and placing it at one-third of the entire product, we pass to the consideration of that larger and more fortunate class representing the three million one hundred and forty-two thousand seven hundred and forty-six families who own and operate their own farms.

Here our task is easy; for while as a matter of fact, in this case, the owner and tenant are one and the same individual, yet this joining and blending of relations, while inevitably tending to increased results both to land and labor, does not in any appreciable degree change the proportion of the joint product which should, on the one hand be assigned to the land and its permanent improvements, and on the other to labor, stock and machinery.

If the rule complies with justice in the one case, it accords with reason in the other.

The conclusion, therefore, is that of two billion four hundred and sixty million one hundred and seven thousand four hundred and fifty-four dollars gross annual product of all the farms of the United States, one-third, or eight hundred and twenty million thirty-five thousand eight hundred and eighteen dollars should be set down as the net income for the thirteen billion two hundred and seventy-nine million two hundred and fifty-two thousand six hundred and forty-nine dollars invested in Farm Lands and their improvements. Making the calculation, we find the rate to be six and one-sixth per cent. From this rate there must be a proper deduction for taxes. I have heretofore assumed the average rate of taxation in country districts to be one and one-half per cent. But as this is applied to a valuation not greater than two-thirds of actual value, the real average rate on true value would be one and one-half times two-thirds, which would be one per cent. Deducting this from six and one-sixth per cent. leaves five and one-sixth per cent, as our nearest approximation of the average net income from all the farms of the United States.

If the statistics be correct and the rule of crediting one-third of the product to the land be just then there is no escape from the conclusion.

This rate being the average one for all the farms in the United States, I have no doubt but that many sections would show a much less rate than this, and many others a greater one; and that different farms in the same section would show a wide divergence in results.

If I have a hearer who calls in question the substantial correctness of this conclusion, and who thinks it too favorable to farm ownership. I desire to call his attention to what ten thousand dollars invested in a farm will do for a man who loves Nature and Nature's God sufficiently to live upon it. For this sum, he can have one hundred and sixty acres of good land in the Miami Valley provided with a good house, large barn and all other required buildings; also stock, vehicles, machinery and implements necessary to its proper cultivation. No man who possesses a mind finds his highest happiness in having it entirely unoccupied. But I do claim that, upon such a farm, an intelliget farmer who is "onto his job." without any manual labor on his part, and with only such cares of management as are a rest and a delight to the mind, can live in comfort without any other source of income. It is true he cannot live upon terrapin and give BradleyMartin social functions, but he can here, free from the care, strife and fierce competition of most other callings, live in peace and plenty, with all the comforts and his full measure of the amenities and luxuries common to this life.

Now, let him conclude that his city brother has the best of it and that he can better his investment by selling out and moving to town. He does so: and realizes from the sale of his farm, stock and machinery, their full value-ten thousand dollars. The first thing he will need in the city, will be a home for himself and his family. To get as good an one as he has just left, all things considered-some things better and some not so good-he will have to invest three thousand dollars.

He will then have seven thousand dollars left. Now, let him invest it in such manner as that its income will enable him to live on the same plane as heretofore: It he does as well as the ordinary investor does, he will have as an income from this seven thousand dollars just two hundred and eighty dollars upon which to live and pay the taxes on his home. He cannot do it. He has made a mistake, and unfortunately the mistake is one which, in most cases, cannot be retrieved through any light employment which city life affords.

My earliest and most fragrant memories are those associated with life on the farm, and, although for many years I have been busily engaged in other fields of endeavor, it is my deliberate judgment that there is here offered not only the greatest security of investment, but also, in their purest form and most perfect combination, those elements of true happiness: something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

THE FARMER'S LIFE.

BY MRS. MARY E. DAVY ANDERSON, Huron, O.

[Read at the Farmers' Institute held at Milan, Erie County, December 23 and 24, 1898.]

The situation of a farmer makes his life different from that of other men. He can stand in his own door and look over his broad acres circumscribed nowhere by the will of others. He is surrounded by his property visible to the passerby and it is associated with his personality. He is in a sense a great man. All he does is known. He is represented by his farm. If the fences are well kept, the roadsides clean, the buildings in good repair, the machinery under shelter, the fields neatly tilled, the furrows straight and systematic, he is known as a man of neat habits, a thrifty husbandman, and a good business man; for these qualities go hand in hand and are seldom found alone. His neighbor sees his work and patterns after it. His methods are inquired into and practiced. He becomes respected and people follow his example. Is he an honest man; does he pay his debts? If not, he is misleading some one. Is he a kind husband and father and a good citizen? If not, his example is bad again. Does he take a social glass for friendship's sake? If so, he is dealing out death and destruction to some one who has a strong appetite and a weaker will.

