The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-10
Nature LOVERS
Little Corner
ny AN UNDERsTUDY.

The Virginia cornaelds were never
more glorious The sunbeams poured
down from cloudlcss MONDAY sky
TOOK a handful OF apples and sought
the refuge OF the cornfield Somehow
no matter no whot II may be else
where. among the rows OF tassclled
and silkencd corn 1t i. always cool:
and there Is always breeze: soft
little breeze that nuttering along
starts a delightful rustic through the
ranks OF green. 1 work my way in
until about the centre Of the big field
and then sit down. love the sensation
that steals over mo as I sit hidden away
there munching apples, eyes rested BY
the outlook OF living green walls;
senses lullcd and charmed By that
gentle. all-pervading rustic / re-
member as mere child the happy
hours OF July and August spent among
the corn rows. enjoying for the first
time these same pleasures that will
never grow old to me. The winter
following this early experience spent
in the city: but when l came back at
christmas tho weather was warm. and
took an early opportunity TO run out
TO the cornheld 10 hear again that
fascinating rustic. could have cried
with disappointment when found
only the stubs OF the dried stalks
broken on the ground.
In the South We hear farmers com
planning bitterly OF the scarcity of
labor" In the North the farmers are
not heard complaining so much,
neither do they drudge from sunup to
shutdown instead their field hours are
from 40 A " until 5:3a p NJ. ana
they have everything finished b. $50.
Now their year round climate is not
as good, nor their summer weather
any less hot than ours; out they have
learned 10 employ a better scheme OF
working hours. and they live by the
motto: Let the horse do the work"
In reality. Southern farmers are using
more labor than they need. because
they are working on a one horse i'm
plement scale.
In the South in sprinstime some
farmers viii send out six men with
horse apiece TO pillow on level land
IN the North It is no unusual sight
10 see 2 twelve-year- boy driving
a fourhorse disk harrow or a six
horse triple gang pillow Children who
could not accomplish one third of the
hoe work day that a common negro
seld hand does, can cultivate from six
TO ten acres OF corn IN the same time
the work. II the cultivator is good
Is done better and the boy is riding
er. travelling in the West and North
usually has his greatest surprise IN
the big proportion of farm work done
while the farmer is sitting down.
want 10 ask every farmer the per-
sonal question: Why don't YOU go in
Tor the large two TO four horse plows,
harrows, cuitivators. etc. (being care
.ul always 10 select good makes?
II you feel that you can't quite make
II this year alone, talk TO your neigh
Joint use and ownership. You VIII
have all the arguments % the princi-
pal OF economy on your side.
Then think OF your boys in this mat
ter. You know that Virginia and the
South are strong and wise to-day Just
in proportion as they are making sure
that the next generation will be stror =
and wise: that they are being trained
10 10 good work, to think soundly, and
are brought IN touch with big. vital
things and feel themselves a positive
part OF an eager. aggressive people
Nearly all boys like motion. like
horses. and like machinery. But never
give them the machinery without or
before the horse. Let them work with
and for the horse: and the love and
admiration born II intimate contact
with noble dumb creature will be
among the foundation strata in a
strong character. Intrust the boy with
. much OF the care OF the team and
implements as possible Let him have
an intelligent idea OF the use and
abuse of all implements, the value OF
n little daily care: and you will and
that he takes hardly greater triumph
and pride In controlling and mana cling
three or four horses and as many
brakes and levers. In the general
condition OF his outfit: then II Is but
short step for his interest to become
centred IN the crop and the soil When
the farm boy acquires a liking for
farm work and no longer speaks OF
leaving the country as formerly. big
something is gained With shorter
hours and the use of the two to four
horse implements the young people
will no longer think all farm work
drudgery.