192 Bureau of Fakmkks' Institutes. 



realize this two fold benefit, the more anxious will we be to do 

 our share in this commendable work. It is gratifying, however, 

 to observe that the i)raetice is yearly becoming more adopted, 

 and ere long will become general throughout the state. 



The relative position of capital and labor is one in which those 

 engaged in agricultural pursuits are deeply interested, for they 

 are the main factors in the latter, the producers of the former. 

 Labor is capital, but capital is not labor; it is only the product of 

 the former and can never take its place. The cofifers of a people 

 might be full to overflowing and yet they starve for the want of 

 the necessaries of life unless a large percentage of its population 

 were engaged in their production. No amount of wealth would 

 ever construct our public works or private residences, if labor was 

 not brought into requisition. When it ceases, capital loses its 

 prestige and fails to benefit the world. Without labor the mer- 

 chant might stand behind his counter until his goods rotted on 

 the shelf, and he became a fair specimen of an Egyptian mummy, 

 were it not being utilized to supply the means to purchase the 

 necessaries of life. 



We are in the habit of speaking of material waste, particularly 

 as it affects the farmer in pursuing his avocation. Whatever has 

 existed since the dawn of creation exists to-day, though in a meas- 

 ure in a modified condition. There may be, and undoubtedly is, 

 under certain conditions, much individual waste to be guarded 

 against; but there can be no general wastage — what one loses 

 another gains — it is reactive and beyord control. The so-called 

 waste, attributed to the negligence of our forefathers, is now 

 productive of some of our most fertile islands and bottom lands 

 from which we reap a rich reward; while those who come after 

 us will experience the same results by what apparently is oui 

 loss. If we are not too liberal in our gifts to nature no harm 

 will eventuate. When the bed of the ocean, lake or river becomes 

 super-charged with debris from the land, it possesses the power 

 of throwing off this surplus of extraneous matter. Thus the 

 benefits of a munificent Creator are equalized and eventually as- 

 sume a normal condition. The word annihilation, from which 



