Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-04-03
a & r 7 @ u L. II u r e.
A LITTLE FARM WELL TITLED.


The greatest obstacle TO the Improvement
OF agriculture is The propensity of the farmer.
the mania, | might well call it, TO own more
land than he can till to advantage And it is
thus that we see scattered over the country
large tracts of sterile, unproductee land. which
under good cultivation would yield bountiful
and valuable crops. Not only the dictates OF
sound philosophy, but numerous facts, drawn
from experience, are constantly and loudly
calling upon the farmer, from euerv quarter
to occupy small farm aud cultivate it well
wish that this admonlion could be thunder
Ell INTO the ears Of the agricultural population
nnlll complete revolution should be pro-
duced in the farming system
This great truth is already beginning to be
understood in other countries, and il is at
tended with corresponding advantages The
densest population in Europe may be found
IN Flanders and Lombardy, where the land
divided into small farms, and, being thorough
~ titled, produces abundant food Tor the in
habitanis. And the experience of 4 quarter
OF a century in France, proves, that by the oc-
cuPatlon OF the county under small working
farmers, IN" land is producing one-ihitd more
iood, and supporting population one-tbird
greater, than when ii was possessed in large
masses.
The law is universal, it applies to every
country-!ha! the secret of success in Agri-
culture consists in the thorough cultivation
of a small piece OF ground which. we'll nannr-
ed, and well worked, Yields up its treasures i'm
prodigal profusion. In almost every State,
one capital error runs through the whole sys-
TEN of farming. great deal Of money is in
vested III land, and very liile money is en-
DlOyeU i'm culi ArJ ~. eoJ a.
sec the owner Of large farm pride himself
on the number Of acres which he possesses,
and undertake TO cultivate the soil without
sufficient means. Such man has been bap-
PLY compared to merchant, who expends all
his capita! in building for his own use large
and rootny store, and is afterwards seen gaz-
ing with complacency on his bare walls and
empty shelves.
He has chaked to himself hard lot. and
voluntarily enters on a state Of seryitude.
worse than Egyptian bondage. His work is
never accomplished. He tolls at all hours
and yet is never ahead Of his work. and his
WORE is never half done. He has not time to
accomplish any thing thoroughly. His house
is out OF repair, his barn dapdaed, his cat
lie poor, his fences in ruins, his pasture over
run with bushes, and acres Of land, which I'M
der proper cultivation, might be made To Weld
a rich harvest, are but little removed from
barrcnness, perhaps dotted with mullen, bur
docks thislles, or flied with sorrel. white
weed, and other noxions plants, which root
ont the grass and eat up the life Of the soil,
without affording nonrishment 70 man or
beast
What harrassed unhappy being must be
the owner of such a FARM He has no time
Tor recreation or mental improvements He
is doomed 10 the tread-milI for life ; with his
spirits epressed---desp onGency stamped up
on his haggard linesments, and the worm Of
discomfort gnawing at his heart; with him
. there is no pleasant associations with the past,