6 



angel there, could he ever have brought it out ? Thus a man needs to see 

 something of the possibilities of the farm, and feel something of the enthusi- 

 asm of the artist, in order to labor with the best success. 



One of the best dairymen of Connecticut, says in substance, that: "The 

 highest success in that business will never be reached until some of the business 

 principles that govern men in other pursuits are introduced. That few farmers 

 have a conception of the sharp, keen management, the prompt and faithful 

 service exacted of employes, the careful watchfulness of results, in commercial 

 life. The manufacturer who loses ten per cent, of raw material for lack of 

 proper machinery, and ten per cent, from lax business habits, will fail in busi- 

 ness and let his paper go to protest. The dairymen would go the same road 

 but for the bountifulness of nature." If this is true, then if the farmer knows 

 how to reap the advantage of "nature's bountifulness," his paper may be 

 edged with double gilt, instead of "going to protest." Knowledge and skill 

 are as necessary and valuable, added to natural endowments, to make a success- 

 ful farmer, as in any other occupation. 



A brother clergyman, gifted and ingenious, thought he would make him a 

 rough wagon box and save the cost and trouble of getting a skilled workman. 

 So he got the boards, and measured, fitted, sawed, and hammered all day ; and 

 no box. The boards being spoiled for that he thought to make a chicken coop. 

 Achieving no better success, and his boards being still more reduced in size he 

 thought to make a small box or two to start some seeds for early plants. But 

 somehow the sides would not fit the ends, and the bottom did not fit the sides 

 and so he split the whole up for kindling wood. His good wife then com- 

 plained that it was so small that it fell through the grate. A man may do a 

 deal of hard work, and the result be both unsatisfactory and unprofitable ; and 

 all because not directed by proper knowledge and skill. Imitation and guess 

 work may be eminent Yankee gifts, but they alone may prove disastrous. 



"Neighbor Jones," says Smith, "I heard you had a sick horse awhile 

 ago; what did you give him?" " A pint of spirits of turpentine," was the 

 reply. A few days afterwards Smith meets Jones and says, "I thought you 

 said you gave your horse a pint of spirits of turpentine." "I did," replies 

 Jones. " Well, I went home and gave it to mine, and it killed him!'''' " So 

 it did mine," was the response. Somewhat excited Smith asks, "Why in 

 thunder did n't you tell me then ?" " Why, in the same, did n't you ask me," 

 was the calm, questioning answer. 



A farmer by imitation may hit right by accident sometimes, but he needs 

 to work with a purpose. When the man of thought hits right by accident, or 

 when some accident hits him, he does not content himself with repeating, but 

 tries to know the reason why. A farmer in this state had a field of corn which 

 when about three feet high was so cut to pieces by a hail storm that he mowed 

 it and carted the fodder to his barn intending to plow the field soon. Other 

 duties interfered, and two weeks passed before he saw the field again. Then to 

 his surprise he found the plants recovering and he let it alone. From that 

 field he harvested the largest corn crop he ever raised, and found more twin 

 ears than were ever known to grow on that farm. 



