34 The Farmstead 



workman and his family should form a suffi- 

 cient one. Happily, many large and demoral- 

 izing wheat ranches are being divided into small 

 farms, upon which are being reared the roof- 

 tree, children, fruits and flowers. 



To secure a competence, no more activities 

 should be entered into than can be prosecuted 

 with vigor and at a profit. On the other hand, 

 too few activities tend to stagnation and degenera- 

 tion. Mental power, like many other things, 

 increases with legitimate use and diminishes with 

 disuse. The farmer who simply raises and sells 

 maize is often poor in pocket and deficient in 

 understanding. The college graduate who at- 

 tempts but a few easy things seldom becomes a 

 ripe scholar. 



To secure a competence, the petty outgoes 

 should be met by weekly receipts from petty 

 products. I have known so many farmers to 

 succeed by specializing moderately along one or 

 two lines, while holding on to diversified agricul- 

 ture, in part at least, that I am tempted to give 

 a single illustration as a sample of thousands 

 which have come under my notice. 



A Scotchman and his family of four little 

 (^hildren landed in northern Indiana with three 

 to four hundred dollars ; to this was added as 

 much more by day labor. A farm of about one 

 hundred and fifty acres was purchased, one hun- 



