Norwich bulletin., 1920-06-18
THE MEANING OF SUCCESSFUL FARMING

| Which keep famine from the cities, ars produced, and at what cost of labor and skin. And frankly admit that .here is something which seems to me radically wrong in the way in which farming and farmers are regarded. A. so am just as free to admit that much of the wrong Is the fault Of farmers themselves, who have too thoughtlessly permitted this contempt to pass unchai- lenged. Perhaps fl has seemed too small a matter to warrant getting mad about it. As some eood-natured giant might think he could afford to laugh at the jibes and jeers of a gang of small boys, and go Oh his way without re- tort. But, when tte jibes uttered are exchanged for stones flung, even a good natured giant niiSht be pardoned for turning some of his pestsreJs across his knee and applying the only argument heodluns seem capable of sppfecia ting.
 There are other useful and worthy vo- cations beside farming-dozsns and scores of thefr. There are millions Oh millions of men and women engaged in other laudAble enterprises The farmer has no cali to sheer at or depreciate any oie of them.
 But,
 His work is the one which not only maintains all the others but without which none Of the others would be pos sib1e. He IS not the only toad in the puddle, but he's tho biggest toad there and the one bithout whom there would not be any puddle or any teads.
 The banker performs a useful service to society. So does the blacksmith So do the doctor and the engineer the car panter and the weaver. and hosts of others. Bit not one of them could do -4 vr-ifh h hi5 5afI k,A every grain of those rations comes. orig inaily, from some form of farming pro- iuctioii.
 And this may seem trite and com monpiace. You will wonder why I waste space in iterating truth which no one denies It is simply because, while no one openly denies it, attoget'G er too many act with absolute disN gard of it And I'd like to see farmers as first step towards a better vis% l of a brighter future, realize and demand 1 that others recognize not only their ma terial importance but their high rank ca the worlds honor list.
 we started with reference to "Jehn Q Birds " recipe for successful farming In times past We have several times talk. ! Ad over the dispute as to what consti- tates successful farming. And I think tFe have come pretty close to agreeing that success in farming is neither solely noi l chiefly matter of money making. That I is a necessary element. and cannot be ig. | nored But more important than mon l ey are manhood and wornanhood. Tife1 l come first in any grading of success. And | next to them. come farm Improvement 1 and the increase of productive efficien l cy.
 i A self-respecting and respect -compeTl 1 ing manhood is the first income from sue 1 cessful farming The second triumph is constantly improving and steadi1, i enrichened farm.
 It isn't that which a man has whiei measures his worth to the world, bu l that which he is. Nor is if so success fni farming to skin the farm for fh swelling Of a bank account as to in. prove that farm to the last ultimate pos sibility Of productive value.
 Successful farming. if I am right means first. the building of manhood an wef1anhood second, tfie constant i'm
 proving of tIfe farm: and third. til
 sleaning of enough money to mako thes more important results practicable an
 inevitable
 Right there comes in the John Bur
 roughs recipe. How to win success alon 1 those lines. The answer is that t:j
 farmer who aspires for such success mus fguratively. plant his heart with hi corn; strike his own roots into hi
 soil; appreciate to the full and cornpt
 others to appreciate the fact that, in Ii
 daily work. he stands nearer to and i
 closer partnership with God than an
 other man of any other calling: and Sdt
 Toutedly thank Providence that Fate's st
 Iective draft has found him fit for a plae
 in tho ranks of the worlds real Salrs
 ton Army.
 Poets are born. not made, they sa,
 In a way, the same is true of farm
 CTS. You can't make silver whist
 out of a sow's tail. Nor can you rl1al
 a sdccsssfui farmer out of boy vii
 was born to be- a locomotive enginee
 I know q man who simply revels
 the task of taking automobiles apart, II
 pairing them, and putting them togetht
 again. For ten hours of the day h
 hands are thick with grease and oi