PRACTICAL PAPERS — SUCCESS IN FARMING. 383 
that the assessor did not believe these surroundings affected the 
value of your farm, but the buyer believes it. 
I believe most earnestly in co-operation in this work of gaining 
intelligence, and have only pity for the egotism and self conceit 
of the farmer who by word or act shows us that he believes he 
knows all he needs to know; who thinks he needs no counsel 
from his neighbors, near and far. I believe also in the practical 
value in many circumstances of co-operation among farmers in 
buying and selling. The system is greatly over-estimated. 
Many of the recommendations made are utterly impracticable ; 
there are difficulties generally even in the simpler applications, 
but there are ways in which farmers can profitably unite in busi¬ 
ness matters. 
But union with others, whether in buying or selling, or for the 
purpose of gaining knowledge, must never take away the right 
and the duty of final decision by the individual. No man, no 
society, no paper, no book, must be taken as an infallible guide in 
your own business affairs. You are a man, and cannot shake off 
your responsibility. Your neighbors are not to provide for your 
family ; they do not own your farm ; they are not to spend your 
earnings; you, and not they, should finally decide your own busi¬ 
ness course. Get all the information you can, from any and every' 
source, and then act as your own best judgment dictates, and not 
as any man, any body of men, any book, any paper dictates. 
Faith in your business, confidence in its future is the last, but 
far from the least of the elements of success I name. To-day, 
perhaps, no one thing is more needed by the mass of farmers. 
All over the land, but especially in the west, vast numbers of 
farmers are complaining and despondent. Far be it from me to 
under-estimate or speak lightly of the difficulties and the unpleas¬ 
ant facts which farmers must now face. Born and reared on the 
farm on which my father was born in the first year of the century, 
and which he has tilled for more than fifty years; engaged in a 
business where my prosperity can only come by your prosperity, 
where my every selfish interest would be to see farmers succeed, 
even at the expense of others, I can have no motive to refuse to 
recognize your difficulties. Meeting with you, traveling among 
you, hearing from you, I think I do know your troubles. Prices for' 
