Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-02-18
farm, Garden & pasfiold.
LABOR IN FARMING.

The farmer has got to work himself rich.
There is no getting away from this; mere cal
culalion win not do il, though il may be a
necessary forerunner.
The land must be worked not only mellow,
but continued TO be worked, stirred as much
as may be, the more the better. This hits
two birds with one stone; It mellows the
ground and enriches it, and what is best per
haps- of all, it costs nothing whence it comes
from the atmosphere, where it is free for
all.
This stirring takes it in, mixes the air with
the soil, and the sell at once takes up its fer
tility. This continued, there is a continual
increase Of fertility; hence the more it is stir
red the better.
Besides, when the soil is made loose, por-
Gus, the air will get in of It's own accord the,
ground lying undisturbed, but porous enough
to admit It and toe rains wash down the fer.
tility which they carried from the atmosphere;
the soil is mellow enough to do this, not bav-
ing the water standing on it dead without any
use, souring the soil, which is hurtful.
Hence the doctrine of frequent stirring of
the soil. We know by special experience
that this is true. We have tried itin the field
and in the garden, bat particularly in the lat
ter, one season using no manure and relying
wholly upon the atmosphere by stirring the
soil Though the soil had been exhausted,
the garden proved an unusually good one.
Since then we cannot too much favor work
ing in the garden, and cultiYaiing the hoed
crops, and always with the same results.
We have not mentioned the moisture which
is produced in the operation. This is indeed
considerable, and in drouth Indispensable
Our garden was worked in a drouth.
This Is labor, and It Is gratifying TO know
that the more we do the more we get benefit
ed-that the benefit is in proportion to the
labor.
Each farmer therefore should direct his
farm operations to this effect, so as to get a
chance to work, not to run over the laad to
get the work done.
The effort to save and apply manure is
another branch of labor. Nothing pays bet
ter than this Il is to your interest to take
pains to prevent it from being lost after it is
made and then apply it properly. All these
things are important and when taken togeth-
er form very important feature
This much for the land, which. however,
has many other claims upon our labor; but
the two mentioned are the principal ones.
Next comes the great stock department.
Here We can employ labor with profit to a
large extent, labor FIRST and most important,
in securing the fodder properly. Unless this
is done stock cannot be well kept Plans
must be taken to secure hay and the straw Of
grain early and in tender condition, proper
ly cured Efforts must go to secure this care
as well as labor. Then, warm quarters pro
vided, and there must be attention given.
The stables must be kept clean and dry; this
by using litter, sawdust, straw, leaves, dried
muck, &C., and daily seen to. daily comfort
given TO the sensitive family at the barn.
Feed carefully, plentifully, and curry your
stock; it pays. Cut your fodder mostly. This
is helping to mastieate it for your stock.
Cook it, steam it, or scald it. We know this
is discontinued by many that once engaged
in it, but this is On account of the labor.
See to it then, farmers, that you make use of
it,
10 sum up, it should be the object of the
farmer to seek to get labor rather than do as
little as possible, for this is the lever that lifts
him along. 1t rs The profit on the labor in
vested that is the principle of farming
Prairie Farmer.