Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-11-03
THE PRACTICAL FARMER---wHo
is HEl

When ] see such negligence, and want Of
study, thought and management in the many
farmers around me, ! cannot help giving free
vent 10 my thoughts and feelings. Aud yet,
these men, these owners you might say Of
'landed property" are considered practical
Farmers"
The frs, question which arises in taking this
subject in view is, "who is the practical far
mer ~ This is probably the mos, disputed qucs-
ton in agriculture. But in my mind it is easily
answered. 1t is he who understands the art
and science, the theory and practice of farming
and can base his plans on no false theory but on
the scientific basis of husbandry, aud then SEQ
them carried out in manner which shall prove
his knowledge Of the practice, or if you please
"by the sweat Of his brow" But lot US notice
the practical farmer Of the present day. or more
properly he who calls himself the practical far
mer. He can boast Of an ancestry of practical
farmers, who have impoverished his farm, 50
that be can scarcely make living on it but
how-is question, which il you put to him no
cannot answer. He lives or half lives, and so
does his family, but how--he cannot tell you.
lie has no system Of accounts, and only knows
at the end Of the year how much better of he
is or what he is worih--by what he has in his
pocket. My intention is far from ridicnling
these farmers, but il is TO awaken them TO
necessity Of improvement and IL this be impos-
sible in themselves, and they will not be con-
WINGED Of its truth, for
"ie that's convinced against his will
Is Of the same opinion still -
then ask them, not to deny ii 10 their children.
Why is il that SO many of our farmers sons
flock 10 our cities, and there pass a miserable,
half starved life in hopes Of receiving employ
men,, and even after they obtain it, spend their
lives in close sultry confined atmosphere for
miserable piiiance. Is it the excitement Of
city life that draws them Is il the hope Of
gaining wealth. Is ii the "almighty dollar"
that glistens before themi With few il may
be so, but with many, il is the miserable, drudg-
ing life at home that drives them to it-that
drives them from all that should be near and
dear to them.
1t is because their life at home is made the
life Of slave rather than son from the begin
ring TO the end Of the year, with the exception
of few shor, weeks in winter devoted To the
common branches Of study and why should
they be sol Is ii the want Of meansi tell
them then increase your means by increasing
the Productiyeness Of your farms. And how
shall this be dOnel 1t can be answered in a
few words
LIST. Subscribe 10 two or three good standard
agricultural papers, and cultivate n yourself
and family taste for reading and improvement
Of mind as well as body this is of the first i'm
ponance.
I'd. Keep a regular system Of accounts,
charging your farm with all the labor and cx-
pense of cultivation, and crediting it with the
market value ofthe crops raised by this means
you will know how you stand at the end Of the
year.
81. Cultivaie less land and do il thoroughly,
sooner than skim large trac, and cultivate but
poorly.
4th. Convert your hay, straw, stalks and a
large share Of Your grain into beef, mutton and
pork, sooner than sell il to be used ia this way
by Spectators.
9th. Provide good, warm, comfortable shell
ter for all your stock through the winter months
BY this means you will require less feed and
save great deal more manure Provide also
II possible shelter for your manure from the
washing and evaporating effects Of rains and
sun.
9th. Pursue proper and judicious rotation |
of crops, instead Of following the old method Of
keeping one lot for pasture, aud another for
meadow, another for wheat, and so on for a sue
cession Of years. Change them every three or
four years. and by supplying such inorganic
manures as become deficient in the soil, you
will keep up the original fertility of the land
and last, though far IRON least, shave place
for everything, and keep everything in its
place"
A hundred other hints nigh be given on this |
subject; but fearful Of firing the patience of
you and Your readers, | will close, mentioning
however to my brother farmers, only try this
plan, and will guarantee that in three years
tine they will find themselves SO per cent rich
err IN their own and iamily's comforts, in tho
depth oftheir pocket, in the value of their farm
and tho focks and herds around tbem.-Wm.
+. Sands, in Michigan Farmer.