The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-10
Professor Miles OH System in Farm
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Ing.
Professor Miles, of the Michigan Agricul-
tural College, delivered the annual address
at the late Calhoun County (Mich.) Fair.
A friend sends lie a copy, end wc find, upon
perusinc it, that it is SO rcplete with sound
sense and practical suggestions that We
shall give our readers the benefit OF some OF
it. Speaking Of farming generally, he says
Thorcughness in all farm operations is
essential to the highest SUCCESS hut this can
not be readily attained where labor ia dear
without the aid Of machinery.
Does not, then, the great gain in the use
of improved inn dement's consist, in the main,
in saving of time that can be probably ex-
pended, not only in the more thorough per-
Torrance Of the work in hand, but IN other
directions where m ample return may De
reasonably expected?
IF required to roint out the great defect
of American husbandry, should unheslta-
tincly reply, cant Of system.
By this I mean the lack of attention to
the relations existing between the various
departments Of farm economy.
Each operation on the farm and each de-
partment Of its management should be con-
Quoted with reference to its influence on
every other department and interest, IN &c
cordance with n definite plan, extending
through a series Of years. Tie aggregate
OF results should be considered rather than
numerous special interests that are entirely
disconnected and have nothing in common.
The farm is manufactory-the soil
machine for converting mineral and decay
ing organic substitutes into vegetable pro-
ducts.
Unlike other machines, a portion of raw
material for the manufacture OF its peculiar
products constitutes part and parcel OF the
machine itself, that cannot be diminished
without involving q positive loss OF power
and efficiency.
Here, as in the use Of other machines, it
is necessary to furnish al abundant supply
Of the raw material, or the manufactured
article cannot be produced. In other words,
the vegetable products Of the farm are OBJ
tanned ct the expense Of the elements Of fer
,ility IN the soil, where the universally pre-
vailng law of compensation requires an
equivalent return to be made to maintain
its productiveuess.
If the hay and grain raised upon the farm
are all sold off, o portion of the soil goes with
them, and the farm il by SO much diminish
ed in value.
To prevent this enormous waste, other
machinery, in the shape Of live stock, is
provided to convert the vegetable products
manufactured by the soil into animal pro-
ducts Of still greater value, and at the same
time 10 return to the soil, for future use, the
waste material resulting from the process
Each set of machinery employed in this
farm factory is thus furnishing raw mate
,ials TO be worked up by the other. and
constant circulation Of materials ID pro-
duced.
If VIC accept the lew of modern philoso-
nhy, that motion is force, we cannot avoid
the conclusion tho: the more rapid and &c.
tive the circulation Of matter in the ma
chinery of the farm the greater will be the
results accomplished.
A correct system Of farm management
involves the adjustment of this machinery
so as to give the largest profit with the least
possible loss, to the farm, OF the elementi
of fertility and wealth.
In carrying into practice any consistent
system, particular attention should be gigel
to the alienation or rotation Of crops, ant
prominent place should be given in tn
rotation to those crops which, when con
sumed on the farm, ere of greatest value i,
restoring the elements Of fertility to tn
soil.
Moreover, by introducing variety o
crops in rotation, and making q judieiou
| -. Il. 30 %
and valuable vegetable pro lness, the farm
er, from the variety Of resources, is NOR
sure of obtaining remuneratiye returns fc
his labor in the course of q series OF year
than when depending upon single staple