No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 235 



harder and made their work more and raoro practical. To-day 

 scientists are leading the farmers out of the wilderness by a 

 shorter route than Moses lead the children of Israel. But Moses had 

 his doubters. Many of those old Jews were "from Missouri". No 

 doubt they told him so. It is so today. Human nature has changed 

 but little since Eve ate the apple. "Show me" is the slogan that too 

 many have adopted. "I'll try/' should be substituted, and if one 

 thing stands in the way of i)rogress in agriculture more than in 

 another it is the habit of doubting the progress that science is making 

 along the lines of better farming. The only difference between a 

 rut and a grave is its length. You might as well be in one as the 

 other. I do not say that all this applies to all farmers, but it un- 

 questionably does apply to too many, and it is undoubtedly the duty 

 of those who have safely landed on the banks of the ruts to help 

 their unfortunate brothers out. 



Too much pride in the ownership of land is another common fault. 

 Large landed estates is the bane of any community. It seldom adds 

 to the happiness or wealth of the owner. Take a concrete example. 

 Suppose that a man owns 100 acres of land. He has accumulated 

 in cash |10,000. Another 100 acre farm adjoining can be bought for 

 |100 per acre. Would it not be much better for him to use his sur- 

 plus cash in improving his own farm rather than spending it to 

 doubling his acreage. Think what |100 per acre would do if used 

 under scientific methods in the improvement of the soil. Think what 

 110,000 would do in the way of stocking a farm with all kinds of 

 pure bred livestock; what profits would accrue from the increase of 

 the flocks and herds and how a man would be improved himself 

 morallj^ mentally and every other way by associating with the higher 

 types of animal nature. It is, indeed, more elevating often to be as- 

 sociated Avith a high grade hog than a low grade man. Think what 

 110,000 would do in the way of installing conveniences on a farm. 

 No dAvellers in cities could boast of such healthful surroundings. The 

 drudgery of farm life could be eradicated. Health and happiness 

 could be enhanced and life j)rolonged. The proud possessor of 100 

 acres of land under these conditions could add to his own happiness, 

 to the happiness of his family and be a blessing to the community in 

 which he lived. It is things like this rather than acreage that 

 measure success and places the man in the front rank among his fellow 

 men. 



Another weak spot among farmers is their lack of appreciation of 

 leadership. Our armies have their generals, our navies their admirals 

 our governments their rulers and our political parties their "bosses." 

 Much as it is to be regretted that that word ''boss" has to be applied 

 so often, it is nevertheless that no organization or party could be 

 maintained long without some one to control it and direct its policies. 

 There is a difference between a boss and a leader and there is but 

 litHe danger of tbe former lasting long at tbe bead of any organiza- 

 tion or forward movement among the agricultural classes. Some 

 men are endowed by nature to be leaders. Others fit better in the 

 ranks. When thrown together for the betterment of a common cause 

 they find their respective places as naturally as water finds its level. 

 Petty jealousies, misunderstandings, etc., are the sins of some com- 

 munities. They retard progress and prevent the accomplishment of 

 much general good. Farmers should rally their most capable leaders 



