MAKERS OF
MODERN AGRICULTURE
MACMILLAN AND CO., Limited
LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA · MELBOURNE
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO · DALLAS · SAN FRANCISCO
THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, Ltd.
TORONTO
MAKERS OF MODERN AGRICULTURE
BY
WILLIAM MACDONALD, D.Sc.
Editor, "Agricultural Journal," Union Department of Agriculture,
South Africa; and Corresponding Secretary for the
International Dry-Farming Congress
MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED
ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON
1913
COPYRIGHT
Richard Clay and Sons, Limited,
BRUNSWICK ST., STAMFORD ST., S.E., AND
BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.
PREFACE
When it is remembered what aprominent part Agriculture playsin the history of all Nations, it doesseem strange that so little is known ofthe lives of those pioneers who havebeen foremost in the discovery of fundamentalprinciples, improved methods, andlabour-saving machines. Perhaps it isthat farmers as a whole are not speciallyfond of reading. This, however, is not tobe wondered at, because after a long day'swork in the open air it is hard to rivetone's mind on anything more serious thanthe headlines of a daily newspaper, or the[Pg vi]rose-tinted pictures of a rural magazine.Still, it is safe to prophesy that thesuccessful farmer of the future will notonly be a hard worker, but also a hardreader. And biography brings before us,in a vivid manner, the onward march ofmodern Agriculture.
It is also of interest to note how muchAgriculture owes to men who couldscarcely be called practical farmers.Indeed, the author has been impressed,contrary to common opinion, with thesuccess of the Townsman who takes tofarming. But this is really no moresurprising than that the simple-heartedfarm lad should forsake the Old Homesteadfor the fascinations of the City, andby reason of his character, courage, andindustry, become in a few years theCaptain of some great commercial enterprise.[Pg vii]There will always be the ceaselessebb and flow of the human tide betweencountry lane and crowded street. But itis surely our plain duty to do somethingto make the life of the worker in the fieldless