Year: 1878

we nave IN Smyrna farmers OranSe
formed for mutual benefit both as to busl-
ness and society relations. 1t is one OF the
requirements of the Grange that every far
mer should inform himself especially IN |
those matters which pertain to his high |
and noble calling. Next to the careful |
reading of the experience and investigation |
of others, either through the medium of
standard agricultural books or papers,
practical experiment on the part of the
farmer is the one thing needful to reali-
zation of successful farming. Nature has
given the farmer all the material with
which to work out his agricultural saliva
ton. Animal life follows by an order of
Providence, and it lies within the province
of the human race to increase the earth's
productions, whether woody plants or
farinaceous or what not, besides the raising
of domestic animals. Every farmer may
not be able to reach the maximum of pre-.
duction, yet he can make his land produce
what he needs and what an accommodating
market will pay him well for, when he has
it in excess Of home wants. No farmer in
tho land, however poor his soil may be at
the outset has any excuse for not making
every acre contribute to his own and the
general good. Certain callings are neces-
sary to the well-being of all interests. The
farming interest has its essential callings,
as well as its dependencies. 1t is depen-
dent upon the manufacturers, the me-
chanic and the educator; yet the farmer is
conscious that his calling feeds all the
other professions and clothes them. How
to become better farmer should be the
grand central point of his objective ambi-
ton.


The better the farmer the more success
full will he be in his financial as well as
agricultural efforts. Every farmer should
entertain very high opinion of his employ
ment, and at the same time not forget that
in unintelligent labor there is not dignity
The short sighted, aimless, inefficient farm
er is the one whose houses and surround.
ings bear false witness against the neat
buildings and fine appearing surroundings
of his more tasty neighbors. Productive
ness and profit cannot always be realized at
the expense of neatness and comfort. A
we'll laid out farm, with all its arrangements
neat and convenient, is one of the most
beautiful objects in nature.


In few weeks the agricultural fairs and
farming festivals will begin, when the farm
er's position in society will assert itself in
the exhibition of the treasures of the earth
and the results Of good animal breed
ing. 1t is the PROCESS Of agriculture that
calls for improvements. The prosperity ol
the country is based upon the prosperity oi
the owners and tillers of the soil. Three
quarters of the people of our country are
engaged in tiliing the soil, and over three
quarters of the permanent wealth is il
their hands. What the farmer produces
will bring money. He has no induce
ments to wild speculation and is no
troubled with many of the perplexities o
commercial life, though it is too true tina
those whose ambition has led to the pur
chase Of more land than could be paid for
and the consequent mortgage, are sorel


puzzled to know how to meet constantl


increasing debt with crops of greatly dimir


ished money value.