288 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



out of debt and making money, it is only fair that he should take 

 a willing hand in official labor, unless his hay is likely to get wet, 

 or his turnips will freeze in. 



Nothing is clearer to my mind than that the parties who are 

 making money under a government and are specially favored by 

 its laws should pay its expenses, according to their profits. Too 

 often the ambitious and capable small farmer is interrupted in his 

 work by the shrewd management of those who do not wish to be 

 bothered with local troubles. Too often he is thrust into some 

 onerous office and spoiled as a farmer by "politics," before he gets 

 firmly seated in the farm saddle. The old writers represent good- 

 ness as "jealous," and charge us to "be wise as serpents." 



Where agriculture is strong, a well-to-do farmer with nerve and 

 judgment for his appointed business, m^ become the best and 

 happiest of public servants, helping vastly towards the stability of 

 the State. 



When, from any cause, farm labor grows weak and becomes 

 despicable, then it will be better to draft strength from employ- 

 ments that are not of so much public use. It would be cheaper, 

 just now. for society to make road-making or even plain farming 

 more honorable and profitable than rumselling, in order, if possi-, 

 ble, to withdraw ability and force from the latter employment. 

 In the recent extreme divisions of labor we find that boys, trained 

 abjectly to orie idea, whether of digging or mechanics, become 

 sorely liable to the temptations of drink. Beer of late pays bet- 

 ter, they say, than milk, because society has been willing of late 

 to pay genteel bar-tenders better than it would pay gentle small 

 farmers. 



Whenever, from time to time, indoor arts get hot, exhausting 

 the energies and vigor of a people, it may be necessary to put an 

 official premium for a brief period on neglected and useful crafts 

 out of doors, to balance things. It is constant, artificial bounty 

 that drives the times out of joint. Yet the small farmer will 

 always be wary of large offers from high places, where the devil 

 may be to pay in the end. 



Some of our folks are greatly exercised over the influence of 

 secret societies. Will it help a small farmer any about selling 

 his truck to join them ? If it is rather ordinary stuff he has to 

 sell, on a falhng market, possibly it might; but no dealer will 

 refuse to deal in the best, if he can get it, no matter if it is not 



