farming finale
D. Magner has always had a penchant for that which is not categorical, exemplified by his random insertions and digressions. For this reason, the author sees fit to include a thorough appendix and an equally robust index. These closing areas are what shall be addressed herein, "closing the book" on Magner's Farm and Stock Book and Complete Instructor.
The literature page contains an overview of each of the sections previously covered in this work. There are free, downloadable PDF files of the actual text for all sections, including those to be discussed here.
law without lawyers
The venerable D. Magner, having decided the arrangement of his Farm and Stock Book and Complete Instructor, places penultimately the law without lawyers section before an appendix. His book has run the gamut from soil to bugs, from trees to horses, from diseases to remedies. It is time that he conclude with knowledge for all men, farmer and city-slicker alike.
As usual in this series, the literature page contains links to scans of Magner's full text (in PDF format), as well as links to the previous discussions. He who eschews the conniving attorney will welcome this free advice.
hogs, worms, and poultry
It's taken a while, but Magner's Farm and Stock Book and Complete Instructor is back for a fifth time, and today we'll be discussing some important farm issues: swine, fowl, and parasites common to all farm animals. Anyone who needs to catch up can read about the book on the literature page; the actual text is available there in PDF format, and there are links to the appropriate discussion posts as well. Don't miss out on such riveting topics as sheep castration, horse training, and mushroom culture.
Once you've downloaded the PDF files, follow along below as we delve into 130 pages of pure Magner brilliance.
doctoring livestock
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by gaining cursory knowledge of typical farm animals? In this fourth edition of the digital version of Magner's Farm and Stock Book and Complete Instructor, our favorite author will address various barnyard maladies, interspersed with his unique quips and wit.
If you have not yet read the first 320 pages of Magner's work, visit the literature link and download the actual digitized text (PDF), or just view the relevant discussion links for analysis and summation. Then get parts 6 and 7 from the same location and follow along below.
tranquilizing
The latest Harvest Moon game has been available for the Wii for a bit over a week now, and reviews are decidedly "ehh." It's interesting to note IGN's take on this new installment (they gave the game a 6.5/10 overall):
With a little more ambition though, the franchise could really open up. Multiplayer would be an excellent move, allowing players to move from their town to others like Animal Crossing. The weather channel could make for some interesting 'real world' integration, as you could set your region, and then have your virtual town synched with whatever destination you chose. After 10 years of basically the same design, we'd also be down for seeing a real-time version of the game, as there were plenty of times during our playthrough of Tranquility where we wanted to play a few minutes, and then put it down again, rather than rushing through day after day of doing the same general routine to build up cash flow. These aspects aren't necessary changes by any means, but they would push the franchise; something that hasn't been on the forefront of importance over the last few years.
- Mark Bozon, IGN
Hmm...that sure is an intriguing opinion. Where have I heard that before? Oh, right...
But perhaps Harvest Moon should try to find its roots again. At the same time, it would do well to take a hint from the Animal Crossing playbook and design a portable game that mimics real-time. In such a manner, a farmer wouldn’t be running frantically around trying to water all of the crops before they wither away at the end of the virtual season.
It's a shame when such grand ideas come so easily to the players of a game and yet manage to elude the game's developer. Perhaps the 20th anniversary of Harvest Moon will offer something to look forward to. Anyone who follows Japanese farming sims may already be getting their hopes up a bit...
secrets of horse training
Few would claim that they know how to properly address a panicked, aggressive horse in this modern society, but it is a skill that is undoubtedly worth knowing. Taming a vicious horse is something that can change the way one looks at the world; the feeling of accomplishment is unrivaled by any other casual activity. Therefore, I present this third installment in the publication of Magner's Farm and Stock Book and Complete Instructor, and the most valuable information yet shown. Please visit the literature link (found above) to download the digital versions of these chapters, and to acquaint yourself with the first several sections of the book and find their accompanying discussion links.
