Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-16
ssCentIeman's Estate
Called ParadOxical

To the Editor OF me star:
What can be of more interest than
the study of the "gentleman's estate
when the fact Is realized that 1t Is the
most paradoxical of all institutions? IL
Is full Of paradoxes!
The men, and in some cases women,
who establish and operate these farms
are. for the most part, successful In
business and in the professions. They
are people of unusual intelligence. and
they are serious in their desires and
efforts to lead the way in progressive
agriculture. Ample means are at hand
to supply everything needed-from COM
pIete appointments and the high-priced
manager to the smallest detail in equip
ment And, despite the availability and
use of all those elements which ought
to contribute to success, they seem to
and do create and generate failure
They are often called model farms.
But they are anything but model in
nature. The truly model farm Is operat-
ed under principles and by methods
which are not only creative and con-
structive,S which makes not only for
profit and eententment and 3 more
permanent agriculture but also higher
standard of living and more satisfying
agricultural life. In model farm,
there should be present In a large de-
gree principles and operating methods
which are universally applicable.
Measured by this standard the gentle
mans farm" as o model. drops from
consideration.
Another paradox Is high salaries and
wages along with incompetent manage
ment, and inefficient labor. Incompetent
for many reasons. but prominently
standing out Is the fact that these
farms are not profitable: they make no
contribution to the science and art OF
griculture--neither do they contribute
to the community or agricultural life.
These are but q few of the many
paradoxes which may be generally
found on this class OF farms The
most prominent and surprising thing Is
that the result Is quite often, IL not
always. the exact opposite of the OBJ
jective.
Rarely Is the creative agriculturist
found on these farms. Burbanks. evil
IDENTIFY. are not wanted know young
man of the Middle West who was max
ing his mark as breeding expert when
q mere youth, who since attended the
State Agricultural College and con-
ceived quite an original and valuable
plan Of o model breeding farm. the
operating plan Of which meets every
practical breeder and farmer, and also
the more exacting requirements from
the socio-economic and educational
point of view--an enterprise which viii
make q distinctive. tangible and effec-
tive contribution to agriculture and
rural life, His experience and oppor-
tunity for observation and study enable
him to see possibilities in the field of
agriculture as few have: and yet.
despite his knowledge of and en-
thusiasm in the subject. together with
q most engaging personality, he Is hav-
ing difficulty In obtaining an improved
farm for the undertaking-even in
small way
Surprising as 1t may seem, though
the real estate market Is flooded with
this class of farms which may be pur-
chased for q fraction of the cost of de-
velopment, and representing good value
for productive purposes, the real agricul-
turist---the Burbank and Cruickshank
type of plant and animal breeders
confronted with strong temptation--and
q great opportunity--in the way OF an
ideal layout for his work and for the
future, but which at the moment he Is
unable to finance; and there is not yet
In this particular field any evidence of
team work by the man with the tools
and the man with the idea
JAMES CONNELL.