ERRORS IN FARMING. 329 



there. It falls off, and they cleanse it, get out the seed and give 

 it to us. That is their mode of farming to a great extent. An- 

 other idea that people ought to learn is in regard to pastures, that 

 they overstock them. And another, that highland grass for pastu- 

 rage is worth more than lowland grass. It produces more growth, 

 more milk, butter and cheese. They ought to learn that grass 

 and hay cured properly is worth as much to them as any possible 

 feed they can get. I make the assertion that all kinds of neat 

 stock will grow as rapidly and fat as -well and as fast upon the 

 right kind of hay as upon any feed that can be given, corn and 

 grain included. Every thing suffers in the same ratio that hay 

 does by not being harvested at the proper time. For instance, 

 grain made after it is out of the field produces flour worth fifteen 

 dollars ; when the same grain stands two weeks later it produces 

 flour that is worth only eight dollars. In these things our farmers 

 are verily faulty. What can we say, and what can we do, to induce 

 them to do better ? 



Mr. Folsom. We hear a great deal said about the raising of 

 stock and what to do with it ; the raising of different crops and 

 what to do with them ; and these are important considerations. 

 You do well to consider them, but there is one other subject I 

 would like to suggest for consideration ; and that is, How to raise 

 fanners' sons and what to do with them? I think it worth while 

 for you to make some suggestions to farmers in regard to the 

 manner of rearing sons and what they should do with them and 

 how to induce them to remain on the farm. In my own training 

 a great mistake was made. I was nearly broken down in consti- 

 tution, when I was a boy, prior to the age of eighteen years. 

 Although I was the son of a kind father he was not always con- 

 siderate, and the result was, I was driven from the profession of 

 the farmer for which I was intended and which I might have loved. 

 It was the design of my father that I should remain with him, but 

 I had to seek some lighter occupation in which I might succeed ; 

 being satisfied that I never could succeed if I remained where only 

 bone and muscle and sinew were called into requisition. I make 

 the suggestion that this Board, if they should see fit, might take 

 it into consideration, and that it might be considered at farmers' 

 clubs. I am glad that it has engaged the attention of some of the 

 wisest and best minds, and that they have provided the Agricultu- 

 ral College, and that you have seen an exhibition, to some extent, 

 of the farmers' sons, and what is being done with them. I tHiuk 



