The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-02-20
NUMBER ONE.
SMALL FARMS.

One great mistake Of most new settlers
is, that they attempt to grasp too much
land. The temptation in this direction is
very strong. They see al almost unlimited
amount of good land all around them the
price Of it is very low they perhaps have
means to pay for few hundred acres, and
they feast their imag;nafions with the bright
hope Of large, well cultivated and we'll
stocked farm in a few years, or, if they
should not need all the land for themselves,
they expect to be able soon to sell at a high
figure. But observation proves that most
such hopes are Elusive. Men seeking new
homes, know that there yet remains an
abundance of land at Government prices,
and thus they will pay no more. Large
landholders will have heavy tax to pay,
and if their resources are not quite ample,
they will soon find themselves embarrassed.
They have no. the means usually to make
much Improvements Gu their claims, con-
sequently their farms yield but little present
profit. Their dwelling is a miserable hut.
Their food, clothing and everything around
them, is Of the poorest description. The
result often is that they become sick and
dispirited, and either struggle on under all
the difficulties of practical poverty, or SEC
ri6cing all they possess, return to their
former home.
OF course, men owning their hundreds
of acres cannot have many neighbors
around them. They almost lose the pleas
ure aud the benefit of social intercourse
they can have neither schools nor churches
their mechanics and miller and merchant
are far away. Thus they carry On their
farms under great disadvantages and un
less they have more than usual health and
energy and tact, they will ere long find
themselves laud-poor. The very extent of
their land has ruined them. How much
wiser then to be satisfied with q small farm.
Eighty acres of good land is as much as one
nan can usually manage to advantage. 1t
is not enoug h that be can pay for it; he
needs more or less capital to commence
operations. Breaking, fencing and building
will consume very pretty little sum-
What is land good for unless you cultivate
it? And how can you cultivate it without
fences and where can you safely live to 90
all this labor without comfortable house ?
Simple as these thoughts are, many, per-
haps most settlers, seem to forget them.
If they can only secure the Land, they
appear to think that every other good
thing will come along as matter Of course.
But Thousands have found to their cost,
that it is not so. I repeat it then, be sat.
is6ed With small farm, and spend your
resources in making improvements upon it,
and you will find it large enough for the
judicious employment of large amount of
capital, and for all the labor you can be-
stow. When you have done all upon it
which economy and good taste require, you
may gather up your feet in bed and die;
for then, SO far as agriculture is concerned,
you have flushed your work and done it
we'll.
Some Que, perhaps, will suggest that the
farmer may have his hired man, and then
he will need more land 70 cultivate. But
who docs not know that usually hired help
cannot be made profitable, especially in this
section Of country? Produce is too low.
And if produce was high enough to render
hired help profitable. all laboring men, who
are good for much as help, would have
land of their own. At present, at least,
farmers must depend upon themselves, and
not upon others, to cultivate their lands.