Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-09-20
Vacilating Farmers.

1nere are prODaDly very lew FARMERS
who have not at some time suffered
losses through making changes in the
management of products of their farms.
1t is well enough to experiment with
new kinds Of grain or vegetables, but
to be continually twirling on a pivot
waiting to see which way the wind is
going to blow is the unsettled policy
of far too many farmers, as well as of
men in other professions.
At least one-half of mankind are,
Micawber-like, waiting for something
to turn up, and that something is just
what few leading progressive men
choose to decide upon as the very thing
that everybody wants and which these
leaders happen to have for sale. It
does not make much difference what
it is; a little talk and a goodly show
of printers ink will make it go. Should
| it be sheep, every farmer will think it
his duty to purchase flock, and Of
course at fancy prices, because in times
of excitement things are sure to sell
far above their intrinsic value. AS soon
as the markets are overstocked with
wool and mutton prices go down, and
sheep are slaughtered by the Thousand,
and then a scarcity brings prices up
again. Similar instances of the fiuc-
tuation of prices occur in all the differ
ent products of the farm in consequence
of this vacillating spirit which is so
prevalent among our farmers, who are
not content with a good, sound policy
which, if pursued for a term of years,
would certainly be the most remunera-
tive. There are, it is true, few men
who have learned that whenever any
one or more ofou staple farm products
fall very low in price there is sure to
be change, and prices go to the other
extreme. five have not made great
mistake in our observations and calcu-
lations, the farmers who have really
made money by farming are those who
pursue one course, without any eonsi-
derable variation, never changing their
stock or crops because somebody thinks
certain things are going to be high
and others low. If they keep sheep
one year, and wool is low, it does not
make them discouraged, but instead Of
this they will purchase the cheap lots
of their once over -sanguine but new
disheartened neighbors; in fact, they
are always going in as others go out.
We think if our thoughtful farmers
will just look over the prices of farm
products for the past twenty years they
cannot fail to see just how money has
been and can be made by sticking to a
few of the leading products of a farm,
whether it be butter, cheese, meat, hay
or grain. The same truths hold good
in orcharding and gardening, and it is
only those who select certain crops and
make speciality of them who are sure
to get rich from the products of the
soil. We know one man near this city
who devoted large portion of his farm
to cabbages for twenty years without
any variation on account Of price, and
the result was $4,000 profit during
the time named. Another has culti-
vated twelve acres of tomatoes for near
ly the same length of time with equal
ly as good results.
1t may be necessary to change occa-
sionally, but when change is made
let it be permanent one, and not for
a season or two, because a man can
hardly determine what the results will
be in so short time. All our eminent
and wealthy stock-breeders, dairymen,
and other noted agriculturists, are
men who have persistently devoted
their time and energies to a special
branch and not changed about to suit
the times or whims of spectators in
our markets. We must have special
ties in farming as we'll as in other in
dustrial pursuits before the highest or
der Of skill will be developed among
those who pursue this calling.-Neac
York Sun.