The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-09-29
Oppprdunities In Field q Agri-
culture Unrivalled Says II.
i. Russell :.
PREPARE BETTER FOR WORK

Young Men Should Train Them
selves Speciality for' Work ON
the Farm
Many a young man who has
finished high school is now con
sidering the question whether he
will spend additional time in edu
cational training to fit him bet
ter for his life work. Perhaps
the boy has not yet fully made
up his mind just what line he
expects to follow. In fact most
of us, who are already engrossed
with the problems of life, did
not consciously prepare in the
most advantageous way for the
particular niche we may now bic
filling.
While the opportunity to learn
rs always before us, no matter
how old we are or the conditions
under which we may labor, yet
the years of conscious training
and preparation come to the grea
majority during youth. If we do
not take advantage Of the oppo:<
tunity then, the chance slips by
and too frequently the regrets of
after years are unavailing.
In the field of agriculture the
opportunity for useful effort is
unrivalled for there is no limit
to the chance which the we'll
trained young man has in this
field. In the earlier years natural
ly a large majority of the grad
yates Of our agricultural colleges
were needed to fill the profes-
sional positions which were then
open, but competition is now
much keener for these positions,
as in all other branches ct the
teaching field. y
IN the practical field, how
ever, there is no need for the
trained man to fear competition.
The business side Of agriculture,
like any other business, is held
down and encountered with the
multi !ude who are unwilling to-
apply the results Of modern
science OF; Indifferent to it's val
lie. Just so long as they are coz
tent to move along in the same
rut, to ignore the> findings Of
modern science and the tested
experience of others, to let we'll
enough alone and drift farther
than to push, just so long will
the returns of the average farm
be absurdly low.
Why do the corn fields year at
ter year Of the members Of the
Wisconsin Experiment Associatio
run from 10 to 20 bushels above,
the average yield of the stateY
Why is the average yield Of corn
in Wisconsin from 36 to 40 bu-
shells per acre, while that Of the
entire United States runs about
269 Simply because Wisconsin
farmers are more p progressive
than the average. They have
learned the lesson Of good seed
and good culture and reap the
profits thereby. The man who
is able to apply these lessons
certainly is able to compete ad-
uantageously with the average.
No good farmer should keep a
hold Of milking cows and not
know to q certainty whether the
lahor and feed he eNpenas on
each animal returns an actual
profit, or not. The average yield
of MANY q Wisconsin herd is, 300
pounde per year, while the aye-
rage of the state is only l75
pounds Of butter, Just about
enough to pay the cost OF keep.
Food products are on the 1ss'e
in value and will continue to IN
crease 80 long as consumers
mulUply more TdptuHJ 'sAon
duction. For this reason the pro
duct Of the farm, as well as the
land itself, is very unlikely to
bring less returns than the ave
rage values now received.
Neither does the farmer have
to write off large sums for de-
preciation on his farm like the
manufacturer on his factory or
plant. !. !,
These facts are worth careful
5consa sadieration by the boy VINO
j stands At the threshold OF hls
opportunity and now has 9
chance to. train his mind to thlnA
straight, as well as to learn how how