Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-09-28
Too Much Land.

In this country, above all others, land
good. tillable, fertile lands abundant
and cheap. This reason, perhaps, more
than any other, has caused our farmers to
fall into the erroneous notion that they
could not have too much land or, in other
words, they could not own and cultivate
too large farms for profit. This long
established idea, that, in order to be sue
cessful as a tiller Of the soil, one must
cultivate a large tract of land, has been
over and over practically exploded. We
know from experience that farmers are,
as class, timid, careful, conservative
men-not given to wild speculations,
averse to any, or at least sudden changes
in business. They like the old. we'll
beaten path When they have little
money to invest they are very apt to buy
more land, and, without any additional
help, they try to cultivate II in addition to
the old farm. In looking back for a score
of wears, we notice that the facilities for
performing farm labor have been wonder
fully increased. The genius of progress
has not made greater advances in any
department of productive industry than
in that Of agriculture. The number OF
valuable labor saving implements for farm
and garden that have been brought into
practical use within few years has been
legion, and the natural result should have
been everywhere deeper, more thorough,
and better tillage; but, instead, we find
our farmers buy more land, and continue
as before the same loose, stragk cling cult
walton. In the Eastern and Middle States,
with few exceptions, the farms are too
large Double the amount OF land Is
occa pied and cropped, after fashion, than
ought to be, with the labor and capital
the owner can command. Manure and
attention TO the crop, are applied too
thinly and spsringly to produce market
RI suits besides on large farms worked
with little help, great amount OF time 10
spent in travel. Farmers would be sur
prsed If they could have the actual time,
in days and hours, placed before them
which they spend In the course CT one
| year In useless travel over their large
farms.
Again, on large farms cut into numerous
lots by expensive fences, after the old
method, the time and labor spent In look
ing after and keeping in repair these
fences, equals, In many cases, one-third
the net proceeds OF the entire farm Con-
| centration Is wha. we need. Less land,
| less travel, more labor, more manure, and
more intelligence TO understand the posi-
DlIttlc8 ana the OcmAuuS Oh cdCn crop.
Our farmers must undertake to do less,
and do it better. If they would sell or
give away part Of their land, and then
double the labor and manure for the bal
ance, they would find the credit side OF
their bank account increased, and there
would be less complaining that farming
don't pay" II properly conducted, there
Is no business more permanently profitar
BILE than farming. There always Is and
al ways will be demand for the products
of the farm. When men learn In this
business, a. they soon learn in every other,
that they must not undertake TO do more
than they can do well, then will they
prosper, and the sons of farmers will
learn to love their voc.tion, and not bo
possessed of an itching desire TO Ego into
| q store"
Our English, Swede and German emil
grant farmers are teaching the American
people some valuable lessons In farming,
| the chief of which Is that small farms are
more profitable than large ones. They
believe in special crops, plenty OF manure!
and stirring the soil often. Let US heed
| the lesson. Cor. Country Gentleman.