Download the PDFs and follow along!
fruit and bugs
The time has come for another of life's little gifts: Magner's enlightened take on fruit trees, berries, and plant disease and insect prevention. The complete list of downloads for Magner's Farm and Stock Book and Complete Instructor can always be found at the literature link. Be sure to read the discussion of the first two parts here.
the plight of virtual farming
Harvest Moon. Does that ring any bells? It's one of the most popular farming simulation video game series ever created, and that's a very cluttered playing field. All right, so there aren't many games that encroach on the "raise a farm from scratch while maintaining relationships with villagers" formula, but maybe there should be. Harvest Moon has gotten lazy, and, as a result, it's begun to lose my interest. Nevermind that I'm probably seven years older than I was when I first became interested in the game; for a series that has run this long, they need to step it up a notch.
The original Harvest Moon games were true classics. Starting out on the Super NES, the first Harvest Moon was down-to-earth, concentrating on planting a variety of seeds each of the four seasons in addition to managing traditional barnyard animals. You had to try to make money by raising chickens and cows, and you could fish and upgrade your house a couple of times. There was a town where you could buy supplies, and women to woo, as well as festivals to attend. It was a simple life that was strangely addictive and unusual when compared to the war and fighting games that were so widespread.
Now, that simple formula is gone. Many games later (too many to count, but let's try...it's over 15 for sure), Harvest Moon has had two spin-off series, one of which is successful (Rune Factory). But the games have strayed from just having a simple farm and town to making the player search for musical notes, befriend mermaids, fight deranged chickens, give gifts to talking plants, and gamble with elves, among other things. What's going on?
A little bit of fantasy is fine in a game; it differentiates it from boring, repetitive reality. But perhaps Harvest Moon should try to find its roots again. At the same time, it would do well to take a hint from the Animal Crossing playbook and design a portable game that mimics real-time. In such a manner, a farmer wouldn't be running frantically around trying to water all of the crops before they wither away at the end of the virtual season. With modern game systems, many more varietals of crops can, and should be, included, as well as the usual assortment of animals.
Undoubtedly it's a difficult task to balance a certain degree of playability and fun while respecting realism, but it's something Harvest Moon did well in the past. Now it seems to be stretching, unwilling to just let the series naturally progress with updated graphics and depth without sacrificing the feeling of true farming. Are all farms on islands?
The next Harvest Moon game scheduled for release in the U.S. is Island of Happiness, and while it appears to be getting some things back on track, problems remain: mainly, the control scheme, and the odd decision to make the player farm after a shipwreck. But the sequel, Shining Sun and Friends, is superior in many ways; look for it to be released in English in no sooner than a year, no later than never. In the meantime, let's hope that Marvelous Interactive gets bored and replays the Super Nintendo version. The world would do well with one more genuine farming game to calm us all down.
(I know little of the new Wii game, Tree of Tranquility, but it could be good. Time will tell.)
down on the farm
When cleaning up my grandparents' home, I uncovered a dusty old tome that turned out to be none other than Magner's Farm and Stock Book and Complete Instructor. You can read about it here; it's basically the greatest book ever written.
Since it was published in 1902, predating the convoluted laws passed in the 20th century, the copyright has expired and the work is now in the public domain (see here). Still, its pages are conspicuously absent from the archives of Google Books. Therefore, I've taken it upon myself to upload the best selections as PDF files so that future generations might also be able to create successful farms; the files are found on the aforementioned link. The uploads will be in sections, hopefully in numerical order, and I will summarily discuss their key points here.
second harvest
What's tastier than a bushel of home-grown tomatoes? Why, a mere two home-grown tomatoes, of course. They managed to survive the onslaught of small foraging animals only to find their way to my plate, right next to that pepper I picked a week and a half ago. I'll be honest: I really don't want to eat them, mainly because they're so perfect-looking. See for yourself.
That's probably all the crops I have coming. Still, it's pretty satisfying to know that you've produced (even a modicum of) food for yourself, and could survive for that much longer if you were cut off from the world. Next summer, the goal will be tomacco.
Also, if you haven't checked the nature gallery in a while, it's received some updates.