206 STATE BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. 



blame for it because of the slip-shod methods by wliich the great majority have 

 beeu in the habit of conducting their business, and because they have supposed 

 that muscle was the great and essential thing in successful farming. They 

 have overlooked the fact tliat -while knowledge in certain details of execution 

 was absolutely essential, a knowledge of general propositions was also equally 

 valuable. The best farmers are those who, to skill in performing, add also the 

 wise forethought which conceives, develops, and executes the j^lan of a cam- 

 paign, which on the farm varies more or less with every season. Most of the 

 farmers of to-day, wliile awakening in a measure to this fact, have not yet 

 become so thoroughly imbued with the principle which lies at the bottom of it, 

 that they are ready to give time for study and risk a little capital in the invest- 

 ment. This higher plane upon which the farmers of this country must eventu- 

 ally stand is to be attained only by a devotion of hand and head and heart to 

 the pursuit which they have chosen. Science will aid much in securing this 

 end. But science demands study. Observation in the field will aid still more. 

 But observation will accomplish nothing except the reason be put to the task to 

 form a j^rinciijle or a law. 



Does the average farmer, — average farmer, I say, — exercise this God-given 

 right of thinking and reasoning? Is it not more common for such a farmer to 

 prosecute the details of his work too much as a matter of form and habit with- 

 out, by any process of reasoning, deciding whether he is acting the most wisely? 

 Does he think whether that is the best crop to put uj)ou that field? or whether 

 he applied his manure in the best manner or at the best time to secure the 

 largest crop? or has he ever stojiped to calculate whether he is not actually 

 losing every year by giving so much attention to one crop? or does he stop to 

 consider how by some changes in his management and tillage he miglit improve 

 his deteriorated soil, thus adding to his income and value of his property? 

 Indeed, does he think of improvement at all? Such a man needs a terrific 

 shock given to his old habits which shall cause him to develop the fertility both 

 of his brain and his lands. 



The farmers as a class, I believe, are awakening to this higher consideration 

 of their calling. They have been too much in the habit of considering agricul- 

 ture a profession wherein only brawn was needed, and the man who had the 

 hardest muscle and greatest amount of physical endurance was the one to 

 eventually succeed. Now, however, we begin to realize that there are elements 

 to be analyzed, and brawn cannot do tliis. There are subtle laws which escape 

 our notice unless we are ever on the alert to detect them, and brawn cannot 

 do this. 



Tliere are pests which infest and destroy our fruits and crops, and brawn has 

 not yet been able to destroy them. There are rules Avhicli must regulate trade 

 in which the farmer is interested, but brawn can never arrange these laws, or 

 tabulate the facts upon which they are based. It is this brain-power which the 

 farmer of to-day needs most to cultivate. He should store his mind with the 

 facts which natural science is In'inging to light, and acquaint himself with the 

 principles which underlie successful agriculture, and, in truth, all successful 

 trade. The farmer should also reach beyond his own calling, extend his 

 acquaintance with men of other trades and professions, and by comiDaring the 

 relative im2)ortance of other kinds of business with his own ; by studying into 

 the necessity which has created other trades, he will find the middle wall of 

 prejudice crumbling away, and a better understanding and a better feeling will 

 be engendered. It is the farmer's duty to recognize the relative position of 



