50 THE BUSINESS OF FAEMING 



of the farm, they never would have left the 

 farm. 



When soil building and fertility maintenance, 

 and methods of better living are emphasized upon 

 the farm, more people will remain upon, or go 

 back to the farm. It is our natural instinct to 

 live in agreeable and social surroundings, and if 

 we do not find these things in one place we seek 

 for them in another. 



Man likes to engage in the business that is con- 

 genial to his tastes, if it pays. Some men will 

 engage in the most miserable and soul destroy- 

 ing business simply because there is money to be 

 made in it, but the majority prefer an honorable 

 business. 



The business of farming is conceded to be the 

 most independent business on earth, and it can 

 be made the most enjoyable business, and a profit- 

 able business. That it has been a business of 

 drudgery full of hard work there is no question, 

 but the wonderful changes in farm machinery and 

 appliances for comfort, and work relieving de- 

 vices, have made it become a business no more 

 irksome than any other business, and it can, in 

 fact, be made as easy as any business. When the 

 author says these things he is not writing theory, 

 he is writing knowledge gained from practice. 

 He worked at farm labor when the hours were 

 long and the farm work was done chiefly by 

 brawn, with no improved farm machinery to help. 



He has stood behind the counter in the city 

 store from six o'clock in the morning until ten 

 o'clock at night, with but the short cessation of 

 going to meals, waiting on scores of exacting, irri- 



