WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
There are many things which we might do to increase our 
pleasures and make our farming pay us better than it does. 
There can be constant improvement in all the various labors of 
the farm. Failing to understand the requirements of any calling 
is a fruitful cause of discouragement and failure. It is very hard 
to do successful work when one does not know how it should be 
done, but a knowledge of one’s business banishes the difficulties 
and often makes success certain. 
Parents can do a good work for growing sons as they are about 
to assume the responsibilities of business men, by studying with 
them all the various sources of information in regard to soils, 
climate, location and all the different industries of the farm. This 
would prepare the young farmer for his work, do awny with 
many of the hardships pertaining to the new farms of the west 
and prevent changes of location so fatal to success in farming. 
There is no occupation which receives so much attention from 
the press as does the pursuit of agriculture. Every newspaper for 
the family is adding to its columns something of interest to the 
farmer. Every topic is discussed ; many interesting experiments 
explained. If we will, we may learn by the experience of others, 
and go across lots as it were to success, yet we are told that there 
are hundreds of farmers who are hoping for success in their calling 
who take no agricultural paper. Of all the truths stranger than 
fiction, this is the strangest. A few only appreciate as they should, 
how much it is to secure weekly, many pages of instructive read¬ 
ing pertaining to the business that occupies the thoughts and 
claims the labors of the whole household, and those who do, will 
tell you their success and their pleasure in farming, is owing 
largely to the books and papers they have read. “ I never could 
have endured my farm life patiently,” said one farmer’s wife, 
“ without the periodicals and papers that come to my home, but 
with these, my husband, my chddren and my flowers, I have 
thought little of the privations.” 
Every farm house should be a school of instruction, where all 
things useful and necessary for the duties of coming years should 
be taught and practiced. Daughters have something to learn con¬ 
cerning many of the farm industries, and still more in the very 
important matter of housekeeping. It is a sad mistake somewhere, 
