Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1929-02-14
DOES SCIENTIFIC FARMING
AND STOCK RAISING PAY?

Editor Democrat:
| am not an old and experienced
farmer, nor a special tiller of the soil
know enough to know that agricul-
ture is the basis of all wealth, pros
perity and luxury. | realize from
personal observation that great
change has taken place with the
farming class in the last quarter of a
century. | have heard the older men
tell about the conditions that pre-
vailed when they were young men.
How the farmers lived in houses
where the rain held the roofs in per
feet contempt, and the snow drifted
joyfully on the floors and beds. In
many instances they had no barns
and the stock was exposed to the
blasts of winter, and in the spring
it took all the corn ard oats that
could be stuffed into the cattle to
prevent actual starvation. The
wagons stood in the sun and
rain, the plows rusted in the fields.
The women were supposed to
know the art Of making fires without
fuel. During big deep SHOWS, the
farmer became a hunter, and while
chasing foxes over the mountains,
and the rabbits over the hills, the
women folks were busy pulling pick
cts from the garden fence, clap
boards from the house, and every
stray plank was seized upon for
kindling. Everything was done IN
the hardest way. Everything about
the farm was disagreeable. No Won
der the farmers boys became dis
gusted when they saw that every
thing worked together for evil. By
the time they were 21 years of age,
they left the desolate and dreary
farm and rushed to the towns and
cities, where they desired to become
bookkeepers, doctors, merchants,
railroad men, insurance agents, or
anything to avoid the drudgery of
the farm. The boys wanted to en-
gage in something that offered quick
returns. They built railroads, estab-
lished banks and insurance compan-
les. They speculated in stocks in
Wall street, and gambled in vain in
Chicago. They became rich. They
lived in palaces. They rode in car
riages. They pitied their poor broth
ers left on the farm.
The farmers boys who loved
father and mother, and remained at
home and had an honest pride in
their business grew prosperous and
happy. They saw the railroad presi-
ident bankrupt, and the road in the
hands of receiver. They have seen
the bank president abscond with a
handful of stolen money, and the
insurance company wrecked and
ruined fraud. By these experiences
and observations these boys have
learned that the only solvent people,
as class, the only independent peo-
pie, are the tillers of the soil.
Our country is filled with the idle
and unemployed, a.d the great
question asking for an answer is:
What shall be done with these men?
Send them to the roads? Hold them
in everlasting contempt? No, edu-
cate them to cultivate the soil, and
teach them the value of manhood
and character that is able to stand
four-square against every wind that
blows.
Education is a splendid asset to
any young man, but the young man
must not suppose that education Is
thrown away upon them unless that
become lawyers, doctors, vendors OF
penuts or sewing machine agents.
They must get rid of the idea that
little education unfits one for
work Most young men seem will
ing to do anything that can be done
in a town, in house, in an office,
but they avoid farming as they
would a bad case of leprosy. Nearly
every young man educated in this
way is simply ruined. Such an edu-
cation ought to be called ignorance.
Examine the market reports and
note the fancy prices paid for cattle
and sheep. Good cows are bringing
from $50 to 500 each, and sheep
and lambs bring almost unheard OF
prices. If idle lands and idle hands
were joined in mutual partnership,
the question: "Does farming pay?'
would be answered.
There is a quiet about the life of
the farmer, and the hope of a Sc
rene old age, that no other business
or profession can promise. A profes
sional man is doomed sometime to
feel that his powers are waning. He
is doomed to see younger and
stronger men pass him IN the race
of life. He will be last when once
he was the first. But the farmer
goes on, as if he was in partnership
with nature-he breathes the sweet
- 4lo folds anI liuoc with thc