I have been reading a set of books called "Farm Knowledge" prepared exclusively for Sears, Roebuck and Co. Published by Doubleday, Page & Co. This four volume set has a copyright of 1918. This is basically a step by step everything you would ever want to know about farming. How to setup your homestead, preparation of fields, care and use of equipment and animals, financial management, etc. It is very interesting to compare the differences and similarities between what was good farming practices then and today. Also interesting to read about this era when tractors, engines, electricity, etc. were just beginning to find their way to the farm. The advise given by the author was to not sell all your horses in order to buy a tractor. A tractor is good for the heavy work of plowing and preparing the fields for planting, but horses were better for the planting, cultivating and harvesting of the crops. I quote: "...the tractor has come the supplement animal power, not to displace it."
If only they could see the "super farms" and equipment used today! Some of the statements made in these volumes seem quite short sighted from this side of the fence, but then putting yourself in their shoes, a farm consisting of several hundred or thousand acres would be totally unimaginable. Just think, 30 years ago, what would you have said to a person who told you that some day in the future, people all over the world could sit at their home and get information, send pictures, talk, buy and sell just by typing into a little square box and pushing a button.If you have stayed with me this long, there is one more quote I want to share on this post. It comes from a section titled "How electricity may help farm women." "The washing machine, electrically driven, conserves the time, strength, and good nature of the housewife." Had to chuckle when I read this. There is a poem in the book that I have typed up and printed out for framing, but I will save it for another post.
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