Cain said, "Am I my brother's keeper?" In a large measure each one is his brother's keeper and has no right to set an example which may injure him. The more prominent the position, the greater the responsibility.

The life in town or city is very different from that in the country. So many people are grouped together that personality is to some extent lost in the Each one is like one of the bright irregular pieces of glass in a kaleidoscope insignificant in itself, yet forming a part of the whole.

mass.

Their environments rather weaken than strengthen their characters. There are so many influences and one is so closely surrounded he does not develop the vigorous character found in the country. That is the tendency in all life. The oak, growing on the hill top alone, subjected to all the winds that blow, strikes its roots deeper into the soil, taking on a stronger hold at each blast that blows. It bows its head to the fury of the storm only to raise it higher again in its might when the wind has passed by, while the tree grown in the valley, surrounded on all sides, when suddenly exposed, falls with the first wind that blows.

The farmer must necessarily develop character and must think for himself. His condition compels him to do so. Then, too, he owns property; a fact which must strengthen character. He should be interested in all his surroundings, especially the laws of his state and his community, by which he is governed. The farmer should read and inform himself so as to be ready at a moment's notice to act or to assist others. Dr. Arnold says: "What a man is, and what a man does on the spur of the moment is the result of countless thought. Any man who would do anything well must come at it from a higher ground.” A farmer and his family have a better opportunity for reading than people living in town. Their evenings are not interrupted by people running in or some attraction down street that is so often more of a detriment than a benefit. Then, too, though physically tired, the farmer's brain has not been so overtaxed by business that he cannot appreciate what he reads. It is a pastime and recreation for him. It is said that "next to the love of God implanted in the heart, there is no greater safeguard than the love of good reading." Interest your children in reading. See that they have enough and right books to read and an opportunity to read them. Have a dictionary and encourage them not to pass a word by until they understand its meaning. It is the best way to master words and make them our own. Do not think you can not afford to buy books. It will be a good investment. Many of our prominent business positions are filled by the sons and daughters from the farm. It must be so, for they have within them the elements of success. All their training has been toward self-reliance, industry, patience, steadfastness and endurance. Educate your children on the line that nature intended them for. Keep them on the farm if you can, but do not compel them to follow a business, not even farming, that they dislike. They will not suceed. It is sometimes a good plan to let them try what they think they would like. They will find that hard work is the companion of every one who makes a success of anything.

A farmer spends more evenings and eats more meals with his family than the most of men can. No other man can work with his children as the farmer can, for there are no outside attractions for them. The mechanic or business man in town is up and off before the family is around, and if he goes home for his dinner he is so-rushed with business he can not stop to visit with his family. I met a man a few days since from Florida who said that farmers did not know how to appreciate their blessings. He was raised on a farm but had gone into a city. He occupied an office where the clerical service consisted of twenty men and one and a half million dollars passed through his hands every year, but he was a slave. His business kept him at the office until nine or ten at night and he rarely ate with his family except on Sunday. He handled more money than the farmer, but he had less freedom. Why accumulate so much money? "Shrouds have no pockets."

Why is it that we do not enjoy our surroundings more? We have spread out before us a panorama of the most beautiful pictures which, if put on canvas with only one-half their perfection, we would think marvels of beauty. Artists go into the country for their models and choose those which are the nearest to nature. Why cannot we enjoy them? I wonder how many farmers ever stop in the morning to look at the sunrise, to hear the birds sing or to listen to the whispering of the leaves? How many greet the cows, horses or sheep with a cheery good-morning or give them an affectionate pat? Do you know that animals appreciate such things and you are made happier thereby? It is said that naturalists are people of great longevity. It is conducive to health and happiness to be closely associated with Mother Nature.

The farmer has an opportunity to teach his child about the birds, plants, sky and many other wonderful things. The studies begun with the father may be continued and help the child to choose his vocation.

We have a useful book for children called "Wonders and Beauties of Land and Sea." It treats of the Animal and Vegetable Kingdom and is illustrated. It is well to interest children in these things at an early age.

One of our writers has said: "The beauties of nature turn the mind away from irritating thoughts to something better the Author and Giver of all these beauties."

If we would spend a year in the city in one of those flats where one never sets foot upon the ground, we would come to our farm homes with our eyes opened and feel that we were in Paradise. You remember that the garden of Eden was only a farm. Adam and Eve were not contented, which was the prime cause of their losing their farm.

Farmers should study the best method of growing crops and stock and their prices. Some farmers neglect the papers for the sake of economy, but it is expensive economy in many ways. I heard an old farmer, who has by close application and hard work gained a competency, tell his experience. He had laid the foundation of. his fortune by buying stock. He said he went among the farmers that were the most ignorant and did not know the value of their stock and bought on large margins and made money. He said those days were past. Farmers have made rapid progress. The grange, farmers' clubs and institutes have improved their condition so much they are not easily deceived. He said they now had to go into the west in order to make any bargains at all.

