Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-07-15
THE CERTAIN FACT OF FARM
ING.

ING.
One of the County's good farmers
was asked to speak at Grange Meet
ing some years ago on what he con-
sidered, ''The Most Certain Fact
about Agriculture" He gave an ex
act answer filled with truth. 1.-THE
surest and most certain thing about
farming is the uncertainty of every
fact and factor of the farm"
This is the Interpretation of this
statement: The farmer is subjected
to more influences and varities of
climate, soils, seasons, pests, labor
conditions, etc., that positive results
are often negative and we are often
prejudiced to principles that are
contrary to what is known to be other
wise.
Farmers have used lime and failed
to get clover. Used phosphates and
secured less wheat than without.
Fed balanced rations and got less
gain or milk. Plowed deeper and re-
ceived less yield. Bought better
seed and failed in a stand. Treated
for cholera and lost the heard, and
had hundreds of other disappoint-
ments when good intentions prevailed
The crux of the matter is, it is the
test of a farmers faith to pass thru
these experiences of which life on
the farm predominates, and come out
with mistaken faith. The pit fall is
the aptitude to yield to opinion
which may be erroneous. For some
weeks past a popular discussion by
farmers of the East was entered into
on the subject of the control of sex
in the live stock. The best farmers
ventured assertions that the method
employed by them gave certain con-
troll of the sex character in the stock.
Other just as good farmers cited con-
trary instances and advanced a still
wilder theory. The point of the mat
ter is the whole argument was value
less. 1t was an expression of opinion
pure guessing with only few iso-
lated instances to back up their ar
gument. Thine fact is no body knows
This is a secret nature has revealed
to no man. No man is the worse off
to admit it.
The question comes back-who are
we to believe, since we are so certain
as to the uncertainty of farming?
We answer briefy-the only fact we
can rely on is the fact derived by our
Agricultural Experiment Stations.
We pay taxes to employ trained men
in each state to experiment for us.
These experiments are carried on
from 5 to 25 years to include varia-
tons of seasons, in every state on
various locations to get a range of
climate and soils and every other con-
dition is varied so as to find what is
facts. A study of experiments show
that exceptions appear, but are lost
by the magnitude of the experiment
Again, the question comes, it
would break a farmer up to farm as
the experiment station recommends.
No, positively no! The Stations are
careful, conservative and in fact too
painstaking in their work At times
an incompetent worker will cause
more harm in one mistake than all
the good he could accomplish in a life
time of work. Not every page that
is printed, or every mouth. that speaks
represents the experiment station.
They profess too much and make
very cheap substitute. We recall an
embarrassing experience of well
meaning man of ourstate whose bust
ness never was with the farm, few
years ago when the war begun. The
writer was an agent in Monroe, blue
grass county like Jefferson-with
poor roads and not shipping point
in the boundaries of a large county.
AS war measure Monroe County
was urged to pillow up her pastures,
then supporting herds of cattle and
flocks of sheep and plant intensive
truck crOps-cabbage, beans, sweet
corn, beets, peas, potatoes, etc. All
this in county removed from ship
ping points, without roads, without
labor, without experience in trucking,
recommended by an estimable man,
once governor of our state, whose
word would be construed to speak for
the experiment station as well as the
worthy cause he was working for.
For this advise the County Agent was
held responsible. Why?
There were measures the farmers
of Monroe County were asked by the
Experiment Station to take to win
the war, but not of the above nature,
we'll meant as it was.
The only certain thing about farm
ing is the fact found by iron clad, |
clean cut, thorough experiments. |
These results may or may not mater
ialize for us at once but in the aggre-
gate or as farming policy they will. |
c. A. HUGHES, County Agent. |