Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-06-10
THOUGHTs ON FARM ECoNOMy.

THoUGHTs ON FARM ECONOMY.
recommend to our farmcr-readers the
following excellent observations on the
kind of economy most favorable to their
interests, which we copy from the edi-
torial columns Of the Country Gentle
man at the suggestion Of a valued
correspondent, farmer Of great expe-
rience: a ~ as
A cardinal virtue lies in the proper
practice Of economy. But this prac-
tice does not consist with mere stinting
and saving-it requires wide and far
reaching views, and d generous ard
self-rellant spirit, to decide practical
questions upon that just basis which
secures the greatest measure Of success.
Thus there is an economy of the farm
which only the judicious and thought
full take into account, and which the
wisest will not claim fully to COM
prehend. From the nature of the far
mer's calling, with the wide and ever
varying range Of influences acting up
on it, the best instructed will necessa-
rily remain H. the dark upon many sub
jects which derange his plans and hin
der his success.
That light and knowledge, having an
important bearing on the true economy
of farming, still remains very general
ly unused, cannot be denied. We have
thought, therefore, that it could not
fail to benefit our readers to recall their
attention briefly, to some thoughts on
the methods of action by which pro-
gress is made and improvement accom-
plished in the business Of agriculture.
We have been economical IN expend-
ing labor, and lavish in our outlay for
land. True economy would indicate
the contrary course as the proper one.
Thorough and faithful work does not
require large area to exert itself up
Ont glories in raising ninety bushels
of corn upon one acre rather than on
three, in its forty bushels of wheat rather
than ten on another acre, and SO OF all
its crops. 1t gives much labor-all,
in fact, that is required to the best TIL
lage and cul.ure--on all the land
from which it expects harvest. 1t
leaves no fertile farm few inches be
low it's own, all untitled and unemploy-
ed, but uses the soil as far dozen as
the plants care to send their roots af-
ter supplies of food and moisture. 1t
thus saves in the cost Of the land, in
taxes, in fencing, etc., and netting
in the labor of cultivation, and still
produces far more profitable returns
than the contrary course. Tie truth
needs urging again and again, that it
is better to economic in land than IN
labor-and many farmer, if would
sell half his land, and put his whole
force and capital into the cultivation
Of the remainder, wonld make money
much faster than he now does.
True economy remembers that "the
farmers study is not to avoid labor,
but to make labor pay aOCN; aud
nothing is better established than that
the labor Of saving naanure-of in
creasing its quantity and improving its
quality-is the mast profitable he can
perform or employ" He believes this,
because he does not expect growth
without food, or reaping without SOW
ing Hence manure to keep up and
add to the productive power of the
soil, is constantly supplied, and thought
full care in this direction is ever char
acteristic Of the farmer who succeeds.
Read the reports of premium farms,
of large crops, and Of profitable ex-
periments in farming and high ma
nuring-feeding the land that it may
produce acknowledgement seems the
key and the explanation of their sue
cess. A judicious expenditure in the
collection, preservation, and applica-
ton of manure, is always paying in
vestment. And there are thousand
sources of fertility now neglected,
which it is the province Of farm econ
omy to discover and secure. Let US
give greater though to this. We must
feed, we again declare, if we expect
growth from the sojl-and the more
generous the farmer, the greater his
reward.
A mere glance at first cost cannot
decide in. many questions Of true farm
economy. In farm stock, for instance,
it costs little more to raise, to any
given age, a good animal than a bad
one, while the former may he ten times
as profitable as the latter. The good
may cost more at first, but they are
almost invariably valuable-while the
cheaper are very often very poor to
keep, and extremely hard to dispose of
in market. The best breeds Of ami
mals-the best kinds OF grain and
roots-the best farm implements
the best varieties of fruit-and the best
method Of culture ard disposal Of
crops-all these are earnestly sought
by the truly economical cultivator of
the soil. The subject is a very SUI
gestive one, but the reader can take it
up for himself, and follow it out prac-
tically in his own operations. We
venture to assure him it will not be
losing business, even under any SEEM
ing failure, if it incites him to bet
ter knowledge Of the Economy Of the
Farm. 'H-
TRY-A Fab1e.-There Was once
upon time good little dwarf named
Try, who was so powe, full that he over
came almost every hing he attempted;
and yet he was so small and ill favor
ed, that people laughed when they were
told Of his wondrous nowars Rut tho