FARMING AS AN OCCUPATION FOR> X3ITY-BRED ME VT. . -2,47 

 AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. 



The agricultural high schools and colleges have already been men- 

 tioned. In recent years the attendance at these schools from the 

 cities has shown a marked increase, and, where one has the means, it 

 is an excellent plan to take a course at such an institution before at- 

 tempting farming. While taking this course it is highly desirable 

 that the student spend his vacations at farm work. 



BOOKS ON FARMING. 



The number of books published relating to various phases of farm- 

 ing is very extensive ; so much so, in fact, that the farmer is at a loss 

 to know what books to buy. He can secure much valuable advice 

 on this point by corresponding with the agricultural colleges and the 

 Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C. 



DEPARTMENTAL AND PRIVATE AID. 



A few years ago there was established in the Bureau of Plant In- 

 dustry of the United States Department of Agriculture an Office 

 of Farm Management. In many cases the employees of this office 

 are able to render valuable service to farmers by way of advice con- 

 cerning types of farming to undertake, equipment to buy, crops to 

 grow, the relative acreage of these crops, how to secure good seed, 

 etc. Representatives of this office are found in most of the States. 



More recently a number of men have established themselves as 

 agricultural experts, who visit farms and give advice on many phases 

 of farm management, charging fees for such services. 



While it has been necessary in this article to dwell more particu- 

 larly on the difficulties confronting the family who would change 

 from some other business to farming, the advantages of farming 

 must not be overlooked. In the first place, the farmer, if he is at 

 all successful, has no fear of being displaced. He commands his 

 own time and leads an independent life. In the second place, if he 

 is wise, he may himself produce nearly all the food necessary for his 

 family. He may maintain a good garden, an orchard, a flock of 

 poultry, keep a few cows and pigs, and grow most of his own bread. 

 If the wife and daughters know how to prepare food in an appe- 

 tizing manner and understand how to be frugal, the actual money 

 expense for the farm living may be made very small, while at the 

 same time the standard of living, from the standpoint of food, may 

 be much higher than is possible even with wealthy people in the city. 



The income from farming depends more upon the farmer himself 

 than it does upon any other one factor. An intelligent man who 



