Addresses—Importance of Agriculture. 435 
MORE KNOWLEDGE, BETTER FARMING. 
More important to each individual farmer than anything he can 
do to secure favorable political action, is it that he seeks to gain 
all possible knowledge about his business, and to learn all he can 
of the principles common to all avocations. Let each do all he 
can to secure better legislation, but let him not forget to think, 
and talk, and read how to be a better farmer. Try to learn 
how to sell to the best advantage, but also seek to learn how to- 
produce most cheaply. 
The farmer’s condition is very far from hopelesss. Some far¬ 
mers in this State have been making 10 per cent, net on their 
total investment, even during these hardest times. Now we have 
better crops with a prospect of fair prices. 
The farmer has his choice of other callings. If he thinks he 
can do better in any other the sensible course is to engage in that 
business. If he decide to remain a farmer, the wise thing to do 
is to look on the brightest side and do the best he can for himself 
and his family. And he has this comfort, that in the nature of 
things, in any long series of years the farmer is sure of a fair re¬ 
turn for his labor if he use in his business, Industry, Intelligence 
and Integrity. 
THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE AND ITS RE¬ 
LATION TO OTHER INDUSTRIES. 
BY SEC’Y W. W. FIELD, 
Delivered before a convention of Sauk County Farmers, at Bamboo, Jan. 29,187 J. 
Mr. President and Gentlemen:— At the request of the 
worthy secretary of your county agricultural society, I appear be¬ 
fore you to-day to make brief remarks upon the importance of ag¬ 
riculture and the relation it bears to the other industries of the 
country. I do not expect to educate or especially enlighten you 
in your calling, as I doubt not most of you are my equals in en¬ 
lightened and practical agriculture, and many of you my superi¬ 
ors. I will, however, interest you as well as I can, .and while I 
endeavor hastily to show the vital importance of agriculture in its 
