Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1867-06-13
From the Scientific American.
Farmers Wise and otherwise.

Those tillers OF the soil WHO believe
that they are the great manipulators
in the laboratory OF nature, and that
only the best results can DC obtained
by working in accordance with
natures laws, are wise farmers. They
show their wisdom more fully as they
ACT on this belief; yet because they
are not able TO learn All they would de-
sire of the secrets of nature, they do
not neglect to use the little light they
have on the relations of soils, plants,
air, manures and animal life. lfthey
apply the little that is known on these
subjects, the results will be fully
shadowed forth i'm their gardens, fields
and stables. Ifa storekeeper selects a
spacious and costly store on Broad
[ way, he does not fill il with old trash.
but with high-priced and beautiful
goods. His expenses are large, but
his situation gives him opportunity to
engage i'm profitable business, and as
n wise trader he avails himself of this
chance. So with the wise farmer, if
he Is near a great city, where land
and labor are dear-where manure is
plcntiful-where the demand is for
crops worth from $3.50 to 1000 per
acre annually-he at once pcrceivcs
his opportunity; he stuffs expensive
manure into his expensive land, and
bestows expensive labor thereon, we'll
knowing that he will get high and GER
tain results, productive of large cash
receipts. He concentrates his ener-
gies, fertilizers and labor, and gets an
enormously increased profit over that
received by the old style neighbour,
who grows the commonest crops i'm the
poorest way. He keeps only the best
animals, saves every particle of their
manure, gets from one to three crops
from his land in a season, cultivates
other forage crops than hay, and can
it costs his neighbour to pasture his
cattle. In short, the wise farmer,
under the caves of Washington
market, will grow asparagus that
brings 81 per bunch i'm early spring
rather than corn at 81 per bushcl, 30
bushels to the acre, and other crops i'm
the same proportion.
FARMERS OTHERwIcr
Within five miles of New York you
can find farmers who get but about
fifty dollars per acre from their titled
lands-who not only let their yard ma
nureS run To waste, but entirely mis-
apply them; let their stock run To the
lee-side of poor salt or straw stacks
all wintcr-who never till crops until
the weeds grow large enough To choke
them-who habitually plant the worst
seeds they have i'm "a half prepared
soil-who think that by ovcrworking
and undertaking Themselves, their
families, and their animals, that the
money thus gained and placed in bank
Is gotten i'm Il wise manner. Ii is other
Wisc' That is to say, the WISE farmer
pursuesa a beralpolicy-liberal accord
ing to his means and opportunities.
Under this policy he keeps himself
and family in good physical, intellec-
tual and moral health, his stock inn
proves, and his land grows fatter every
year. These are the banks he invests
in-these are the places of deposit,
yielding the best interest, and it is
only when these overflow that the
wise farmer needs to seek a financial
bank in Which to deposit his surplus
greenbacks at the low interest of five
to seven per cent. Will you be wise
or otherwise