74 THE FARMER S EDUf'ATTON. 



The agricultural press, therefore, on such matters is com- 

 pelled to fall back on public documents and the utterances 

 of experts at Farmers' Institutes and similar gatherings. Of 

 these, fortunately, the supply is abundant, and one of the 

 most useful functions of the agricultural press is the republi- 

 cation and condensation of this material. 



Tlie journals of special industries, like the dairy, the poultry 

 yard, or the fruit farm, are usually conducted by successful 

 specialists in those lines, and give much original information. 

 Of the important papers of general agriculture probably all 

 are conducted by those who are or have been successful 

 farmers. Many of the editors own and live upon farms, 

 but this tends to be otherwise, because no man can be a 

 good editor and successful farmer at the same time. To do 

 either will require all his energy, and he will tend to give 

 up one occupation or the other. 



The live agricultural paper keeps the farmer well informed 

 as to imi)roved methods, progress of science, and the intro- 

 duction of new farming industries, and for this purpose it is 

 worth to the farmer far more than he pays for it. It gives 

 him a great deal of definite information of value to him, and 

 shows him how to investigate further. It will always gladly 

 investigate special problems, as to whicli, although the editor 

 may know little, he is usually in a position to ascertain the 

 facts. 



In an agricultural journal nothing is read with more inter- 

 est, or is really of more value, than the correspondence which 

 it contains from practical farmers on practical subjects. It is 

 also true that few things are more valuable to the farmer than 

 the habit of contributing liis experience to his agricultural 

 ])n])er. In the first place, tlie act of writing condenses his 

 ideas into a compact form, and discloses to iiimself any 

 errors of reasoning or gaps in information. It i)uts his knowl- 

 edge into more workable shape, for his own use, or for impart- 

 ing to others. To an extent which will suri)rise Iiimself, it will 

 also make liim known to his community, and to the extent 

 that his views are sensible, ho will find himself respected and 

 influential, which is always a jdeasure. One who is in the 



