254 THE BUSINESS OF FAEMING 



town to rest, forgetting the fact that true rest can 

 never be found in idleness. It is only found in 

 activity that leads out the mind in thought. The 

 farmer, if he sticks in town, loses that interest in 

 the farm that leads to experimenting, and in the 

 study of new methods, and so the farm is neglected. 

 He wanders about the streets in idleness and seeks 

 the company of idle men. You will find him on the 

 street corners, in stores or where idle men congre- 

 gate, discoursing problems of state, national and 

 local government, and nine times out of ten these 

 discussions partake of the nature of opposition 

 or a kick. He neither constructs nor buildeth 

 himself, and wants no one else to construct or 

 build. 



The death rate among retired farmers is larger 

 and there is a reason for this. A man who has 

 been an active worker all his life is generally a 

 heavy eater, for he must needs be in order that his 

 body be kept in condition for the best service. 

 When he becomes an idle man, and most all retired 

 farmers do become idle men when they move to the 

 city or town, he does not generally change his 

 habits of eating. Idleness and over eating, espe- 

 cially in elderly people, make a combination that 

 soon brings on disease and death. 



To the farmer who is about to retire from the 

 farm we say ' i Don 't. ' ' Eetire on the farm. Take 

 the money that is required to establish yourself in 

 the city or town, and build a house for your tenant. 

 Install in your old home every modern device that 

 brings comfort and lessens toil. Fix up the old 

 home surroundings with flowers, trees and shrubs. 

 Touch up the old orchard with trimming, spraying 



