The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-05-15

is being done or that ought to be done
to add happiness and comfort to the
human race, is a sacred thing. Then
scientific farming, good fruit growing
and good stock raising are sacred
things, because they add greatly to
the happiness and comfort OF the hui
man race.
The work of the farmer is, If posi- :
BILE, more important than the work OF
the minister The farmers work
must be done, because If it were not
done, the human race would cease to
exist; and then there would be nc
minister or people.
Every farmer should realize the
great Importance of his position. He
should realize that the entire human
race depends directly or indirectly up
on him for its existence, and should
strive to do his work well.
Nowadays religious work is given a
great deal of attention. Agriculture
should also be given some attention
because in one sense II is as important
as religious work.
OF course religious work should not
be neglected, and those who farm
should not be irreligious. Farmers
should be religious. A mixture OF re-
ligion, brain work and physical labor
on the farm is very good, and success
is sure to come from 1t.
The minister in the country church
should teach the people the relation
between religious work and work on
the farm, between Bible reading and
fruit growing, between praying and
stock raising, between preaching and
corn planting, because all these are
sacred and important works. The
country church itself should help to
blend the religious lives OF the people
with every day lives on the farm
When renter forms a contract
with a land owner he agrees to pay
him so sometimes money and
sometimes a half or third OF his
crops. The landowner furnishes all
the things necessary for the filling OF
the soil-horses, plows, cultivators,
etc.-and he expects pay from the
renter
II is the same way with those who
own land. They form a contract with
the great Landowner of the whole uni
Lord furnishes them the soil, air. sun
shine, and rain. They should pay
something in return for this. Their
payment should consist of fertility
restored to the soil
When the Lord forms a contract,
with farmer, He always carries out
his part Of the agreement II the
farmer carries out his part he is bles-
sed with plenty, and his barns are full
at harvest time; but II he does not
carry out his part he must suffer for
II. Not only he, but his family, and
other people OF the community must
suffer A poor farmer adds TO the
poverty OF community while good
farmer adds to the community's
wealth.
There is just so much land upon the
earth and there will never be any
more. There is just so much land in
the United States, and II is all we will
ever get, unless we conquer or buy
some other nation, which is not likely
to be done. There Is just so much
lai,I in Kentucky, and 1t is all we have
or will ever. get, unless our state be-
comes larger.
The amount of land surface upon
the earth, or In the United States, or
in Kentucky will never Increase; but
the population will increase. Then, II
the farmer with the soil in It's present
condition must work hard to support
the human race at its present popula-
ton, how is II to be supported in
century or two from now? The answ-
er to this question is: that the soil
must be in far better condition than II
is now. The SOIL instead OF becoming
better, is growing worse; and the nat
ural resources, instead of increasing,
are decreasing.
There must be something done to
preserve the natural resources and to
improve the condition of the soil The
State government or the United States
government could take up the matter
and solve the problem. Our lawmak-
ers at Frankfort or at Washington
could pass laws saying that all farm
ers must increase the fertility Of the
soil or not till 1t.
OF course such a law as this would
cause great howl among ignorant
farmers but sometimes people have
to be saved from their own ignorance.
This law would mean that large sums
Of money would have to be raised and
spent; but the money could be. raised
II the people would stop spending so
much for whiskey. tobacco and other
useless things. 1t would mean that
agriculture be introduced into all
common and high schools, and that
schools be established about over the
country where farmers could study
up-to-d date methods OF farming. But
all these things would be for the bene-
fit Of the future as we'll as present
HURsToN H. NORRIS.
Berea, Kentucky.
PAINT AT $50.