The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-06-10
ssrisaltaraI department.

MexsY AID FARafSo "A Toledo CORES
respondent says: 'Most writer's on agrieul.
tare have in view the well -to.do farmer,
when recommending improved implements,
high farming, blooded stock, etc. Now, q
vast majority offarmers are poor; many Of
them are in debt, aud have to labor hard to
pay interest, and cannot save money to
make improvements. Many of them kI,o,C
much better than they do, and they don't
do better because they lack capital TO carry
ont the advice Of agricultural teachers. -
: Now, can't you do something for them, by
telling them how they may rise TO the level
of the standard set before themg The wri.
ter who gave his experience with his per.
simmon lot was eninently sound but let
him tell hundreds Of Western farmers, who
own scores of acres Of just snch land as his
'persimmon lot, either how to under drain
them without the needed fifty dollars per
acre, or else where they may obtain the
money. II is just here that the poor farmer
suffers. His clay land is too wet to plough
early in the spring, and if he waits until it
is dry enough, some portions of it become
80 hard that his light team cannot plough
it; and so he cannot get his crops in season,
and what he does plant yields very made
quate return for the labor bestowed upon
shem. Again, this same man is told that
he should purchase thorough bred bull, to
improve his dairy. He asks the price, and
is told he can obtain one with pedigree
for from $500 to $500. He turns away ut.
tsrly discouraged
spray, Mr.. NJ, can you not come to his
relief with some well devised plan of opera
lions whereby he may hft himself from this
slough Of despond? Tell him where to be.
gin and how to proceed to evolve something
out Of nothing but the crude materials
around him. To tell him he should under.
drain, build big barns, raise roots, cut and
steam his feed, sabsoil, and what not, is but
to tantalize him but he who tells MIN Aop
TO do these things with his paliry where
wthal will be public benefactor, viii have
accomplished some good in his generation. -
We shall try and meet, so far as we NAV,
cur correspondents wish.
Great encouragement is not uncom-
mon with other men as well as with small
farmers, and the Encouragement which
springs from slack of sufficient capital'' is
one Of the most common with which the
human family is afflicted.
The best way TO overcome ii is to work
as hard as we can with the capital at com.
mand, and not waste its efficiency by max
ING too large spread" This last falling
"a common to merchants who extend their
business indefinitely, and to farmers who
nold more land than they can thoroughly
manage.
It's not supposable that half the farmers
IN the country can bring their lands up to
the highest productive power, or can stock
their farms with the best blooded stock; vet
we urge the best possible practice, and close
attention to breeds, satisfied that we shah
all do better with high aims in view than
with humble ones.
improvements on great scale certainly
demand great means but this should no,
discourage small farmer, whose means are
aever 80 limited that he cannot apply the
principles Of the best practice upon small
area-ifhe will only be eontented with a
small area A man can with no more safety
80 beyond the reach Of his capital in farm.
ing than he can in trade. In either case
ne wants good tools and good servants, and
books sqaarely kept. Credits may be easie,
IN the city, but they are easy enough in the
country for man who IL industrious and
prudent, and spends bis money wisely.
In the case supposed by our eorrespon
dent, where q farmer holds lands which car
% billed to no profit without drainage, W.
should advise HIM to sell enough Of it Il
enable him to put the balance in profitable
working condition. II he can neither sell
nor lay tile, let him try stone drains o,
Brush drains. or, failing these, the old sys
tenn Of ridging. These are not the bes,
methods, out they are alternating methods
and are hundred per cent. uetter thar
dependency and no work at all.
BIG barns, and big walls, and steam en-
g'nes, and bulls with pedigress are by M