GOOD FARM DOCTRINE. 55 



want of skill and industry in his occupation, is not the man 

 we wish to own as a farmer. We occasionally know of a 

 young man of means, who has been led to believe (perhaps 

 by some after-dinner speech) that there was no occupation 

 so sure, easy, and remunerative as farming; and, without 

 any knowledge of farming, he proceeds at once to purchase a 

 farm, stock, and tools, and commence by hiring a head 

 farmer. It takes but a few years to convince him that he is 

 mistaken in his business. 



Now, for a young man to be a contented, successful farm- 

 er, he must possess good health, be a good mechanic, and be 

 industrious : without these qualities, he had better try some 

 other businenss. In selecting his farm he should be careful 

 to buy good land, without regard to the buildings, as good 

 land well managed will replace poor buildings with new ones ; 

 but poor land will make any man poor all his life. He should 

 have some practical knowledge of such kind of farming as he 

 chooses to pursue. He must have love for his animals, also 

 combine neatness with order, — have a place for ever}^ tool, 

 and every tool in its place when not in use. He must have 

 a prudent wife, who is capable of making his home happy ; 

 for, without an interested head in the house, no man can suc- 

 ceed out doors. Every animal he breeds or puts upon the 

 farm should be of the highest type ; he should not be satis- 

 fied with a second-class animal. He should also procure the 

 best seed of all kinds that can be found, cultivate no more 

 land than he can manure liberally, and make and save from 

 every source alf the fertilizers possible ; for herein lies the 

 key to successful farming. 



In disposing of the farm-products, seU as near to the con- 

 sumer as possible, and, in putting up articles for the market, 

 see that all goods are equally good all through ; always give 

 good weight and measure : by so doing joii can always sell, 

 for the market-price, whatever you wish without any trouble. 

 And whatever goods are to be bought should be procured in 

 large quantities, as near the wholesaler as practicable ; but 

 never purchase any thing that is not needed, because it is 

 cheap. 



Furthermore, a farmer should take a good paper or 

 magazine for his wife, and the best agricultural paper 

 he can find that has a reliable market-report, and be "" 



