FARMS. 105 



and that the general aspect of many portions of the country 

 would warrant the impression that farming is, to use a homely 

 expression, on its last legs. If, then, while so-called practical 

 farmers permit their farms to deteriorate year by year, and to 

 return slowly but surely to their originally uncultivated condi- 

 tion, there are men, not " to the manor born," who are willing 

 to expend their surplus wealth in reclaiming and rendering 

 fruitful farms previously neglected and unproductive, in trans- 

 porting fertilizers, ammoniacal and mineral, scores, perhaps 

 hundreds of miles, and in other ways promoting the production, 

 in constantly increasing quantities, of grains, roots and grasses, 

 as food for man and beast, who will say that the result is not a 

 practical one, or that the community is not greatly in their debt, 

 especially when comparing their course with that of others, who 

 use their money only to insure greater accumulation, or expend 

 it in personal gratifications or upon the mere fripperies of fash- 

 ionable adornment. 



The truth is, agriculture is following, though at a somewhat 

 tardy pace, the course of all other active vocations, and its suc- 

 cessful prosecution in the future will require, and, in a con- 

 stantly increasing ratio, will receive, all the aid which science 

 can supply or capital command. It is not meant by this that 

 the possession of capital by each individual farmer will be abso- 

 lutely essential to his success, but that capitalists will more fre- 

 quently become farmers ; and that their capital, operating with 

 and through the highest knowledge and best skill attainable, 

 which money can always command, will test theories and estab- 

 lish practices, which, when so tested and established, can but be 

 accepted and adopted by all farmers in whom self-conceit is not 

 predominant over self-interest. 



Farmers have heretofore obtained knowledge principally 

 through their own experience, a most excellent schoolmaster, as 

 all must admit : but the process is a tedious one, especially as it 

 must be repeated by every seeker after agricultural wisdom. 

 Hereafter they may find it advisable to avail themselves more 

 generally of the experience and observation of others, either by 

 accepting their personal instruction or by studying the recorded 

 results of their operations. 



Alden S. Bradford, Supervisor. 



14* 



