HINDRANCES AND HELPS 



newspaper. In short, all that they do not know 

 which may be worth knowing, is known in their 

 town, and they are in some sort partners to it. 



Talk to a small farmer of this class about 

 Mechi, or Lawes, or the new theory of Liebig, 

 and he gives a complacent, inexorable grin — 

 as much as to say — "Can't come that stuff over 

 me ; I 'm too old a bird." 



So indeed he is; and a tough bird at that. 

 His mind is a rare psychological study ; so bal- 

 anced on so fine a point, so immovable, — with 

 such guys of prejudice staying him on every 

 side, — so subtle and yet so narrow, — so shrewd 

 and yet so small, — so intelligent and yet so 

 short-sighted. If such men could bring them- 

 selves to think they knew less, I think they 

 would farm far better. 



OPPORTUNITY FOR CULTURE 



There is a plentiful crop of orators for all the 

 agricultural fairs (most of them city lawyers, 

 not knowing a Devon from a Hereford), who 

 delight in expiating upon the opportunities for 

 culture afforded by the quiet and serenity of a 

 farm-life. Now there is no life in the world, 

 which, well husbanded, has not its opportu- 

 nities for culture; but to say that the working 



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