BLIND FARMER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 27, 27 October 1920, Page 3

BLIND FARMER

CROP VALUES TOLD BY TOUCH.

Few mei; have fought natural disabilities more successfully than Mr. Ernest Schwier, of Nether Hall Farm. Moreton, lispex (says a correspondent of .tho "Daily Mail"), who has been blind since youth. More than 20 years ago he went to this old-world village, and the result of his ability is that he is now farming 1000 acres of lairtl and has a dairy buMncss. He cultivates wheat and oats, and barley, and poas, and owns shear), horses, cattle, and piss. Everything i? under Ins confrol, and lack of sight has lieeu compensated by great mental. Dower and alkrtness. A.tall, well-built rmn. wun ruddy face, silver hair, white moustache, and short itfard. he looks a tvpical -Mulish farmer. The vigour of lus voice onuses his sightless eyes to be forirotten. "Who tauiht me how to farm.' he i said, In answer to a question. Why, nobody did. I taught mv?elf. . Amazing stori.e.; are told of his abilities. He is an excellent judge of i;attle-a better judgo than some men with .wo e.yes, it is «iid. Bv feeling a horws teeth ho can ap"roximate it.? age, and he ia a verv good cattle doctor. He knows every inch of his farm, and can point out the sliortest. cuts to a onsser-bv. By feelinjr the Rrass with his foot he has lieen known to tell its grazing value, and lie can always judge the growth and of a corn crop bv foeVng it with nis hands. A local story tells how once he wagered that if three horses, two bays and a irrey. were placed in stalls, ho would be 'able to pick out any of them. He was asked to indicate the erey, and did so by feeling. -'Mr. Seliwier, before taking up farming, was a professional musician in London.'