Year: 1876

We cannot claim that the present
condition or the outlook for farmers
il especially bright, yet compared
with the condition Of the manufactu-
rers and merchants Of the country,
or with their own condition alta cor
responding time in any one Of five
years, the farmers Of the country as a
whole have no reason to complain.
The aggregate farm products Of the
country in 1875 were very large and
the money received for them as a
whol, win also be large. Some crops
are n"w low in price. but some, nota-
bly, hogs. are high. There is good
prospect for considerable advance
In wheat, although this will not prob
ably come soon. Debts weigh heavi.
ly on many farmers. The "times' are
dull. The question Of the currency
remains unsettled, and there is sconse-
quent uncertainty as to future nomi-
nal values.


But, admitting all that is unfayora-
Bile, it is still true that for man OF
comparatively limited means there are
to-day few, if any, investments more
secure than a good farm. 1t Is better
than most city real estate better than
most manufacturing interests : more
secure than money invested in ordin-
ary merchandise vastly more safe
than most speculative inteFests,


What are the lessons for the year
Obviously one prominent one is that
of caution. This is not time for
rash or venturesomc experiments NOT
time for incurring a additional indebt.
edness; especially it is not time to
risk all on any one crop. II Is never
safe ito put all the eggs in one bas.
ket:" and this is especially true III
such time rs this. 1t is time for
wise economy for paying of indebt-
edness as rapidly as possible. He who
has comparatively little, yet is free
from debt, is much more secure and
in better position than he who has
much more property "ornamentcd
with mortgages"


The wise farmer will distinguish
between economy and parsimony.
He will not refuse to make small
expenditure to secure large return.
He will not use poor seed corn be-
cause fifty cents bushel over market
price is asked for that which is good :
will not refuse to improve his stock
because this will cost something will
not refuse good care and sufficient
food, nor neglect to repair his fences
and patch the leaky roof, because
these things cost something.


{ Each farmer has duties as citizen.
He must not neglect these. he must
keep In mind his personal duties 70
reduce the general. indebtedness by
'reducing his own: to help bring
down too high rates of interest by re.
fusing to borrow money unless for
some essential; to help the general
prosperity BY endeavoring to so con-
duct his farming operations that he
may best prosper !; to- help restore
activity, and general, industry aud
hopefnlness, by working faithfully
himself. employing all the labor he
can make profitable, and thus mani
Testing his own faith i'm the future.


This is not the time nor the place
for particular directions. Generally
speaking, Western farmers should
work in the direction Of producing
more of the condensed products
rather than relying ON grain for ex-
port, in the direction of these branches
ofagriculture which give opportunity
for considering labor Except when
there may be danger Of widespread
disaster. as by grasshoppers, as rule
ii will be best for them to promptly
make sales when their crops arr
ready for market, rather than enter
the field of speculation. Especially
for those who have but. little wealth
attention to their legitimate busines.
will he wiser than attempts 10 add te
their profits by engaging in trade
manufacture or commerce.