LECTURES AND ESSAYS EEAD AT INSTITUTES. 325 



sesses over the other occupations more clearly than the fact that he has been 

 moderately successful, even when his business has been conducted after the old 

 style without rational methods, without system, without knowledge of the 

 markets or the cost of transportation, the victim of his own ignorance and 

 improvidence, and the prey of speculators and transportation companies. No 

 other business could have withstood such management for a single year, and 

 yet we say the farmer has been moderately successful. 



Although some farmers have begun to think for themselves, they are not all 

 thinking. Others are making no effort to get out of the old ruts. While 

 much may be accomplished by individual effort and forethought, the farmer 

 cannot compel the payment of an adequate price for his productions, nor pre- 

 vent the extortions of transportation companies, without the cooperation of his 

 brother farmers. Farmers ought to agree upon what would be a fair price for 

 their productions, and then unite in demanding it. When transportation 

 companies charge extortionate or unequal rates for carrying their productions, 

 they ought to unite in demanding that such companies be restricted by proper 

 legislation. " In union there is strength," and farmers can accomplish any- 

 thing in this direction which they desire, provided they unite in demanding it. 



It is said that some farmers are in debt and are compelled to sell for prices 

 which are offered. This is undoubtedly true, but they should get out of debt 

 as soon as possible. No farmer should be a slave, and indebtedness is one 

 kind of slavery and a very bad kind. Better forego some or all the luxuries 

 of life for a time, and be a free man. To continually live under the lash of 

 creditors is not rational conduct in any man, and especially unnecessary and 

 foolish in the farmer. There is really two kinds of indebtedness, rational 

 indebtedness an d foolish indebtedness. It is reasonable to run in debt when 

 there is a certainty of gain and a certainty of speedy payment. It is foolish 

 to run in debt when there is no good prospect of gain and no good prospect of 

 payment. It is still more foolish to run in debt without a thought of the pay 

 day, as it is quite evident many do. What is more absurd than to destroy all 

 prospects of happiness in life? It is impossible for a man to be happy while 

 laboring in the toils of pressing creditors. There are enough farmers, 

 if they unite, to control the price of their productions. They need to 

 take hold of their farming as though it were a business which needs 

 management, and is not capable of running itself. They need to learn that 

 intelligence is just as necessary to make successful farmers as to follow any 

 other calling. The idea that it requires no education to be a farmer is simply 

 ridiculous, and when we say education we mean mental training, as well as a 

 thorough knowledge of all the facts of science which relates to their special 

 business. What business is more complex and intricate than farming? What 

 business requires more special and general knowledge? What business requires 

 better reasoning powers? 



Ideas about farming are sure to undergo a revolution. The farmer of the 

 future will be one of the best educated men, and farming will be classed 

 among the learned professions. In the future it will not be thought possi- 

 ble to successfully conduct a farm without special study and thorough 

 mental training, and the boys and girls will be sent to schools and colleges 

 to fit them as farmers and farmers' wives quite as universally as they are 

 now sent to fit them as lawyers and doctors. In the future, farming will 

 be thought to be all that I have attempted to convince you that it is, to wit: 

 The most desirable occupation because it is capable of giving the greatest 

 possible amount of enjoyment. 



