The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-01-26
ISAAC 1. TOTEM.

When we turn back the pages Of his
tory to that day not SO very long ago.
when the occupation of farming was
looked upon as beneath the attention
Of the man with brains. and compare
the attitude Of those in other lines Of
endeavor toward the agriculturist at
that time and at present. we cannot
help marveling at the wonderful trans
ition.
To US, this new light in which the
man ON the farm is now held is most
striking. 1t hardly seems possible that
an occupation which has been the sub
stance of three fourths of the puns-
which has been considered At only tor
the man whose mind was SO bnghted
that he could be nothing more than a
beast Of burden-could be so quickly
changed to the most desirable occupa-
ton of allan occupation that COM
mands the attention Of our deepest
thinkers and best business executives.
In swinging to this opposite attitude,
many have gone greatly to the ex-
IRENE, and now expect the farmer
this same farmer who had no intelli-
gence whatever-to grasp and put in
to operation new ideas quicker than
men do who are engaged In other bus
mess enterprises.
The farmer must be given time to
| absorb the meaning and value Of sci.
entiAc agricultural methods. All of US
know that it is a most diflcult propo-
sition-one that taxes our will power
to the very limit to break from habit
of long duration.
Crop tradition is. in many instances,
habit that has very strong hold up
on the farmer. Certain methods in
farm management have been handed
from father to son intact, and these
methods have become practically per-
manent.
The forward movement Of the back
ward farmer" is a slow process; and,
like the reuniting OF the north and the
south since the civil war, it must come
about mainly through the younger gen.
Grafton. because their minds are more
phstic.
Practically the whole world has been
and now Is vitality interested in this
Transforming Of the 'Hayseeds," "Clod-
hoppers." and "Rubens" into scientific
agriculturists. The high cost of living
problem has been instrumental in di-
recting the attention Of all the people
to the farm.
tee appointed by the United States
senate, we find the following causes
among many other causes contribut-
ing to the advance in prices:
Increased cost of production of
farm products by reason of higher
land values and higher wages.
Increased demand for farm pro-
ducts and food.
shifting OF population from food
producing to food-consuming occupa-
tons and localities.
Immigration to food-consuming 10
caities.
Reduced fertility of land resulting
in lower average production or in
creased expenditures for fertilization -
These causes naturally direct atten.
ton to the farm and to the methods
OF its handling in order that the con-
ditions be remedied if possible.
Our leading magazines as well as
our farm magazines and local weeklies
and dailies are devoting space to dis.
cussions along the lines of successful
agricultural methods; thousands Of
bulletins dealing with experiments
| conducted at our various agricultural
| experiment stations are being distrib
uted among the farmers, and our agri
cultural colleges are putting forth ev.
cry possible effort to encourage attend.
ance. all to the end that the land be
gtven . square deal. and that the far
mer conduct his business according Il
the best business practices. which 1t Ii
believed will not only add to the far
mer's profits, but incidentally reduce
the high cost Of living.
| Al stated before, 1t will be through
the younger generations that ths
greatest changes In agricultural pro
| cedure will come about. The progras
sive tendencies of the young are. In
the main. more highly developed. and
every young man or woman desiring