A BLIND FARMER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 571, 1 October 1920, Page 2

A BLIND FARMER.

VALUES TOLD BY .TOUCH. Few men have fought natural disabilities more successfully than Mr. Ernest Schwier, of Nether Hall Farm, Moreton, Essex, who has been blind since youth. More than 20 years ago he came to this old-world village, and the result of his ability is that he is now farming 1000 acres of land and has a dairy business. He cultivates wheat and oats and' barley and peas, and owns sheep, horses, cattle and pigs. Everything is under bis* control, and lack of sight has been compensated by great mental power and alertness. A tall, well-built man, with ruddy face, silver hair, white moustache; and short beard, he looks a typical English farmer. The vigour of his voice causes his sightless eye to be forgotten. "Who taught me how to farm?" he said in answer to a question, "Why, nobody did. I taught myself." Amazing stories are told of his abilities. He is an excellent judge of cattle—a better judge than some men with two eyes, it is said. By feeling a horse's teeth he can approximate its age, and he is a very good cattle doctor. He knows every inch of his farm, and can point out the shortest cuts to a passer-by. By feeling the grass with his foot he has been known to tell its grazing value, and he can always judge the growth and quality of a corn crop by feeling it with his hands. A local story tells how once he wagered that if three horses, two bays and a grey, were placed in separate stalls, be would be able to pick out any of them. He was asked to indicate the grey, and did so tv feeling. ■ Mr. Schwier is an accomplished musician, and before taking up farm-" ing was a professional musician in London.