not always read the latest fiction or
!
he has generally read something fully
as useful. The long evenings of the
winter, the rainy days of the sum
mer, and the Sabbath days through
out the year, give him many hours
for reading, and while at work he has
more time for meditation and for the
digestion of what he reads, than those
employed at other kinds of labor. He
has the Sound mind in the sound
body" which has been sought in ev-
cry age.
The farmer, while gathering the
fruits of his labor and enriching him
self by adding to the worlds wealth
learns the true basis of rewards. He
learns to give a dollars worth of
work for dollars worth of product
He feels, too, a sense of proprietor
ship in the product of his labor that
is not felt by one who produces as an
employee 1t is the sense of proprie-
torship and independence that makes
one feel an increasing desire to own
his own home.
The child raised upon the farm has
the advantage of occupation and
great advantage it is-for Satan
finds some mischief still for idle
hands to do"-and he is shielded
from the allurements of the city,
while good habits are being acquired
and character is being formed. 1t is
not that farm life is without its temp
tations, but the influence of the faith
er, the mother and the home have
greater field for operation, and pa
ternal authority is not here so strain
ed to counteract the force of outside
currents.
IINCll Ill Tic SIillFdllOH vi a tdSib
for the aesthetic, the country has its
advantages. There is a beauty in the
| handiwork of the Almighty which 1t is
the pride of man to approach, but not
within his power to reach. A coun-
try landscape with its hues that
change with the seasons, cannot be
! transferred to paper or to canvas.
Those who live their lives on narrow
streets and have their vision limited
| by lofty walls miss the glowing tints
of the dawn and the rich colorings
that streak the west at sunset They
know not the inyigorating breezes of
the early morning, the music of the
birds or the lowing of the contented
kline at night-fall The cut flowers
from the hot-house are not a perfect
substitute for the blossoms that are
cultivated by members of the family
and that seem to shed richer frag
rance because they are home grown,
and represent a care that cannot be
measured.
The most laborious forms OF farm
labor, considering the quantity of
work to be done, are plowing and har-
vesting grain, hay, corn and potatoes.
The riding plow has robbed one form
of its excessive fatigue, the self
binder has supPlanted the cradle, and
the mower has taken the place of the
scythe, while the corn cutter has not
only lightened the work Of gathering
corn but has made 1t possible to post
pone the husking until winter besides
making 1t easier to save the fodder.
With improved breeds the pleasure
of handling stock is largely increased.
There Is a satisfaction In raising the
best kinds of cattle and the best speci-
mems of the various breeds. Even
more fascinating, If possible, is the
poultry department of the farm. The
numerous breeds give a wide range
for taste. Then the various kinds of
crops furnish an opportunity for ex-
pertinent and investigation, while the
garden Is the pride of every rural
household. Horticulture Is the hand
maid of agriculture and occupies a