Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-11-25
MISCELLANY Y.
The True System of Farming.


Trying to do too much, is common error
'n'o Which the iarner often falls. His great
eagerness IN striving 10 he rich is doubtless
the cause Of his error. He is ambitious and
energetic, and forms his plans on large
scale, too often, perhaps, without counting
the cost. He buys a large farm, and wants
TO be calieda large farmer without under.
standing or considering the true elements
that constitute real farmer. lie fancies the
greatness Of that profession, as is too often
the common estimate, TO be in proportion TO
The number of acres, not TO say cultivated,
but embraced within the boundaries of his
domain. The fact is now being spread
abroad that a large farm does not either make
man rich, contented or happy, but on the
contrary, the reverse of all these unless well
titled, when his labor is rewarded by ample
crops aud fair success in the various depart
ments in which lie is engaged. No farmer
can realize the full benefits of his profession
without adopting thorough system Of cul-
ture. His success, commensurate with his
wishes, always depends upon the manner in
which he prepares his grounds, plants his
seed, and rears his stock. Neither of these
departments, which may be considered the
cardinal ones Of his profession, will take care
of themselves. The soil may be rich, but il
needs culture. His seed may be sown, but it
should be i'll due time, and always on soil
well prepared and of suitable quality for The
production of the crop desired. His stock
must be constantly cared fort derives its
thrift from the soil, and sends again 10 that
soil the susrenance it requires; but this is
not done in loose or haphazard way. The
farmers care is required, and all his better
Judgment must be constantly exercised in
keeping up this system OF reciprocal benefits
that may be realized by every intelligent and
industrious farmer.
Thorough cultivation aud a systematic at
tention TO all parts of his business, is inds-
pensible 10 good degree Of success. The
very corner stone to the whole system Of
farming, is to do what you do thoroughly
nature will not be cheated, aud never gives
full returns to The halfway work that is
praciced by vastly too many calling Them
selves farmers. If the land has been worn
the extent of that exhaustion and the food
required must be first considered. When
hscertained The full measure of these require
men,s must be given to bring out good re-
turns. If the farmer has but small stock.
and consequently small quantity of manure
TO replenish his land, il is obvious that but a
small farm can be supplied with it and good
judgment at once dictates that TO cultivate
properly large farm, artificial fertilizers
must be used if good crops are ob,oined
And SO with the labor, two men cannot suit.
ably till one hundred acres of land when The
labor of two men, and perhaps four. might
be probably employed on about seyen,v-fve
acres.
This is the great error in farming. Two
men strive to do what four can hardly do,
and thus thousands of acres are run over,
half titled, and producing half crops. The
land is run over till worn out, sustaining
the unnatural tax, till its energies are en-
tlrely exhausted and it fails to yield even q
feeble crop, because its life is worn out
Much of the soil in Virginia and othef south
ern states is type Of this. Thousands o
acres are lying entirely useless and exhaust.
ed, and will ever remain SO, ill the first ele.
menis of its power are returned to it. Tbi.
process is fast going on in many Of the Yves,
tern States. The soil is treated like an in.
e1huustibis mine; the tllers crying give
give! till in few years it will have nothing
to give. The boast of the West is,. larg,