792 Transactions of the American Institute. 



be ungloved and made hard with manly toil ; weary limbs, a sun- 

 browned face, a homely garb, long hours, a patient waiting for the 

 harvest, and modest gains, are what the farmer is and has before him. 

 "With ordinary care and industry he is sure of a comfortable living, 

 according to the standard of comfort in the coimtry. Luxuries — 

 excepting healthful food, pure air, vigorous blood, and nature's realm, 

 are accounted luxuries — he does not have. How much these things 

 are worth to a person depends on his tastes and ijiclinations. With 

 some they would be valuable ; with others not to be exchanged for 

 the privileges, glare and gloss of city life. The latter had better 

 remain in the town. To the young man or boy who has a natural 

 taste and love for the country, we would say, by all means go. If 

 you want to be a farmer and do as farmers do, go bare-handed, wear 

 every -day clothes and work, you will succeed. Do not expect too 

 much. You cannot master the trade in a month or a ^-^ear ; but you 

 can learn enough in a short time to begin, and then keep on learning 

 all your life. It is the willingness to learn which is half the battle. 

 The question addressed to the Farmer's Club is, " How shall we 

 learn ?" With a practical farmer, one who does his own work, 

 with such a man the youthful learner will be a social equal ; he will 

 not live in as fine a house or have as line grounds as the gentleman 

 farmer. The former will not dress so well ; his daughters will play 

 upon the wash-board and sing to the tune of the churn-dash, but 

 here is knowledge, and " knowledge is power." There will be time 

 to read. The long winter evenings can be turned to good account. 

 As a quaint old farmer used to say, the man gets rich who says 

 " come boys," and not "go boys." This is the sort of farmer for 

 the city boy to attach himself to. The other question is, " Where 

 shall we go ?" More labor is needed everywhere in the country. 

 Your committee would, therefore, recommend that practical farmers 

 who are willing to employ boys and young men from the city who 

 are out of employment and desire to learn farming, be requested to 

 address the chairman of the committee, at the Metropolitan hotel. 

 New York city, and that the boys and young men send in their 

 names, ages, tfec, so that an exchange of wants may be had and places 

 provided. In this way an exchange of information can be estab- 

 lished, of mutual benefit and of great value. The committee would 

 further suggest that no person apply to go to the country unless he 

 be thoroughly in earnest, and that no farmer offer to take an appli- 

 cant unless he has made up his mind to be patient and painstaking 



