98 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



build a iriitc, though they must lot down the fence everyday. Their buildings 

 are put up and managed on the "anything will do" princi])le. They will lose 

 more than ten per cent on tiie capital invested in farm imj)lements by leaving 

 them exposed to the elements, when a few days' work and a trilling expendi- 

 ture of money will save it all. Instead of trying to get their stock to eat all 

 they can, they try to winter them on as little as they can and have them live. 

 They doii't believe anything pays, and conscfiuently don't want to spend much 

 time bothering with it. 



Some put no thought to value upon building up and maintaining an untar- 

 nished credit. Now a credit system has always existed, and we think, in the 

 very nature of the case, always will, and he who fulfills promptly and to the 

 letter, every contract that he makes, whether it be the payment of money or 

 the completion of a bad bargain, will eventually establish such a faith in his 

 honor and credit that even in a moneyed sense he has a most valuable posses- 

 sion. No one whose promise is without value, can reap advantage in the ups 

 and downs of trade, or be able to bridge over the chasms of temporary want. 

 He can't buy nor sell and compete against integrity. He is avoided by the 

 careful and* not trusted by the shrewd. A man can lose money by bad invest- 

 ments and yet profit by the experience, but he can't mar his reputation and 

 find, total recovery. If one must be slack anywhere, the matter least of all 

 (in a business view) in which it can be afforded is a matter which affects his 

 promises to perform. 



In thus referring to a few special classes of farmers, we think that the great 

 mass of the many millions who have converted a land of forest and prairie 

 into a land of homes have not been included. The generous hospitality and 

 steady character of the pioneers have stamped indelibly their image upon 

 succeeding generations. AVe believe that the science of agriculture is but little 

 beyond its infancy, as compared with what it is yet to be. There are a hun- 

 dred agencies at work tending towards its financial and intellectual improve- 

 ment. The press and common school have nowhere more earnest supporters 

 than among the farmers, while schools of industry have reached a degree of 

 eminence that silences the vituperation of their enemies. That system of 

 farming is no longer called successful that robs earth of its fertility and gives 

 nothing in return ; that recompenses rich harvests by entailing upon the next 

 generation lands which will support only a poverty-stricken people. Science 

 and practice are working together to counteract the impoverishing system of 

 by-gone times and restore to their native richness lands so nearly made deso- 

 late. This means better farmers, better profits, more systematic and intelli- 

 gent farmers. Unlike the tenant system of the old world, each owns a portion 

 of Nature's broad domain and has a personal interest in its permanent im- 

 provement. We need have no fear of the position of the farmer in society. 

 He -will be measured by the same standard as other men. And that standard 

 rightly set up is earnest effort, thorough culture and a pure morality. 



Mr. J. D. Corey read the following paper : 



HEDGE FENCES. 



The universal practice of the agriculturalists for ages past, is sufficient proof 

 that some kind of fence is a necessity to the farmer. It has long since been 

 found necessary for those engaged in tilling the soil to have some barrier to 

 protect their crops from marauding animals, and also to restrain their own 

 within reasonable limits, and upon their own premises. Hence, we conclude 



