HOW TO MAKE GOOD FARMERS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 159, 28 September 1880, Page 4

HOW TO MAKE GOOD FARMERS.

Our nativeyouth (says a correspondent of the Sydney “Town and Country Journal”) and those who are responsible for forming their habits and training them to be useful members of the community, will do well to consider whether the following questions, altered so as to suit the circumstances of the colony, can be satisfactorily answered, and if not, how it could be managed to have them so in the near future. The Grange is a farmers’ association formed to watch over and promote their mutual interests. They are now very numerous in the States of America, and arc likely to prove of great advantage to the country: — SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS. Editors “Journal of Agriculture”: The Grange would do well to adopt the following suggestions in regard to young men applicants. We suggest that a series of questions be put asfollows: Ist. Did you ever finish feeding all the stock on the farm on which you work, and not go to the house to sit by the tire, ami let your father or employer finish feeding. If so how often ? 2nd. Did you ever in your recollection carry a bucket of swill to the hogs Avithout a special request to do so ? If so how often ? 3rd. Did you ever nail on a plank or a paling which had come loose, or lay up a rail which had fallen oil a fence without a special order to do so from your father or employer? If you ever did, do you remember how often ? 4th. Do you remember how often you ever closed all the gates and all the stable doors, after you had done feeding? sth. Did you never leave the crib or granary door open and in consequence thereof have feed and grain wasted and stock foundered ? (itli. Do you always keep the harness in their proper places, and did you ever oil them without the assistance of your father or employer? 7th. Do you know whether or not you ever chopped enough of stove wood at one time, to make lire enough to cook an entire meal, and then carry it to the kitchen, .without a special order to do so ?

Bth. How often have you assisted in feeding all the stock on the farm on Saturday evenings, and Sunday, during any one year in your recollection 1 If the applicant answer the above questions to the satisfaction of a committee of three, to beappointedfor the purpose, the applicant should be admitted into the order. If not he should be admonished to try for one year to become eligible, and at the end of that time report if successful. And, after the admission of young men who possess these qualifications the subordinate Grange should grant a diploma, and it be countersigned by the State Grange which would be a good recommendation for young men who have to make their living by farm work, and besides, it would enable farmers to pay them such prices as would compare in accordance with the ■vratfes paid mechanics ami other tradesmen. And I am inclined to think that if each farmer’s son and “farm hand ” would qualify himself in said arts, there would be fewer shiftless farmers in our country. I will admit that the aforesaid qualities do not seem very much like elevating the farmer to statesmanship, but it would help to elevate him above want. And J am certain there is not a farmer within my knowing but has felt the need of a “ hand ” possessing these qualifications; and while I write this I am sensible of the fact that many

who are unacquainted with the wants of the farmer will sneer or giggle at this; but J also know that the majority of farmers would be glad to employ a “ hand ” that would put the above suggestion into practice, and would pay such a “hand ” good wages. These are qualities in a farm hand which should be eulogised, and are things which are felt need of in the daily routine of the fanner’s life, and cannot be entirely ignored. This is an outside view of the matter, and of course I don’t expect the Grange to take action on it very soon; but I do hope every boy who expects to make farming his occupation will endeavour to thus qualify himself, and by so doing very much relieve the great want of the farmer.—Canterbury Cress. An Old Farmer.