334 . BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. [Pub. Doc. 



they have not risen en inasse and demanded it. I know that 

 it is claimed that savings bank deposits ought to be exempt, 

 because only four per cent interest is paid ; ]jut that rule 

 would exempt many of our farms, very few of them yielding 

 more than that to their possessors. Half of this in many 

 cases goes for taxes, leaving but two per cent for the 

 farmer's investment. This is the great drawback to farmins" 

 as an occupation at the present time. 



A lack of faithful, intelligent fiirm-help is another disad- 

 vantage to the farmer. It used to be possible to obtain 

 good, sturdy " Yankee" boys for that purpose ; but that day 

 has gone by. I recall a couplet by Benjamin Franklin which 

 reads like this : 



" He who loy the plough would thrive, 

 Himself must either hold or drive." 



If he wants a good job done now, he has to hold and drive 

 too. The disposition of the boys to leave the farm and go 

 to the overcrowded city is an adverse condition. I have 

 great respect for the lad who is ambitious, and goes to the 

 city because he seeks greater opportunities than the quiet 

 farm life can give ; but there are many who forsake the farm 

 which needs them because they think a farmer's occupation 

 is degrading; these need to be taught that "Honor and 

 shame from no condition rise ; act well your part, there all 

 the honor lies," Farming, while it gives good hard work for 

 the muscles, is an occupation in which a man can use all 

 the brain capacity of which he is possessed. 



" The man who tills the soil need not be of an earthy mind ; 

 The digger 'mid the coal need not be in spirit blind." 



I think it must be admitted that farmers are much to blame 

 for the low opinion which so many of their children entertain 

 of this time-honored vocation, for they are apt to eagerly 

 speak of its worst features and forget to mention the many 

 pleasant things that a farmer enjoys. I do not believe we 

 can find manufacturers or merchants that would say to their 

 boys, "I would like to have you master the business so 

 that you can carry it along when I am unable to manage it ; 

 but it is a miserable business, and I wish that I could have 



