The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-05-06
rHH True sYsTRm o. FARMING.

THE TRUE SYSTEM OF FARMING.
Trying - tlu too much j. a common error
5ntO which the farmer often falls. His great
parcrness in striving to he rich, is doubtless
shc cause Of his cTrDr. lie is ambitious and
energetic. and forms his plans or large
scale, too otter. PerhepS, without counting
the cost. He buys a large farm and wants
10 be called a large farmer" without I'M
dcrstanding or considering the true ele-
mcntS that constitute = real farmer. He
fancies the greatness Of that profession, as
II 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 large farm does
not make man either rich, oontented or
happy; but, on the contrary, the reverse
of all these, unless well tiled, when his labor
is rewarded b. ample crops and fair success
in the various departments in which he is
engaged. No farmer can realize the full
benefits of his profession without adopting
a thorough system OF culture. His success,
commensurate to his wishes, always de-
ponds upon the manner in which he pre-
pares his grounds, plants his seed, and rears
his stock. Neither IF these departments,
which may be considered the cardinal ones
of his profession, will take care of them
selves. The sell may be rich but it needs
culture. His seed may be sOwn, but it
should be in due time, and always on soil
well prepared and of a 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 to that soil the sustenance it requires;
but this is not done in a loose or haphazard
way. The farmers care is required, and
all his better Judgment must be exercised
in keeping up this system of reciprocal
benefits that may be realized by every in
telhgent and Industrious farmer.
Thorough cultivation and systematic atten-
ton to all parts of his business is indispen-
sable to good degree of success. The
very corner stone to this whole system of
farming. is to do what you do thoroughly
nature will not be cheated, and never give
full returns to tLe halfway work that is
practiced 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 !
aScertained, the full measure of these re- !
quirements must be given, to bring out full |
returns. If the farmer has but a small (
stock, and consequently but 2 small amount |
of manure to replenish his land, il is OBJ !
viOus that but n small farm can be supplied /
with it; and good Judgment at once die
tates that to cultivate properly large farm. !
artificial fertilizers must be used if good /
crops are obtained. And so with the labor; /
two men cannot suitably till one hundred .
acres of land when the labor of two men,
and perhaps four, might be proftably en-
plOyed on seventy-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
year after year the unnatural tax, till its
energies are entirely exhausted and it fails
TO yield even feeble crop, because its life
is worn out. Much of the soil in Virginia
and other Southern States is type of this
Thousands of acres are lying entirely use
less and exhausted, and will ever remain so,
till the first elements of its power are re-
turned to it. This process is fast going Oh
in many of the UeSterR States The soil
is treated like an inexhaustible mine: the
tillers crying give, give, give! till in few
years it will have nothing to give. The
boast of the West is large farms and large
helds OF grGin; plOw, SOW and reap is the
business of western farmers, drawing ont !
the very life of the soil, sending away in a
the heavy exports that are constantly GOING
onward without returning to the soil the
TODD it requires to make it productive.
The light that is being spread abroad on
this subject is beginning to correct this
practice to some extent, but in most in
stances very little is returned to the soil TO
keep 1t alive, till after several years of con-
nual cropping, it manifests signs of ex-
laustlon and ultimate barrenness. When '
llIers of the soil understand their true
interests, they will cultivate no more land n
han they can do well. Fifty acres of land
or tillage' brought to high state of Guilt f
'ation, pays better than one hundred RIM Q,
'ver in the way that many do.-TJefersoo n
Farmer. t.
BUSH YOUR TOMATOES 81
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