Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-10-08
From the Valley Farmer.
ADVICE TO YOUNG FARMERS.


When the farm is located, before blow
is struck or any labor performed, it should
be laid off into fields, of convenient size and
form, and if possible these fields should be
separated by good fences. The first work
on the farm should be done by system, that
it be not lost, nor badly done. In dividing
the farm, care should be taken to observe
all the natural divisions, such as high and
low ground, wet and dry, clay and loan soils,
&C., where such exist. If the soil is all a.
like, then the division should be for conve-
nience and good culture. A low, wet piece
of ground, adjoining one high and dry,
ought to be separated from it, so the two
can be cultivated according to the require
ments of each, so that the stock can be kept
on one when it is improper that it should go
on the other.
One of the objects of a proper division of
the farm is, convenience. Any field can be
used for pasture or meadow which may be
chosen. Or stock can be kept for any length
of time and then taken out. Any field can
be fed earl or late. The fall feed can be
given to the stock or let rot upon the ground,
Stock can be separated, the old from the
young, horses from cattle, sheep from all
A change of pasture is often desirable. A
particular field should not be pastured too
long. There should be rotation in pastures
as well as rotation in crops. In broken
countries, where much. of the land can be
used only for pasturing, such rotation can,
not we'll be practiced but in much of the
West every part of the farm is tillable, anG
change of pasture becomes one part of good
farming The fields should be arranged so
as to be convenient to get from the. house
and barn, as well as from some road So far
as possible, it is desirable to have water in
every field, and gates or bars to make them
easy of fingress or egress.
The second object on division of the
farm is to Facilitate good sfamiag. To farm
with no respect to the principle of rotation
of crops, is to farm at random. To plant
one piece of ground every year to corn; to
SOW another as regularly to wheat; third
10 oats; to use tourtil as meadow; a fifth
to pasture, and SO on to the end Of the chap
ter of crops, is one of the best ways to spoil
farm aud have poor crops. SO it is one Of
tho most successful ways to degrade agricul-
ture and get small profits. 1t is best to
change crops every year. No matter if the
soil will produce the same crop for several
years You are weakening its productive
qualities. You are exhausting some of its
elements. You are killing when you ought
to be vitalizingi it. If the young farmerwil
begin right he will not only save, but i'm
prove his farm; not only cultivate ir we'll,
but cultivate himself. Good farming re-
fleets back on the farmer. 1t does him good.
1t affords a sort of school in which his pow
ers eff mind may be trained 1t is one of
the best schools of life, and always has and
Away will turn out a class of noble men.
A third object of the division of farm, is,
its ralue 1t increases the value of the farm.
1t adds to its beauty and utility, makes it
easier to cultivate and in many ways enhan-
ces its value. The number Of fields should
be as much as six or eight, besides the gar
den and orchard, which should be fenced by
themselves. If all cannot be fenced at once,
let the divisions be properly made and fence
as fast as may be, one or two fields year
till the work is completed 1t is best to be-
gin we'll. As Crockett says, "be sure you're
right then go ahead"