No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. * 513 



The conveniences in the home are marks of distinction. The fuel 

 and the water are of great importance, especially the latter. How 

 often the water has to be carried up steps or from a far-away spring, 

 or pumped out in the cold, when for a few dollars the water could be 

 had in the house. 



"Its great to be a farmers' wife, 



And live upon ttie farm 

 And rise up early *in tiie day. 



To make fires bright and warm. 

 That the farmer man has Ivindled 



For his faithful loving one, 

 Who now prepares the breakfast 



And thinks it first class fun. 



"It's great to be a farmers' wife. 



And breathe the country air, 

 To raise the chicks and gather eggs 



And sell for prices fair. 

 The children love their mother. 



And the father loves her too; 

 And to keep her kingdom moving 



Is all she has to do." 



CO-OPERATION OF HOME AND FARM 



Co-operation in the home and on the farm is one of the essential 

 factors in success and happiness. It is just as necessary here as in a 

 business firm. The wife and children should feel that they are mem- 

 bers of the firm, and not merely boarders. It is not always neces- 

 sary that such services shall be paid in money, but oh ! there are so 

 many ways of rewarding where money could never pay the debt. 



"Little deeds of kindness, 

 Little words of love." 



When such conditions exist there are no suits in our divorce courts, 

 and the boys and girls are not in a hurry to leave the farm. 



There are farmers who sell everything off the farm that will sell, or 

 the best of everything, keeping for himself only that which is not 

 marketable. Is this wise? Is it good farming? The farmer's table 

 should be supplied with the best of everything; not necessarily ex- 

 pensive, but plenty of fresh, wholesome food. The farm will furnish 

 the fruits, the vegetables, the milk, the butter, the eggs, the meat, 

 with little labor if proper means are used. When these things sell 

 high in the market, the farmers are tempted to sell, but he can afford 

 to do so only when the supply is greater than the demand at home. 



One of the ear-marks of the farm that cannot be denied, is the 

 reading-table in the home. Let me go into the home and look at the 

 literature, and I will tell you what kind of a family it is. This is 

 a day of reading. It is not enough for a man to have brawn and 

 muscle, but he must have brain. In this day of agricultural schools, 

 experiment stations, farmers institutes, and with the writing in our 

 farm papers of such men as Agee, Zinn, Chamberlain, Lighty and 

 a score of others, there is no reason for a man not to be educated. 

 Allow me to repeat, then that whatever may be the other conditions of 

 life the home should fill the first place. In fact you never know 

 a man till you see him at home. 



Good business is a mark of the farmer. How often in the trans- 

 action of our affairs do we use no business ability. The farmer should 

 33_6_1911 



