Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-02-16
FielS ans GaeSet.
From the NATIoxAL AGRcrLTuRIsr.
TIE Farmer should Examine
the Past.


ing crops is now over, and it is the OBJ
yious duty Of TIE farmer and gardener.
TO review the past year and note its
lessons. A careful study of what took
place in each particular field between
March and November, will afford use
ful instruction to every one, even the
oldest farmer. It's truly said that
Experience is the best teacher.
If a particular field has failed to
produce good corn, the reason for
such failure should be sought out aud
remedied Ia The future. Is the soil
poorer than was supposed? Was the
planting and cultivation in fault?-
Was the season peculiarly unfagora-
BILE? If a particular pasture field,
from which there was not much ex-
pected, has furnished the COWS with a
supply of food so that they have re-
turned at night, giving full pals OF
milk. of very rich quality. and fat
tening cattle have taken on flesh rap
idly; there must be reason for it ;
AMI it VIII be to the farmers Interest
to ascertain that reason.
Farm accounts should always be
kept, making each field debtor for all
expenses laid out apon it for manure,
seed and cultivation; and giving ii
credit for all it produces. BY this
method it will readily be seen how the
firm accounts stand which fields give
the best returns, ard what mode of
cultivation is best adapted to the soil.
Farm accounts. in order to be the
most useful and satisfactory, should
be carried out to their final results
| The farmer may know that he turned
twenty head OF cattle into beef, for
which he received so much per pound
live weight. But he needs to know
how much they ate; the selling price
of the land on which they grazed, and
how many acres each animal grazed
over. and how many bushels of grain
t took to finish them off. Then he
knows exactly whether he made or
lost on the lot, and how many dollars
ser head. True, figuring does not
produce corn or wheat, but it is cal
culatcd to lift farming from a vague
pursuit, to the dignity ofan art, and
the accuracy Of a science.
The extreme cold ofthe last days
Of November has warned us that We
nave rigorous winter approaching.
md that, consequently, we should
profit by the experience of past win
Jors in making suitable preparation
for the comfort and thrift of our stock.
A chilled horse, is dull animal to
drive on the road. \ low fed, badly
housed OK consumes the fat already
acquired. to keep himself alive. -
With every mich COW, exposed to the
chilling blasts and storms Of winter,
the flesh and milk and muscle 60
whistling down with the winds.
Perhaps the most wasteful and fire.
quent cruelty is shown in wintering
calves and yearlines. Thousands of
farmers look upon these young ami
mails as a kind of unremunerative
stock, and that in some rough, cheap
way. they must be carried through
alive, in order that they may be big
enough to give milk or make beef,
when they are year or two Older
But this is false economy. for, if an
animal is worth keeping at all, it is
worth keeping well. That which is
famished and stunted when young
viii never outgrow the effect, and it
will cost as much to keep such an an
imal, as one that is thriving daily
and will be fully developed at an early
age.
1t is by a careful examination Of
our fields, stock, fruit, and buildings.
and noting what is satisfactory and
prosperous, shat we are enabled to
make progress in the present and the
future. We can thus know for our
selves whether certain crops should
be continued; whether particular
kinds of manure should be applied;
whether deep or shallow blowing
succee Is the best whether one va
riety Of cattle will give better return
than another; whether early or late
planting is most remunerative wheth-
er stabling cattle or letting them run
in the open yards, requires the most
provender, and brings the cattle
through in the best condition in the
spring and finally whether We, as
farmers, can be the most successful
on the whole, by doing business intel
ligently and Systematically, or by
conducting it ignorantlY. at randnm