The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1869-09-24
CHE 9garietta Sourual,
Marietta, Georgia,
Friday MORN. Sept. "a, 1860.
TIE TRUE SYSTEM OF FARMING.

FRYING 10 Go TOO mucn rs y common |
error into which the farmer often falls.
His great eagernoss instriviug to be rich
10 doubtless the cause OF his error. lie
is ambitious and energetic, and forms
his plans on large scale, too often per-
haps, without counting tho cost. He |
buys large farm and wants to be cali
cd ''large farmer,o without under
standingor considering the true elements
that constitute real farmer. He fan
cies the greatness of that profession, as
is too often the common estimate to be
in proportion TO the number of acres,
not to say cultivated, embraced within
tho boundaries Of his domain The fact
is now being spread abroad, that large
farm does not make a man either rich,
Contentcd orhappy but on the.eentrarY,
the reverse of all these, unless we'll till
ed, when his labor is rewarded by ann
pie crops and fair success in the various
departments in which he is engaged
No farmer can realize the full benefits
of his profession without adopting
thorough system of culture. His sue
cess, commensurate to his wishes, al
ways depends upon the manner in which
he prepares his grounds, plants bis seed,
and rears his stock, Neither of these
which may be considered
the cardinal ones Of his profession,
will take care of themselves. The soil
may be rich, but it needs culture. His
seed may be sown, but it should be in
due time, and always on soil well pre-
pared and of suitable quality for the
production of the crop desired. His
stock must be constantly cared fort
derives its thrift from the soil, and sends
again to that soil the sustenance it re-
quires but this is not done in loose or
way. The farmers care is
and all his better judgment
must be exercised in keeping up this
system of reciprocal benefits that may
be realized by every intelligent and in
dustrious farmer.
Thorough cultivation and systematic
attention to all parts of his business is
to good degree of sue
cess. The very corner stone to this
whole system Of farming, is do what you
do acknowledgements will not be cheat
cd, and never gives full returns to thc.
half way work that is practiced by vast
ly too many calling themselves farmers.
If the land has been worn, the extent of
that exhaustion and the food required
must be first considered. When asccr-
tanned, the full measure of these require
mcnts must be given, to bring out full
returns. If the farmer has but small
stock, and consequently but a small
amount of manure to replenish his land,
it is obvious thar but small farm can
be supplied with it +; and good judgment
at once dictates that to cultivate prop
crIy large farm, artificial fertilizers
must be used if good crops are obtained.
And so with the labor, two men cannot
suitably till one hundred acres of land,
when-the labor of two and perhaps four,
might be proftabIy employed on sew
enty-fve acres.
This is the great error in farming
Two men strive to do what four can
hardly do, and thus thousands Of acres
are run over, half titled; and producing
half crops. THE land Is run over Till
worn out, sustaining year after year the
unnatural tax, till its energies are entire
ly exhausted, and it fails to yield even
a feeble crop, because its life is worn
out. Much Of the soil in Virginia and
other Southern States is type OF this.
Thousands Of acres entirely useless and
exhausted, and will ever remain so, till
the first elements Of its power are re-
turned to it. This process is going on
in many of the Western States. The
soil is treated like an inexhaustible
mine; the tillers crying give give ! till
in few years it will have nothing to
give. The boast of the West is, large
farms, and large fields Of grain; plough,
sow and reap, is the business of Western
farmers, drawing out the very life of the
soil, sending away in the heavy exports
that are constantly going onward, with
out returning to the soil the food 1t re-
quires to make it productive.
The light that is being spread abroad
ON this subject is beginning to correct
this practice TO some - 49,
instances very little
soil to keep it alfs
wears Of continual = gifests