648 ANNtTAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



wise be omitted. Bui even in our busies! hours, lei us note tlio 

 beauties of nature. As often as possible let us heed the suggestion 

 of Win. Cullen Bryant : 



"Only those who have learned to hear Hie still voice, can know 

 (he real charm of country life. 1 ' 



CULTURE ON THE FARM. 



By MISS NORA J. FINCII, Jermyn, Pa. 



In these times of busy competition, when the members of every 

 profession are striving to reach the front rank of excellence, the 

 farmer who will keep up to date, must be a pusher too. He must be 

 so welJ read in his profession that he is able to pursue any or every 

 line pertaining to his work with a reasonable degree of success. 

 If his mind is given to the raising of grains and vegetables, he 

 must know what kind of soil is best adapted to each and how much 

 and what kind of fertilizers is necessary, how to give back to the 

 soil the particular properties taken from it by the preceding crop, 

 etc. 



If he will be a successful grower of fruit, he must understand all 

 the newest and best methods to be pursued along that line. If he 

 wishes to go into dairying or the milk business and will get the best 

 returns possible from his labors, he must understand the food and 

 sanitary conditions that will make such a business profitable. In 

 short, the farmer of to-day, who pretends to be a farmer is a very 

 busy man; and so intent is he in studying how to so cultivate and 

 improve his land as to get the best of financial results, that he 

 sometimes forgets to look after other important duties of life. 



The average farmer provides his family with good food, suitable 

 raiment, sends his children to school a part of the year, supplies 

 them with a weekly or perhaps a daily newspaper, and then rests 

 content. He has done his duty. Now while this is all very good 

 and just what he should do, yet to eat, to work, to read a little and 

 to sleep, should not be all of life on the farm. There is a phase of 

 life, which in the multiplicity of cares attendant on life in a farming 

 community, is too often sadly neglected, namely, self-culture. 



Culture is a great help in all the affairs of life; the lack of it a 

 great hindrance. If a general knowledge of the usages of good 

 society is a necessary part in the training of the city child, it is just 

 as necessary in the training of the country child, and there is no 

 valid reason why lie should not have enough of this kind of educa- 

 tion to enable him to pass muster when he goes out into the world 

 to enlist for the battles of life. 



But perhaps soino one will ask, How is this to be brought about? 

 How are we who live in isolated communities, shut away from the 

 towns with all their advantages and refining influences, to this 

 needed culture? Have you ever thought my friend, that your life 



