Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-08-23
AMONG THE FARMERS.
" SPEED THE PLow."

Correspondence on practical Agricultural topic
is solicited. Address all COMMUNICATIONS In
tended for this department TO HENRY y
HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem
ocrst. Paris. Ne.
How to Keep Boys on the farm'
How to keep boys on the farm is be-
coming the subject of serious practical
consideration at present. Secretary
Wilson accounts for high prices by say
ing that the cause is fundamental one
so fundamental that it actually is in
the land itself. According to his opin-
ion, high prices prevail because there
are too few farmers in proportion to the
population, and ~ the farm
ers themselves do not get the most they
can out of the land. To obviate the
first cause, one of the things suggested
is keeping the boy on the farm, so that
the future will see larger percentage
of farmers in proportion to the total
population. A Maryland farmer and
legislator, w. Oscar Collier, in recent
address, gave his experience, which may
be read with profit. He said:
II had three boys, all normal, who
had strong love for the city, and the
gravest question had to solve was how
TO interest them in farm life. | was
raised on farm and know
that farm life in those days, and in many
instances to-day offered small encour-
agement to the boys to remain on the
farm. 1t was drudgery from daylight
TO dark; it was work without sufficient
thought, by the exercise of which many
Of the sharp, jagged edges of the neces-
,ary farm work could and would have
been broken aud smOotbed greatly.
Many were the resolutions made by me
10 leave the farm, and had it not been
for an affiiction that iuterfered with my
fathers activity, and | being the only
son, some city might have had another
country lad added thereto. When my
own boys grew up realized that some
hing had to be done to interest them in
the farm, or else they too would add to
some city's population. Various plans
were tried, always with indifferent sue
,ess. An invitation for the farmers of
MARYLAND 10 visit the Maryland Agricul-
ural College and Experiment Station at
, special summer meeting was received
,y me, and | went. This was my first
,isit TO the institution. | was very
impressed with what saw
md heard, aud concluded that the solv-
ng Of the all-important question then
With me could be possibly accomplished
~ sending my sons there.
"My oldest son was consequently sent
O this school and took course in plant
breeding and general agriculture, and in
ess than thirty days the letters that |
eceived from him weekly began TO take
n another tone. He found pleasure
md interest in the very things he had
short time before detested, and by the
ime his course ended he was the most
rdent advocate of the farm to be found
He returned for another
erm, and under no conditions could he
,e induced to leave the farm.
"The st cond boy is two years younger.
Being of a mechanical turn of mind, his
houghts were far removed IRON agri-
ulIural matters, and especially was he
lus,ile TO the cow. He often remarked
hat il compelled to farm, no cattle
yuuld be found on his place. This fact
vas made known TO the professor in
nimal husbandry at the Maryland Agri-
cultural Cullege. Within month after
had sent my son TO this institution |
eeeived letter from him saying he be-
ieyed, after all, that there was more
money in cattle, named several IN my
lerd that were not pointed right for
profitable mixers, and advised dispoS-
ng of them. This boy was not only
converted to farming in general, but to
he COW especially. Now, by his re-
,uest, he has full charge of the cattle,
md | must admit that my cows never
ooked as we'll at this season before. l
lave every reason to expect like results
With nv third son, who will be given
he same opportunities his brothers en-
Dyed.
AMY boys were taught to use their
reads as well as their hands, to apply
scientific methods in the operations of
he farm, thereby minimizing the drudg-
,ry. With better knowledge of plant
.ud animal life, profit and pleasure have
resulted, and to my mind herein lies the
secret. am convinced that by placing
boys under proper training they can be
converted to the farm, and, other things
being equal, will make a success of their
business. The farm holds out greater
to-day than almost any
,,her business. Consumption of food
products is rapidly overtakiug produc-
ion, and the feeding of this great nation
S fast becoming serious problem.
1.-The boy must not only be kept on
he farm; be must be taught intensive
arming to produce on each acre double
What il produces day, | know of land
u Talbot County producing to-day quad
.uple what was produced twenty years
100, and the limit is not reached. The
,oy's interest in the farm should be
Give him a colt or calf
md a plat of ground on which to raise
,ome crop he may fancy. My boys have
heir poultry establishments. One raises
White Leghorns. An
,ther Brown Leghorns. This is source
IF profit as we'll as pleasure, furnishing
hem with most Of their spending
money, which otherwise would come
iirect from me. Children who are given
bese minor privileges are also building
ID a character of independence aud self
necessary in this
AGE. Andrew Lewis in