Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-04-20
Pleasure of Farming with Brains.

Pleasure of Farming with Brains
was born and raised in a town; se.
cured college education by my own ct.
forts, and entered professional life, in
which calling was fairly successful.
After twelve years, at the age Of IS, on
account of a nervous breakdown | gave
up my work and went to the farm.
have now been at it for seven years,
with no intention of ever going back to
the city.
When began farming had neither
money nor experience as farmer, al
though the thought Of farming had al
ways possessed a fascination for me.
Through good friend, one of the no
blest men eve: knew, was assisted to
the money; the other problem was mine
to solve. think good many witnesses
could be produced TO prove that l at
tackled that problem iudustriously. The
same witnesses could no doubt prove
that made many mistakes. plead
guilty. Some Of them were costly, some
amusing. Anyhow in the first few
years | produced a diversion for the
community.
But the point want to get at is, that
from the very first l approached the
problem of farming from the standpoint
Of a student. l couldn't do it any other
way without revolutionizing my whole
order of life. OF course l was trained
student, had been doing that every day
for fifteen years, and it required no ef-
fort to keep it up. OF course can see
that it is different for so many people who
have not had the systematic training OF
mind which creates the desire to know
things for themselves and sends them to
their daily tasks as students. 1t is said
of an old South African chief that be re-
marked to the missionary who was try
ing to enlighten him, Ideas make me
sleepy"
But to get back. | began by reading
the best farm magazines, and reading
for the purpose of learning. Sugges-
tions that appealed to me have not been
afraid to try out. Some failed, others
worked out all right. But the whole
scheme of life on the farm has possessed
charm, aud never ceasing interest for
me. II life on the farm meant for me
only the raising Of so much stock and so
many bushels of grain and eating three
meals day, should prefer to have my
life ordered in different environment
Now the net result of my own atti-
tude toward the question raised Is some
thing like this: My study, reading, and
investigation along all available lines led
me to do some things which had not yet
been done in this community, and which
since have become quite generally adopt-
ed. They might have come anyway, but
the point is, got to it first. brought
the first bunch of dairy cattle that came
TO this community, erected the first silo.
and built the first private irrigation
plant in this part of Nebraska. 1t Is
now a common sight to see silos, irriga-
ton plants, and Holstein cows in this
part of the Platte valley. / haven't
made much money, but l have had a
mighty good time. | have found as
much use for an education as ever did
in the pursuit of my profession.
If have the right conception OF agri-
cultural life, il calls for the very highest
form of mental effort. And | believe in
terms of life il yields the highest re-
turns of any calling. The farmer who
minimizes the need for study and read
ing aud general all-round education in
farming, stultifies himself. He shows
that he has never risen TO the dignity OF
his Job. AS Billy Sunday says about
certain kinds of sinners, "The Lord
would have to perform a miracle to
raise them to the level Of total deprav-
lity."
Ii is self-evident that great deal OF
farming has been carried on with mini
mum expenditure of brain work. That
fact advertises itself. 1t is equally use
less to try to reform the fellow afflicted
with that form of brain-fag. Attention
should be directed to his boy. Better
farming will come with the next genera
ton. And the reason for it will have
been the unceasing agitation of such
magazines as yours, aud many other
farm journals, together with the govern
ment and state enterprises conducted in
the interests of better and brainier farm
iug.-E. A. X. in Hoard's Dairyman.