230 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



man united for life are required to be of high order, in order to 

 reach the true ideal. Thus, as we travel the country, and make 

 observations, read and enquire, we find that farming as a rule may 

 be regarded at least as a partial failure. All over our country the 

 true and grand conception of farmer and farm is rarel}- found. But 

 to reach this ideal is the earnest desire, no doubt, of all high minded 

 farmers. Let us, then, briefly notice some conditions of successful 

 farming. 



We will suppose the young farmer has already thoughtfully and firml}- 

 fixed his purpose of life, has selected his land or farm, understands 

 to some extent the nature of his soil, the demands of the market, 

 and is girding himself for the struggle before him. He should make 

 up his mind to be an honest man. Removed as he is from the 

 centres of traffic, and constantly dealing with our honest mother 

 earth, his calling tends to virtue, and the tendency and influence of 

 his noble business is to lift him above the tricks of trade. The real 

 and true idea of a sovereign farmer — enterprising, persevering, 

 intelligent, virtuous and happy — is fundamental and grand. And 

 to such, when his deportment reaches this true nobility, all others 

 are constrained to award the meed of honor. But farming, grand 

 and noble as it is, ma3' be abused. The tiller of the soil, as well as 

 others, may neglect and abuse his calling. The mere fact that he 

 cultivates the earth will not make him a saint or even a wise and 

 frugal man. In fact, we sometimes find among the farmers of the 

 lower strata some of the most degraded of human beings. They 

 seem to think it smart to cheat the soil of her dues, and then come 

 to market with short measure and weight and inside deception. The 

 basket of potatoes looks well on top ; the load of wood looks well 

 outside ; the cheese is duplicated with a hard one in the middle. To 

 the taxmaker his stock is of diminished numbers and almost worth- 

 less, but on the fair grounds he has more in number and of superior 

 quality. Thus he degrades himself until he is known and shown in 

 the market as a cheat. Such a farmer is sure to fail. But dealing 

 honestly with his farm and fellow men, he may yet as Soloman says, 

 " stand before kings." 



Again, to Ijecome eminent as a farmer he should bend all his 

 energies in that direction. These half farmers and half lumbermen 

 and half mechanics will never become distinguished in an}- calling. 

 I once heard of a man who had such a diversity of talent as to be 

 able to turn his hand at once to anv business of life. In the law — 