Is not this good news, that a farmer knows the value of his stock and is in no danger of being deceived by the first confidence man that makes his appearance?

There is a weekly paper published in Chicago which is of use to farmers, The Live Stock Report, published by Clay, Robinson and Company. By it you can keep informed on all the prices and facts concerning live stock. The daily paper is a great advantage, but to people living at a distance from the office it is difficult to get. What an advantage it will be when we can have rural mail delivery. The grange has been working for years to get this for the farmer. Let us cooperate with it.

Each farmer should know something about the laws of the land and also the persons who are to make those laws. Very few of the office seekers are unselfish. Each is going to please the persons who are most influential in electing him to office. There are some wrongs which might be righted. The farmers constitute an overwhelming majority, if they would work together. Power wins every time, and combination is power. I believe if our farmers would unite they could break up some of the gambling shops and have a fair price for their wheat and other commodities. It is not right that so much should be made off the farmer.

Officials are not always satisfied with their salaries and seek for an increase, and that increases your taxes, for you know most of the farmer's property is visible, while in most kinds of business it may be concealed and all depends upon the honesty of the owner.

You farmers can change these things if you will. It will take time and hard work, but in reading the biographies of our successful men and women, I find that success has only been attained by patient effort. No one reaches the top at a single bound. George Stephenson, the great engineer, while delivering an address at Leeds, suddenly roared out in his North Country accent, "Yoong mon, parsevere, parsevere. It has been the makin' o' me." I say the same to you. We must all persevere. We learn this in the story of Samuel Smiles and his "Self Help." Although this book has been translated into seventeen different languages and a quarter of a million copies have been sold in England alone, yet it was contemptuously refused by the first publisher, and the author left it untouched

in his desk for twelve years. After he had made a reputation by writing the life of George Stephenson, "Self Help" was published and its sales the first year exceeded twenty thousand copies; and no work has done more good, perhaps, or received greater welcome.

I believe it is a farmer's duty to visit the schools and see how they are conducted. It will encourage both teachers and pupils, and I am sure the teachers will be more particular about the work done if it becomes customary to have inspectors. You would not think of putting your stock in the care of some one and never going to see if it was well cared for; yet it is the exception, rather than the rule, for a parent to visit the schools. Great care should be taken in selecting the persons who have charge of your children. Select those that will get the best out of your children both mentally and morally, and not those who will teach for the smallest salary. All persons are not born teachers, and they can not be made any more than an artist or a poet can.

I believe it is every farmer's duty to see that the temperance laws are enforced. You would not think of allowing your children to go to a town where there was a scourge of smallpox or diphtheria; yet the scourge of intemperance is much more to be dreaded and the open saloon throws out its allurements to draw in your boys every time they go to town. The first may destroy the body; the last will surely destroy both body and soul.

I believe it is a farmer's duty to endeavor to have his children learn to love the work on the farm. This is one of the great questions of the day. I heard one method a few days since from a farmer. His son, a boy of thirteen years, had picked berries last summer and earned some money. He wanted to buy a bicycle. His father told him if he would invest his money in Sheep instead, that he would keep them until he was twenty-one and the boy might have all the increase. The boy accepted the offer and bought five young ewes. The father laughingly said he guessed he had got himself into trouble, for if they had good luck, the sheep would cover his farm before the boy was twenty-one. Wise father! The bicycle would have taken his boy away from home and there is no telling what bad habits he might have formed. The sheep will keep him at home, as the sheep will require care. He is a property owner and will want to add to his possessions. Ownership of property develops character. Our neighbor has two little boys, one eleven, the other eight years old. They have a row of berry bushes, the proceeds of which they use to buy clothes and they are allowed to make their own selections. At our county fair they had the finest basket of potatoes on exhibition, that they had grown themselves. The youngest boy is fond of growing corn and uses every spot he can find. Next summer his father is going to let him have a piece of land to work. Fathers, try this experiment. I believe it is the secret of keeping the boys on the farm.

We had a fine exhibit of baking, canned fruits, jellies, pickles, Indian relics, curios, flowers, plants, etc. by our children at the last fair. The judges said they beat the older ones. The exhibit attracted as much attention as anything we had at the fair.

I believe it is every farmer's duty to take an interest in the county fairs and make them a source of education and improvement to the farm home. They were the first means used to develop and improve the condition of the farmer and we have not outgrown them if they are properly managed. Get your children interested, and I will guarantee they will succeed. The state fairs are a success. If they are of use to the state, why are not county fairs of use to the county? They should be and can be.

Our agricultural colleges should receive some of our attention. They were intended to make farmers out of the boys. How many of our farmer boys graduate from them to go back on the farm? My experience tells me very few.