Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-08-31
ENLARGING A FARM WITHOUT
BUYING LAND.

If man does not know how much land
he actually owns, and gets no benefit out
of that part with which he is unacquainted,
and then is informed that he has more, and
is told how to use it, why is this not
equivalent to the purchase of more acres?
Farmers are often heard to exclaim: "Oh
that were rich enough to buy little more
land, then l could fatten more cattle and
sheep. and l could carry more grain to
market :" Now, to such men, at least to
some of them, We beg leave to say, your
farms are already larger than YOU suppose.
You seem to think that your ownership
extends only six inches deep into the earth;
but this is a misapprehension. 1t is not
very strange, however, since all the former
owners of the soil had the same idea; and
the Indians from whom your ancestors Ell
ther bought or stole the land, were content
with only the surface, just enough to hunt
upon, or to grub few roots out Of But
this is all mistake, as you will see by
reflection. Examine the title deeds to your
land and see if there is any limit to your
rights in downward direction. You will
not find any; We know You won't.
Now. therefore, do not fear to 90 at once
and take possession of the rest of your
fdrm- 1t is virgin soil, covered with only
few inches of partly worn land; and it
will return you fine crops if you will only
lay it to the sun and air, or mix with it
the soil you have long cultivated. Perhaps
it will not be wise for you to try to use it
all the first year; use little moderation
in entering upon your new property, for
your own sake and the farms sake. Here
is what some writer has said on the sub
ject-not strictly correct perhaps, but
highly suggestive: AT the present time,
the average crop of wheat per acre in
Great Britain, on a soil cultivated for cen
turies, is about double that produced on
the comparatively new soil of Ohio. Why
is this? Simply because the leading Brit
ish farmers are educated men, and apply
their work wisely. They pay back to the
earth what they borrow from her; they
endeayOr by every means in their power TO
enrich their ground, and in return it en-
riches them. If American farmers, instead
of labOring to double the number of their
acres, would endeavor to double their crops,
they would find it a saving of time and
toll, and IN increase of profit. 9
Many men never think of digging ten
inches into the soil, unless they have
dreamed of a crock of gold hid in the earth;
but if they would set about the work of
digging in earnest; every man would find
his crock of gold without the aid of dreams
or diyination."
We once heard of some remarkable
Strawberries raised in a neighboring town
and called the Washington Excelsior
strawberry. RumOr said that the leaves
were large, wildly grecn,all summer, the
fruit large and abundant for a long time,
and not diminished by the seyerest drouths.
The plants were sold for half a dollar
apiece, and were considered cheap at that !
price. Attracted by these wonderful stO- /
ries of the new fruit, we went to see it /
and learned all about it. The plants were
indeed beautiful, and the fruit very fne-
But our eyes were opened when lIr. Smith,
the owner, told us frankly, that the plants
were some common sort, the name of which !
he had forgotten; but that they were grown
on a bed in the corner of his garden which .
was made ground for at least six feet Deep !
Why did not this account for the persistent |
vcrlure of the foliage and the size and I
verdure of the fruit! Yet the superior
beauty of the plants and berries had at
tract0d much attention in the neighborhOod /
and seemed to call for high sounding
name; and so Mr.. Smith dubbed them the
Excelsior. Plainly, this mans /
strawberry bed was enlarged without enc-
ing in more land.-ETctaage.