The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-05-11
Management. and Economy.

Management. and Economy.
IT is subject worthy Of enquiry. why
some farmers with only moderate means,
and with growth OF no extraordinary
crops, make handsome yearly profits,
while others with equal or superior means,
and often perhaps with larger products in
certain cases, accomplish little or nothing
as an aggregate gain The answer 10 this
problem will doubtless be afforded by the
superior mane cement in the arrangement
of complex machinery, in conducting the.
mutifarious work of the farm We believe
that birds eve view of an entire years /.
operation, would often greatly assist the
farmer in improving his farm arrange
ments, and perhaps few very brief sug-
gestions may. at the present season Of the
year, afford some valuable assistance in
accomplishing this purpose.
The first great object in all farming, Isl,
Of course. to obtain from given quantity
of land, the largest product with the least
outlay or consumption Of capital. 70 SEE
cure this result, the following points should
be attended to - *sa5 ~ 20
/. The land mus, be in such condition
as to admit of working at all times, or near
ly so, SO that men, and teams may not be
standing idle, in waiting for the land to ac-3
quire suitable degree OF dryness. Hence,
| If naturally wet, it must be well under-.s
drained. ss s ssssssss
2. Its condition should be such as to
admit OF the application of manure to good
advantage, by thorough intermixture and
otherwise-and not to render ii useless by
being enveloped with water or water-soak-
ed earth. 'st,s
8. high degree Of fertility should be
maintained-as the same labor in thar
case will yield larger result. sse
4. A thorough eradication OF weeds
aud their seeds. will save much subse4
9uentl labor in contending against them.
as well as save much of the fertility oflfbs
soil from waste in their useless growth. 2
5. saving Of the materials of man
ure should be carefully atiendedto as one
half at least ofthe solid aud liquid portions
are usually wasted by neglectto provide
absorbents or reservoirs.
| 6. Selecting crops, and selecting
proper portion OF each, is Of the highest
consequence. The market value OF one
crop may be higher than that OF another,
but if it draws hard on the strength Of the
soil, or costs much labor, or il the labor
required be al time when there are other
important drafts upon il. such acrop should
not be often repeated. ss.s
z. Everything should be done as cheapa'
ly as possible, for which purpose crops
should be arranged SO as to distribute the,
labor equally through the year. that men
and teams may not be idle at one period,
and hardly driven at another. or in other
words, that too much business may not st
times accumulate for lis thorough comple-
ton in season. Itfrequently happens that
the difference between profit and loss de-
pends on this alone. 80
s. Nothing Is more important than the
| distribution Of crops in rotation, as they
exhaust the soil differently. or what one
takes from the land, another leaves hence
the great variety otiarm products, the more
perfectly the balance will be maintained.
in the SOIL For example, wheat, barley
and oats. are regarded as silica plants, or !
those which consume more largely the sol
uble flinty portions; peas. beans and clo-
yer, are lime plants; potatoes and turnips
are potash plants; these different classes
should be distributed so as to preserve the
ingredients OF the soil. il we may use the
term, in equilibrium. To preserve, also.
a clean state of land, sowsd and hoed
crops should be alternate with each 9TH
er.
/ 8. A system comprising proper in
!. ,ermixture of tillage and grass crops and
raising domestic animals. should be care
fully made out and adopted. Grain crops
often afford the highest Immediate profit,
but domestic animals serve the indispensi-
ble purpose of supplying manure; hence,
in estimating the profit Of raising and fat
tening cattle, sheep and swine, the very
important means they serve in providing
pabulom for tillage crops, should be caro-
fully taken into account, q thing too often
thrown entirely out of the question. e
We briefly mention these different points
: in successful farming, not as anything
: new, but for the purpose Of recalling the
attention Of farmers, who, by careful obs
= servaiion and accurate records, can ar
;. range the details OF adjusting their own OPP
: eraiions, better than by any particular
rules we could lay down for their guid-
: ance - C0untry Gentleman