The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-20

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around in the summer and in the winter
the farmer feeds them grain, but keeps
no account-he just takes the grain from
the crib or bin and throws it on the
ground I dare say the farmer would
learn, If he figured It out, that hts outlay
on poultry exceeds his receipts"
what effect have automobiles had on
the horse Industry"
prices are about the same, but the
supply of horses has decreased until
there is shortage in the country. Far
mers are not raising as many colts as
formerly. Some breeders OF blooded
stock have gone out OF business and
number OF horse doctors In New York
have become chaufreurs."
1.-THE farmer. too l said, has a labor
problem that is giving him considerable
bother"
ITEMS OF thousands OF farmers have
sold their land OF rented II because Of the
scarcity of reliable and capable agricul-
tural workers. Farm Iaborers can do bet
ter In the country than elsewhere. but
the pull OF the age is toward the cities.
All of the literature for our schools is
favorable to urban life and unfavorable
by implication to the farm as a home
and work place. Boys studying geOgra-
ply in our rural schools are taught COM
merce and shipping Nothing in their
readers glorifies farming or gives it the
proper meaning and value It always
has been so. / was born in tho SOUTH
western part of Missouri. AT six years
of age I wanted 70 be a clerk I'm store
and wear good clothes When ] was
seven and q railway had come through
II was my ambition 70 be a locomotive
engineer. And all the time my mother
was calling me her little school teacher
The farmers themselves almost In
variably say they hope their children will
be something more than we have been
They are men of no wisdom and are
hurting their boys and girls. We have
got TO give agriculture its proper place in
our literature and textbooks IL we are
TO save the most important and hon.
orable occupation OF mankind and 10 sup
ply the people OF the United States with
food. Mr.. Roosevelt, an outside man, saw
conditions clearly and saneiy. and by his
appointment OF a commission 10 investi-
gate country life has done more 20 dig
Nifty farming than have all our books and
writer's on economic subjects; and our
novelists, too. might add"
Pretty Had Work.
with ell Of lts advantages and inven-
tons. farming is still pretty hard work,
remarked
"a man can obtain a good income
from one hundred acres OF land and not
do a stroke Of work-if he knows how to
manage his business. When my father
moved 10 Missouri he had a blind horse.
a two-wheeled vehicle, wife and two
children. and 50 cents in cash. He made
farm out OF the forest and died at the
age OF fOrty-eight, worked out. But he
left 500 acres and not dollar OF debt.
For his day. he was an excellent mana
ger, but he killed himself, nevertheless.
We got up in the morning az 6 o'clock.
fed our stock, ate our breakfast, and
were in the fields AZ z o'clock. Nor did
we work until dark
Il recollect that at the age OF seven
teen, wanting to enter the university. I
contracted 10 do some plowing for a
neighbor who had Just moved in with
an inheritance Of six horses and a num-
Der OF cows. ] was TO get 20 cents a day
Reaching the field at o'clock. I found
the farmer blowing as hard as he could.
You are late, he said.
It's the time we go TO work at our
house. I replied,
Well. he answered, I begin at and
stick 10 il until az night
You ought 10 get rich, I ventured 70
observe. hut with respect. inasmuch az he
was three times my age. However this
field viii be a failure because your fur
row is only three inches deep
$50 I Went home The wheat in that
field was too lean TO cut the next year
-Four Of the farmers horses had died IN
the meanwhile OF starvation. and he had
traded his cows for groceries and cloth
ing. Going TO New Mexico in a broken
down wagon. he stole some cattle with
the help OF his two sons, and was sent
TO the penitentiary, along with his off
spring Yes, SIR he said TO me. as I
left him that morning hard work will
make any man rich and successful
Are farmers wives compelled 10 work
as hard as ever?'' l inquired.
There is machinery for the men, but
none for the women 10 tighten their toll.
Women in the country, unfortunately.
work about as hard as ever. When the
farmer prospers he hires men 10 help
MIN, but at the cost of his wife, who
must cook for them and WASH their
clothes However. If woman is intelIi-
gent, has a taste for the finer things OF
lie. and the strength Of character kindly
to insist upon her rights, she can make
conditions easier for herself, If her hus-
band Is a reasonable man."
DO prof assional agriculturists ever
own land and cultivate II"
Most of them do, nowadays. II they
didn't they would not have much infu
ence as teachers. l have a farm, LOCO
miles away in Missouri, which l manage
by mail and at profit 20 myself and my
tenant
copyright. 1910. by James B. MOrrU-.