38 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



that farmers must deny themselves all the luxuries of life. That 

 gentleman does not do this. He eats as good food, drinks as good 

 water ^ rides as good a horse, drives as good a carriage as he pleases. 

 Other farmers can do this if they choose, as well as he, and not 

 over-work themselves either, by laboring no more than is compatible 

 with health. I do not believe that it is necessary for farmers to 

 deny themselves all luxuries to secure success. It rather requires 

 zeal and energy and thought and persistency, to ensure the highest 

 success. 



Mr. Cushman thought the term lazy could hardly be applied to 

 farmers, merely because they did not work as many hours or as 

 many days as men engaged in other professions and employments. 

 There is no necessity for their doing this. They could carry on 

 their business successfully without it. 



Mr. Anderson defended his position. He thought no good could 

 come of trying to cover up and smooth over the thing. The only 

 way to remedy the evil and make progress, is to probe the sore to 

 the bottom and ascertain its real nature, then a successful remedy 

 could be applied. It is useless to deny that there is a want of faiih 

 in their profession on the part of farmers. We may as well tell the 

 whole truth, for it cannot be concealed that farmers do not enter 

 into their business with that zeal and real energy we see in other 

 professions. They do not toil with the persistency that marks the 

 successful merchant and artizan, nor do they invest capital when 

 they have it, with that freeness and confidence which is shown in 

 other sorts of business. When farmers come to have faith in their 

 business, work every day in it as do men engaged in other occupa- 

 tions, apply capital in its prosecution, study the best method of using 

 labor, capital and manure, and pursue it with the same energy and 

 zeal, the march of improvement will go forward with a speed not 

 yet attained. 



One other thing is also needful ; they should have more self re- 

 spect — as it is, they think too little of themselves. They often act 

 as if they were inferior to others. If men as individuals or classes 

 would be respected, they must first respect themselves. 



Mr. Hammond approved of the report. He understood it to say 

 that farmers must confine their attention to their farmino;; not divide 



