The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1870-03-19
8rNrs 70 1ksMsss.
RE True SvsteDa of FARMING.


Trying to do too much is a common error in
to which the farmer often falls. His great ca
gerness in striving to be rich is doubtless the
cause of his error. He is ambitious and ener-
getic, and forms his plans on a large scale, too
often perhaps, without counting the cost. He
buys a large farm and wants tobe called
large farmer" without understanding or con-
sidering the true elements that constitute
real farmer. He fances 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 the bour-
dariea of his domains. The fact is now being
spread abroad, that large farm does not make
man either rich, eontented or happy, but on
hecontrary the reverse of these, unless well
titled, when his labor is rewarded by large
crops and fair success in the various depart
ments in which he is engaged. No farmer can
realize the full benefits Of his profession with
out adopting a thorough system of culture
His success, commensurate to his wishes, al
ways depends upon the manner in which he
prepares his ground, plants his seed and rears
his stock. Neither Of these departments, which
may be considered the cardinal ones of his pro-
fession, will take care of themselves. The soil
may be, but it needs culture. His seeds may
be sown, but it should be in due time, and al
ways on soil prepared, and of suitable quail
ty 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 sustanauee it requires; but this is not
done in q loose or hap hazard way. The far
mers care is required, and all his better judg
ment must be exercised in keeping up the
system of reciprocal benefits that may be re-
allied by every Intelligent and industrious farm
Thorough cultivation and systematic atten-
ton to sill parts Of his business is indispersa-
bic TO good degree of success. The very cor
nsr stone to this whole system of farming, is to
do what you do thOroughly-nature will not
be cheated, and never give full returns to the
hall way work that is pactised by vastly too
many calling themselves farmers. If the land
has hsan worn, The extent OF tifat exhaustion
and the food required must be first considered.
When ascertained the full measure of these re-
quirements must be given TO bring out full re-
turns If the farmer has but a small stock,
and consequently but small amount OF ma
nure TO replenish his land it is obvious that
bal . small farm can be supplied with it, and
good judgment at once dictates that to cultivate
properly n large farm, artificial manures must
be used if good crops are obtainad. 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 prO6tably
employed on seventy five acres.
This is the error in farming. Two men strive
to do what four can hardly do, and thus thous-
ands ofacres run over, lftlled and producing
half crops. The land is run over until worn
out, sustaining year after year the annual tax
till its energies entirely exhausted, and it
fails to yield even feeble crop, because its life
is worn out.
The light that is being abroad on this subject
is beginning to correct this practice to some
extent but in most instances very little is re-
turned to the soil to keep it alive, till after
several years of continual cropping it mani
tests signs of exhaustion and ultimate barren
ness. When tillers Of the soil understand their
trT1e in of aul Of 10 nd
than they can do WELL Fifty acres of land for
tillage brought to a high state of cultivation
pays better than one hundred run over in the
way that many do.