THE FARMERS' COLUMN,

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 62, 13 November 1880, Page 4

THE FARMERS' COLUMN,

HOW TO. MAKE GOOD FABHERS.

X)ttr native youth (says a tjorres■pondent c& the Sydney "9Wn and isounbry Journal"), and those who ■we responsible for forming their . kabits and training them to be useful taembers of the community, will do ■well to consider whether the following 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 future. The Grange is a, farmers* association, formed to watch and promote their mutual interests. They are now very numerous in the States of America, and are 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 as follows : — 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 fire, and let your father or ezoployer &nbsh Seeding. 2£ so, how often? 2nd. Did you ever in your recollection carry a bucket of swill to the liogs without a special request to do ao? If so, how often? 3rd. Did you ever nail on a plank or a pailing which had come loose, ot lay up a rail which. b&d Mlea off % fence, without a. special order to flo so from your father or employer? If you ever did, do you remember how if ten? 4th. Do you remember how often jou ever closed all the gates and all the stable doors, after you have done feeding ? sthi Did you. never leave the crib or granary door open, and in consequence thereof^have feed and grain wasted and stock' foundered ? 6th. 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 k Do vow know whether or not yon ever chopped enough of stove wood, atone time, to make fire 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 f If the applicant answer the above questions to the satisfaction of a committee of three, to be appointed for the purpose, the applicant should be admitteTrTSKrtEe~iJfaef: — iniotrlrer should be admonished to try for one ye&r ho "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 then 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 wages paid mechanics and 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 I am certain there is not a farmer within my 'knowing but has felt the need of a " hand "' possessing these ?ualifications ; and while I write this am sensible of the fact that many who are unacquainted with the wants of the farmer will sneer or giggle at this ; but I also know that the majority of farmers would be glad to employ a "hand" that would put the above suggestions into practice, and would pay such a "hand" good wages. These are qualities in a farm hand fihbuld be evAogJse^and are things which are Mfc the need of in the daily routine of the farmer's life, and cannot be entirely ignored. This is an outside view of the matter, and of course 1 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 endeavor to thus qualify himself, and by so doing very much relieve the great want of the farmer. *r Air Old Farmer.