The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-09-03

farmer VINO SuccceuS HHuSt oeON'
methods OF others. He must Know
not guess. Guess-work on the 1arm
is expensive work, and to AVOID II the
farmer who wants to get along In
life must know his soil, and his capa-
bilities. Don't expect from the SOIL
what it cannot do. Don't attempt 10
do what you cannot do. Keep IN the
bounds Of reason, n study what IS
being done by other farmers. Proht
by their mistakes and failures as much
as bv their successes. And study also
what science is teaching as to the
farm. Don't old to old methods be-
cause your father used them; don't
take up new methods because they
are new. But stick to it till you find
what is the best thing to do. and then
do it with your might.
The farmers who are in attendance
at the North Carolina Farmers Con-
vention will hear many addresses ana
get much Of good advice, practical ad-
convention are practical men, experts
as to the needs Of the farm; and the
men in attendance who tell Of ex-
periences give the facts as to what
they have done, where they have sue
ceeded, where they nave failed. II
there is obtained from the convention
a. incentive to better farming, then
the seed has been planted for prog
ress on the farm. And having started
in to make better farms be not con-
tent with a prize acre Of this or that
crop, but make h entire farm a
prize farm. That is what is needed in
North Carolina, and the SUGGEST I'll
farmer is one who makes his whole
farm count.
Along this line Editor J. 3. Ben
ton, Of the Lee County News, has a
most timely editorial his week. It
tells things, and it is worth reading
by every farmer who wants to sue
coed, and that means all farmers. It
is from an editor who knows the farm
and farm life, and here it is:
This paper is the advocate of
better farming. It is the duty
Of every paper to be so. We
have a heartfelt interest in the
welfare Of the country people
for no one realizes more fully the
degree Of independence we have
in the man behind the plow."
The man with braWny muscle who
tolls from sun to sun will never
receive criticism by this paper ex-
cept to try to point out a better
way.
The greater part Of the writ
er's life has been spent on the
farm. He knows what it is to
go to 'the field at 5 a. m. and
stay there till 8 p. m. He also
knows hat at least several hours
per day could have been saved
in. which to rest if the proper
method Of farming and proper
implements had been used. Many
an old man is worrying his last
days away and suffering from
being broken DOWN by wasted
energy. Days that should be
filled with quiet and peace are
ones Of trouble. The facts are
before US, we know that the ex-
preston is common, the old man
is worn out and yet that "old
MAN will tell you he had a ter
rible struggle to raise and pro-
! vide for his family, which no
doubt is true. but what is there
in that that forces us to follow
, in his footsteps? Scientific farm
ing has come, the path is blazed
, out, we may increase our years
, and decrease our labor. More
than ever before are
. grasping these new ideas and
profiting by them.
One can go into any mans
. place Of business and soon see if
: the air Of progressiveness is
~thereabout. 1t is the same with
respect TO the farm. There is
not a farmer, however sorry and
Indifferent, but somewhere on his
farm he has what he calls a
"braS patch or prize acre.
and to that patch he has given
unusual. but not undue, care and
attention and in the fall he
e reaps a fine crop, far better in
most case than tho holoroa ne