THE I'RACTICAL FARMER. 247 



often occupied by cattle, and is covered with their 

 manure, wliicli lies tlicre until it is carted on to the 

 land. In the shed are the tools of the farm, consist- 

 ing of carts, plows — not deep plows : this farmer 

 thinks it best to have roots near the surface of tlie 

 soil w^here they can have tlie benefit of the sun's heat, 

 — a harrow, hoes, rakes, etc. These tools are all in 

 good order ; and, unlike those of his less prudent 

 neighbor, they are protected from the weather. 



The crops are cultivated with the plow and hoe, as 

 they have been since the land was cleared, and as 

 they always will be until this man dies. 



Here is the ' practical farmer ' of the present day- 

 Hard working, out of debt, and economical, — of dol- 

 lars and cents, if not of soil and manm'es. He is a 

 better farmer than two-thirds of the three million 

 farmers in the country. He is one of the best farm- 

 ers in his town — there are but few better in the 

 county, not many in the State. He represents the 

 better average class of his profession. 



With all this, he is, in matters relating to his busi- 

 ness, an unreading, unthinking man. He knows 

 nctthing of the first principles of farming, and is suc- 

 cessful by the indulgence of nature, not because he 

 understands her, and is able to make the most of her 

 assistance. 



This is an unpleasant fact, but it is one which 

 cannot be denied. We do not say this to disparage 

 the farmer, but to arouse him to a realization of his 

 poftition, and of his power to improve it. 



But let us see where he is wrono-. 



