South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-30
by Ill. c. Taylor,

EIOLeSSOT OF ASTlCulLuTdA ENOuOlu-
les of Wisconsin.
The pioneer farmer produced
things primarily for his own use and
did not need to be a business man.
The modern farmer produces pri-
marily for the market and uses ex-
pensive instruments of production,
hence his success depends upon his
business methods and ability. The
improvements in transportation,
both by land and by water which
have taken place during the past
e-quarters OF a century have re-
vOlutionized American agriculture
and made this new type of farmer
necessary.
The farmer of days gone by. pro-
duced enough wheat or rye or corn
to provide his family with bread.
This grain was ground by a small
local miller who took toll for his
service. Fruit and vegetables. es-
pecially apples. potatoes and tur-
nips, were raised and put in the cell
lar, under the house or in the cave
near the house for winter use. The
COW provided milk and butter and
a calf, which was sometimes slaugh-
tered to supply meat for the farmers
table.
A small flock of sheep provided
wool for home made clothing and
bedding. Also a lamb to slaughter
from time to time. especially in the
summer time, to break the mOnot-
ony of cured pork as a meat diet.
The hog was ever present as a prin
cipal source Of meat. Poultry and
eggs added an important item TO
the diet. \ few stands Of bees were
commonly kept, a small patch of
sorghum was often grown, and
where the maple tree was found su-
gar and molasses were secured from
this source.
The New Commercial Farmer.
BY giving attention to these many
lines of production the farmer was
able to secure the most of the neces-
sites Of life from his farm.
In the new agriculture. which may
be called commercial in contradis-
tinction TO the old agriculture. which
was self-sufficing, the farmer gives
the greater part of his energy TO the
production of a few articles for the
market and buys upon the market
nearly everything he eats or wears
or uses in his farming operations.
All this points definitely to the fact
that skill in husbandry is no longer
the most important qualification of
the farmer. Business ability is now
Of first importance.
The commercial farmer is less de-
pendent upon nature than was ms
self-sufficing predecessor. but he is
much more dependent upon other
men and sometimes fears the cred
itor who tided him over the period
OF misfortune.
Business Ability Needed.
The oldtime farmer consulted the
wants Of his own household and the
/ possibilities of his own farm and
/ PRODUCED the things desired insofar
as nature permitted him 10 do so
\ often this meant the production OF
small yields and poor qualities OF
\ products in order 10 add variety e
the short list of articles of food or
the table. The modern farmer con
suits the demands of his customer.
and produces the things which n,
can sell with the largest margin o.
profit.
He must be able TO compare the
costs of producing the different arti
cles which it is possible for him I,
produce, in order to pass judgmen
upon the relative profitableness o
the various lines of production anC
the various methods Of production
with a view TO guiding his eaergie
in the direction Of maximum net re
suits.
The oldtime farmer needed 10 b'
a student Of physical and biological
facts and forces in order TO know
what can be grown, when and hov
10 plant and care for crops Will
growing and 10 feed them 10 live
stock or manufacture them int
food. clothing and shelter.
The new farmer must know thes
physical and biological factors eve
better and in addition must under
stand the forces OF the whole bust
ness or economic world II he woul
succeed.
! The modern farmer is influences
by every other farmer in the eiviliz