The Green Forest tribune., 1910-01-21
QUALITIES OF GOOD FARMER
Nothing of More Vital importance Than Appearance of Farm BuiId-
 ings and Surroundings.

There is nothing of more importance to the farmer and his family than the appearance of the farm, it's buildings and surroundings, writes Prof. A. L. Stone of Wisconsin university in Farmers Review. When driving along a country road one almost uncon- sciously judges the caliber of farmer by the appearance of his home. Al most invariably the farmer who keeps his buildings well repaired and paint ed. fences well cared for and yards free from rubbish, is a careful man otherwise. He takes pains to keep good stock. raise good grain and to care for them properly.
 Nothing, for instance. so quickly brings upon a farmer the censure of his peers as failure to properly care for the machinery upon which the culture and harvest of the crops de pend. And yet how often we see even the most expensive of the farm ma chinery exposed to the tiercest blasts of winter and corroded by rust as a result of snow and rain. The farmer who thus leaves tools unprotected be- cause he thinks he cannot put up suitable buildings in which to house them has a false idea of economy and should at once correct it.
 A building which would properly and effectually house all the tools in use on the ordinary farm could be built for $200 CT less and yet by ex- posture to wind and weather the life of machinery worth many times that sum is being shortened all too rapidly so rapidly that in the course of a very few years he will have to pur- chase anew expensive tools to replace those which have entrusted their use fitness. He could have paid for a tool shed with the money used to purchase new machines and retained his old machines practically as good as new.
 The general appearance of the farm owned by such a farmer is generally in keeping with the manner of housing his tools. Fences and buildings are in need of repairs; rubbish is piled in the barnyard and the fence corners; trees, if there are any. are left un- pruned, and the wife undoubtedly has to secure her own frewood. Such man is not easily convinced that he can learn anything from an agrieul- tural paper He usually knows" there is no value in a farmers insti- tute and would not attend under any circumstances. His father farmed and made money before a farmers insti- tute was ever thought of and what was good enough for father is good enough for him." He would probably object to having agriculture taught in the public schools; in fact, would probably prefer to teach his sons the style of agriculture their grandfather practiced when the soil on the old farm was virgin ard seed needed only to be put into the ground to produce an abundant harvest Times have changed since then. In this day of high priced land and labor, when com petition is so keen and all men seem to be conspiring against the farmer the old methods will not do. Every foot of land and every bit of energy must be made to yield it's utmost. Tools must be carefully housed and preserved; the live stock and grain be properly cared for
 It is generally true that the man whose farm buildings and surround ings are carefully tended has the rep utation of selling the best grades of grain and live stock on the local mar ket. For these he receives top prices. He is pretty sure to be in comfortable circumstances. He carefully reckons all expenses and sources of income: watches for the leaks and sees that they are stopped at once His credit at the bank is pretty sure to be good.
 On the other hand, the man who is careless about appearances is care less of other things as well. His bank account is minus quantity and he himself is probably almost a nonentitv in his home community. Yet he curses at fate and reviles his sad lot. He wonders why neighbor Brown is so prosperous; why Browns live stock excels his own; why Browns tools never bother, and why Browns crops are almost double his own in yield.
 Wake up, farmer friend! Get those rubbish heaps taken care of Buy a keg or two of nails and staples and repair those fences and farm build ings. Trim up the shade trees, mow the lawn, if you have to do it with a scythe, and split some firewood for the good housewife. Save the fertil- ity that is now going to waste in the barn yards by properly caring for the manure, applying it to the soil at the proper time, and in the proper man. her. Then will your fields "blossom as the rose and gold fill your coffers and your neighbors will rise up and call you blessed"
 The farmers products are judged bv the farm. Make yours second to mono SucpaSc waitc for L;