Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-10
FARM AND HOME

Somebody wants to know why it is that the
farmer whose land, buildings and surroundings give
every evidence OF prosperity and ability to Withstand
a loss usually has q good crop, while his neighbor,
who is manifestly poverty-stricken is the fellow
whose crops usually fail.
The inquiry is suggestive. Itbrings up certain
facts which are easily observable, and prompts spec
ulat1On as to cause and effect.
OF course the farmer who has a set of good
buildings, a herd Of good cattle, and a quantity OF
good implements does not always have q good crop,
but 1t is quite apparent to anyone who uses his eyes
ION a tour through the country that good buildings,
good stock, and a reasonable supply Of good irnple-
iments, and good crops are usually to Be found on
the same farm, while, in the same neighborhood, on
the same kind of soil, with the same general condi-
lions and the same marketing facilities, rar1shackle
inferior stock or none at all, decrepit ma
ichlnery and poor crops are generally to be found
together.
What is the reason? Has one man been SO
blessed with good crops that he has been able to
provide himself with all the evidences of comfort
and prosperity, Or are the good crps themselves the
results of causes within the control of the individual,
results which are expressed in other forms in build
]ings, stock, equipment and general surroundings?
The uniformity with which the various elements
are grouped IS too great to be attributed to chance.
Blind luck might account for a few cases, but when
one fipds instances by the score and hundred in
gives evidence Of being the home Of a prosperous
and progressive family has its setting ia acres which
are literally pouring forth their wealth and where the
unkempt farmstead is surrounded by fields foul with
weeds, and producing crops scarce worth cutting, 1t
appears to be due to something more than coinci-
ldence that good crops have been grown quite reg
iul9rly on certain plots Of ground, and poor crops On
other plots just like them.
The explanation seems to lie in the degree in
which the home building instinct has found express
sion. The farmer who has as one Of his main pur-
poses in life the building Of a real home for himself
and his wife, his sons and his daughters, is interest
ed in Other things than in seurrying over the great
est possible number Of acres in the shortest posi-
lble time. There IS an element Of permanence IN ev.
lerything that he does, for he realizes that his tenure
lis likely to BE a long one.SsHe makes provision, moi
only for present utility but for future comfort, and
The feels that he5can afford to pay some attention
even to little items Of luxury. The things that he does
lfor the enjoyment Of himself and his family he Ell
Ipscts, to be enjoyed Tor ! long time, therefore the
waste or extravaganza.
The farm which u really ! home may nofbe %
long Or so wide 40 that which is run as ! empo-
|rary make shift, but Il is 4 lot deeper.
That element Of pcf1na1ence attaches 10 hs
friends as well As TO his house, Ms-bafns, his yard
and his shrubbery- Deep plOwing, clean cultivation
he en- afford, III he dos not depend 81 next year,
crop for lis returns. HI knows that intelligent work
ch ! field this season Y'ilI show il results il crops
So tle farm and die home Is together. The same
lspifit efves both pefn1snence, order and system and
lsttractiveness. Investment of labor id one direction
yields its retufnSi a providing opportunity tor whole.
some family life, just = inyestrnent e re other d
Inasnruch . local 1rsin prices are really based
joh seaboard prices, the freight FeduGtion %