158 Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 
measured by the intelligence of the farmers. 11 It is upon the farm 
and in our own homes that our greatest and most endearing triumphs 
must be achieved. The truly successful farmer is not the creation 
of a day nor a year. There are a number of things that are requi¬ 
site, and then it is a work of time. First, let us cultivate patience 
and perseverance. I do not at present recollect ever having known 
what I deem a really successful farmer, that was constantly shift, 
ing from place to place, or one who was ever anxious to sell and 
get to some other place. A change is sometimes well and even 
necessary and should be made with care and judgement. When a 
change has been made, let the farmer make up his mind that he is 
to make a home, and let it be the business of his life. I care not 
where you are, however beautiful your place may be in a state of 
nature, there is yet room for improvement. There is plenty of room 
for thought, for study, and the display of talent, if you will only 
be prepared to make the most of your opportunities. The first 
order given to Adam in the Garden of Eden, was to dress and keep 
it; this, of course, implies that it was capable of improvement. 
With us to-day it is an absolute necessity, and the man who at¬ 
tempts to conduct a farm for a series of years and makes no efforts 
at improvement is comparatively a drone, and if he is satisfied with 
that kind of a life, it may be said of him as it was said of Ephraim 
of old, “let him alone, he is joined to his idols.” But you belong 
not to that class. The fact that we are here to-day is sufficient 
evidence that we are anxious to improve [ourselves, and thereby 
improve our circumstances and conditions in life. In short, we 
wish to become scientific cultivators of the soil. I know that in 
some minds there is an objection to what are scientific or book 
farmers; suppose we examine this just for a moment and see what 
it means. Why do I study Johnson’s work on “ How Crops Grow,” 
except to try and learn something of plant-life; or why do I read 
his other volume on “How Crops Feed,” except to learn of their 
wants and how best to supply them? I read Bruckner and others 
upon manures, in order that I may be able to obtain such manures 
as mj" crops need, and use to the best advantage. 
I read Stephen’s books upon the farm and garden, Henderson 
and Burr upon gardening, Fuller and others upon small-fruits, 
Harris’ “Walks and Talks upon the Farm,” Lawe’s and Gilbert’s 
reports upon their experimental-farm at Rothamstead, and many 
