Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-11-19
Farmers Department.
LARGE AND SMALL FARMS.


We have heretofore alluded to the mania
which seems to be cherished by the farmers
In this country for large farms-for cul,ivat-
Ing many acres Of land. This subject is well
handled in the following article from the
Farmers Cabinet
II wish my brother farmers would think
very seriously on the advantages to be de-
rived from the system of cutivating no more
land than can be we'll manurcd. The desire
for more land has been the ruin of thsu-
sands, who would at this time have been we'll
off, If their friends had deprived them of one
half the number of acres which they at one
time possessed; while the extra labor and
anxiety consequent upon business so spread
abroad, are all that many have ever gained,
and all they had right to expect to obtain.
And 1t would appear to be Il fatality to which
persons OF this sort are subject, or they would
surely be able to see the nsSe in tile middle of
the facs--for one is not more plain than the
other. ii ten acres of land can be made 10
yield as much as ole hundred, merely by
concentrating upon the means OF imrrove-
ment, the labor and care necessary for tha
cultivation OF one hundred acres, the result
must be profit d mimi, body and substance.
absolutely astonishing Now only fer
moment calculate the difference III labor. in
hauling the manure over one hundred ac-es
insteas OF ten, and after tina. the SPREADING il
abroad then comes ten times the p!ouqhing.
narrowing. sowing, with ten times The guam
hty OF seed, hoe-harrowing, moving or reap
ing. and binding and rakiug over one hundred
acres Instead OF ten, and hauling in the crons
and after all this, ten lines the rent IN pny-i
declare it appears TO be species ofinsani,v.
this desire for more land.
4 have lataly seen a farm kLaro oil 49, =
evils are eubodcd-of excellent natural fer
tIlity, fields large and lying on an easy decl-
witty, wils every facility for permanent i'm
ProVemeht, mari OF the richest quality in the
middle OF the estate, and within three feet of
tina surface. Now. ii the owner Of this fine
farm CT about two hundred acres, wou,d cor.
hne his labors to ten acres Of the land adj
joining has house, and give all the rest 10 the
stock upon the farm, only moving the weeds
to prevent them from seeding his and his
neighbours land, believe he would then make
Er@fsi, while at present he must make q
loss.
was told yesterday OF farmer who chilli
waited one acre OF land adjoining a field of 30
acras--5oth were planted with rye; and at
harvest bet WAS made That the yield Of the
one acre vas e4Ua! 10 dat OF lie thirty acres;
Sins was, however lost, for the crop of the 30
acres measured exactly three 9uart,rs IF a
6-sh:i nsors than the one ncre-these fields |
have seen this day; and have also seen
another field, where the owner offered to dis
pose OF the crop OF ryeJor dohur an acre, but
could get no purchaser at that price!
Now, 1871 not much better to double the
crop than to double the number of acres \.
But have land lying before me, which would
yleid hve hundred per cent. more than it now
docs, BY extra management.
AN OLD FARMER.