Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-01-21
farmers 4fpartnleIlt.
Planning for the Year.

season, than the first OF january
AS the new year commences, every
thing seems to favopthe introouc-
tion of an improved system OF man
agement. The growing season IS
over. winter reigns without and pre-
vents the prosecution OF field opera
tions: and short days and long even
ings invite ts reflection, investiga-
tion and the adoption Of such i'm
proyements in field husbandry as
may seem practicable and desirable.
All successful tillers of the soil must
forecast their labors for many
months, and sometimes years to
come. A successful farmer, or a
gardener, must of necessity, be a
man of thought and investigation,
In reviewing the operations OF the
past, his mind should take Id, ae a
glance, the successes and failures 4
the mistakes and the satisfactory
plans, and the numerous Incidental
circumstances that always aHect the1
plans and operations Of the tlller o.
the soil.
The first of January is particular
" desirable period for balancing
all farm accounts, and of commence
ing anew, in every department. And
if one has been accustomed to know
nothing of his operations but what
he can retain in a mind burdened
with cares, and often harrassed with
the perplexities that are incident to
agriculture and horticulture in all its
branches, this period cf the year Of
fers double motive for commenc-
ing improvements that cannot fail
to return satisfactory reward. That
farmer, gardener, or pomologist,
who can turn to his boeks--to his
diary of field operations-and tell
from entries properly made, how his
affairs stand, will be sure to succeed
more satisfactorily, in any branch of
business, than if he were to move
along in slack and disorderly man
ner. There is such thing asskill-
ed labor, intelligent planning and Iu-
dicious supervision of everything
that appertains to the cultivation OF
the soil. The best farmers of our
country are men of constant thought
and investigation. Their minds en-
brace the entire round of labor, for
years to come, both in the fields and
in the barn, stable and workshop;
and as general rule, most Of their
planning is done in the winter.
During the growing season, it will
be sufficient to execute plans that
were previously formed Although
it may be notifying to contemplate
a failure in farming operations, still,
the record of some mistake in plan
ming, or in the execution of some
proposed scheme, may often result in
great pecuniary advantage to those
who may chance TO be conversant
with the failure. A satisfactory be-
ginning, in any enterprise, is of i'm
minent Importance; and no cultiva tor
of the soil can expect to meet with
satisfactory success, who does not
investigate with extreme care every
subject that will affect in any man
ner, either directly or Indirectly, his
plans for future operations. A far
mer or gardener should make himself
familiar with every branch of his bu-
siness, that a mistake in his opera
tions will never occur.
Now then, to commence operations
in any enterprise, one must needs
know first what he desires to do, and
then, how to plan correctly and how
to execute satisfactorily. These few
suggestions lie at the very foundation
of successful agriculture, horticul-
ture, or rearing of any kind of do
mestic animals. As an architect
erects an imaginary edifice when
about to build costly palace, and
perceives at glance exactly what
materials will be required to COM
plete the building both without and
within, SO a tiller of the soil should
map out his cultivahle acres on pa
per, and divide the ground into the
most suitable plots for cultivating
such crops as may be adapted to the
soil. A skiilful architect sees, in i'm
agination, every room neatly finish
ed, every stick of timber, every piece
of casing, door and window, in the
edifice he is about to erect, before
the ground has been broken for the
foundation walls. So the tiller Of
the soil should embrace in one com
prehensive view not only the opera
tions of one season, but should see
the crops of every field before him
for several years to come; and sheuld
be able to compute his success, SO
far as human agency is concerned,
with as much certainty as a master
builder calculates ON the satisfactory
completion Of his contemplated pal
ace.
What though the piercing Geld and
the pelting storms of winter compel
the husbandman to remain within
doors, he may perform the most i'm
portant portion of all his operations
that of Investigating and devising
suitable plans for future manage,
ment while sitting by his comfortable
winter fire.
If-the wise tller of the soil be so
familiar with his land and with all
the transactions of the field, that he
understands, at glance, what will
be required, six months to come, in
order to secure the production of
given crop, on certain piece of
ground, he will feel prepared to act
the part of aH intelligent cpltivator
of the soil. This will be a desirable
starting point which many farmers
seldom think of. Besides this #
will be well to determine what cron.
may be cultivated most satisfa etori.
ly, both as it regards pecunisry prof.
it to the proprietor, and the influence
of the crop on the future productive
ness of the soil.
Tt should he the aim of every filler