20 The Farmstead 



cultured rich set forth, and that which is unreal 

 and that which goes for naught but vanity dis- 

 played under their true colors, — that comparisons 

 may be made, and that truer conceptions of 

 life, its duties and obligations, may be secured. 



How may a competence be obtained! Briefly, 

 by securing a knowledge of the laws which 

 govern the business or undertaking entered into, 

 and by conducting the business or undertaking 

 in obedience to the modes of action or laws 

 which apply to the specific case in hand. What 

 are some of the dominant laws which should 

 govern the farmer and farm practices ? The 

 farmer should specialize along those lines for 

 which his taste and training, in part at least, fit 

 him. To be more specific : A farmer will show 

 you his potato patch with pride, but not a word 

 will be said about his work animals and their 

 offspring, which look like Barnum's woolly horse. 

 Then the first principle of agriculture is, follow 

 up successes. In this case, the man has land 

 and skill in potato culture which should lead 

 him directly to success. Why not each year in- 

 crease the output of potatoes, and let some 

 horseman breed the horses ? I have no ear or 

 taste for music ; why should I spend time in 

 thrumming a piano and in making the life of 

 my neighbors miserable ? I love a bird and am 

 interested in all its ways, its beauty and its life. 



