Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 1
AndyetIknewagriculture.Itwasmyprofession.Iwasborntoit,rearedtoit,trainedtoit;andIwasamasterofit.Itwasmygenius.Icanpickthehigh-percentagebutter-fatcowwithmyeyeandlettheBabcockTesterprovethewisdomofmyeye.Icanlook,notatland,butatlandscape,andpronouncethevirtuesandtheshortcomingsofthesoil.LitmuspaperisnotnecessarywhenIdetermineasoiltobeacidoralkali.Irepeat,farm-husbandry,initshighestscientificterms,wasmygenius,andismygenius.Andyetthestate,whichincludesallthecitizensofthestate,believesthatitcanblotoutthiswisdomofmineinthefinaldarkbymeansofaropeaboutmyneckandtheabruptivejerkofgravitation—thiswisdomofminethatwasincubatedthroughthemillenniums,andthatwaswell-hatchederethefarmedfieldsofTroywereeverpasturedbytheflocksofnomadshepherds!
Corn?Whoelseknowscorn?ThereismydemonstrationatWistar,wherebyIincreasedtheannualcorn-yieldofeverycountyinIowabyhalfamilliondollars.Thisishistory.Manyafarmer,ridinginhismotor-carto-day,knowswhomadepossiblethatmotor-car.Manyasweet-bosomedgirlandbright-browedboy,poringoverhigh-schooltext-books,littledreamsthatImadethathighereducationpossiblebymycorndemonstrationatWistar