Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1873 — A First-Class Farmer. [ARTICLE]

A First-Class Farmer.

A man must be well made up who possesses all the qualifications for a first-class farmer. There must be energy, intelligence, industry, taste, pleasant disposition, administrative ability and a large share of coolness within the human envelope; for all of these elements of greatness are needed in the successful conduct of an extensive plantation. Old methods of work have changed: animals are not now “toughened” by exposure to winter storms; not much grass is mown before sun-rise, and but little hay stacked or housed after sun-set; men work neither so hard nor so long as formerly, machinery has taken much of the farm labor from muscle, and “brains” presents his bill for payment—a little larger than the old one of muscle, yet worth more, even though the hours of service are less. Not only are the “help” better paid, but the treatment is of a milder form, not so much push and sputter, but fair, steady, intelligent seryice, presided over by competent and considerate managers. Work must run smoothly, or the dry boxes of human machinery soon burn out; but- when lubricated with the "oil of human kindness,” service becomes a pleasant occupation, and ceases to be drudgery; the employed gets up to the level of the employer, and mutual respect prevails.— lndustrial Age.