"A FAMILY JOB."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19040, 10 June 1925, Page 15

"A FAMILY JOB."

RETURNS FROM FARMING. FUND OF ENJOYMENT. Farming is a family job. Wo sometimes forget this when considering, the. income of the farm. Attempt is often made to classify. farming as the same kind of business as running a factory or - a Store. It is different, for the family-plays a direct part in all farm operations. It cannot bq separated from the activities of the farm. It is a part of it just as much, as,, the air and. sunshine above it. No j place in. all the world offers such opportunity for development of strong men and women as docs the farm. At an early | ago boys and girls arc-brought into con-' tact with the best influences. They,see uaturo at her best, and are surrounded by an-environment'which not only tends to good physical development but to the development of keen intelligence. One of the first jobs oh the farm is for the boy to keep the woodbox full of wood and the girl to assist her mother in washing the dishes. When a little older, oach may bo given some animal, or animals, of the farm to care for. It may bo a . baby pig or a' baby lamb that has lost its mother; or perhaps a few chickens. This'character of work teaches responsibility, and creates in the breast of these young people a sympathy and understanding that can only be developed by coming iu contact with animals that need tender and vthoughtful care. It is to be rogretted that so many people fail to comprehend what farm life is, the opportunities it oSers besides the pounds and shillings income. Wo must mako agriculture profitable, so that those engaged in it may enjoy all the necessities and a good share of tho luxuries of life. It is a mistake, however, to measuro agriculture by its financial income, the same as we do the factories, the mines, and all other industries. Few peoplo take ■up agriculture with tho hope of growing rich. Those who do aro doomed to disappointment, for agriculture is an industry that is above and beydnd just tho mero making of pounds, and when we measure it entirely from this standpoint it often becomes disappointing. .' We must measure it by the opportunity that is given for the development of life, of men and women, and only incidentally by its financial return. The true farmer gets vastly moro enjoyment out of raising a good crop from his land than he does out of tho morley ho receives for it. The true breeder gets mors enjoyment out of the development of a splendid typo and highly capable animal than ho does out of the money he can sell it for. Tho true farmer gets moro enjoyment out of seeing his boys and girls grow into strong, resourceful iricn and women than ho does out of the whole income of his farm. In tho past few years the farmer's income has .not -been what it should be. He has been under a tremendous handicap, and this condition has led us to brood over financial-matters and to forget that after all there has been no depression in the values of the most Useful and worthwhile things of farm life. There have been, on the whole, no crop failures, no plagues to claim our herds and flocks, except in small areas, and the loss of crops and livo stock has been infinitesimally small- While wo, believe we should look upon farming as a business, and work to make agriculture profitable, for this is important in tho development of this great industry and to those who are engaged in it. we should not let our interest in this destroy what is, after all, the most fundamental —that of building a happy home where our most resourceful as well as our best citizens can be reared.