The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-10-16
coon FARMING vs.. POOR FARMING.

coon FARMING vs.. POOR FARMING,
Farming is played out, says one, Our
land is exhausted says another. | tell
you, says the squire, who owns three
large farms and has just bought another
we can't stand these high wages. We shall
have to 20 back to the old-fashioned plan
Of plowing under clover, says the deacon,
and as usual, he is more than half right.
liz fact, there is some truth in all these
opinions; but no one of them, IL seems
to me, fully meets the case. TO say that
farming is played out, is about as reason.
able as to say that men can live without
eating. And yet is quite true that there
is kind Of farming that IS no longer
profitable. | wish it was played out.
Our land is not exhausted Wages are
too high. But what are you going to do
about It? PIoughing under clover will
help good deal, but we used something
more and better.
In years past we have had as poor crops
as now, and poorer prices. But our ex-
penses were not so large. If we go back
to old-fashoned farming we must 90
back to od-fashioned modes of living.
In drive of few miles last Saturday
evening, | passed six or eight farm
farm houses where the young people were
playing croquet. One farmer was him
self moving the grass with lawn NOW
er; three cheerful-looking farmers, with
hoes and rakes in their hands, were clean
ing up the grounds aud walks around the
church at Ogden Centre. A stranger
would not suspect that times were hard.
The truth is, farming is not up to the
age, and instead of looking back we
must push forward, Our expenses are
far greater than formerly. We live bet
ter, dress better and have more comforts.
We do not want to give up these advan-
tages. We do not want to travel by
stage, or 20 back to bake ovens and tai
| low candles.
Old-fashioned farming was all very
well, aud so was old-fashioned living.
The two went very we'll together. But
modern farm-life and old style agricul-
ture cannot long continue. One or the
other must be abandoned,
Farm implements, tools and machines
are vastly superior to those we had TWEEN
ty-fye years ago. So are our facilities
for marketing our produce. But do we
raise any more or better grass now than
when 1t had to be cut with a scylhe? or
is our wheat Of better quality than it was
when reapers were unknown We have
better ploughs, hariow5 cultiyators-bn
is oul land cleaner and mcllower?
Farming is certainly behind the age, and
there is a grand oportunity for those able
aud willing to push ahead. Farmers
have to compete with each other at home
and abroad; and that man will make the
most money who can raise the best arti-
Gle at the least cost If there are any un-
just laws, taxes, or monopoies injurious
to agriculture, let US do all we can to re-
move them. This is simply our duty.
But in the mean time let us not forget to
improve our farms, our stock, aud our
selves.
lIalfthe farmers Of the Uuited States
to-day adopt a system, IL system it may
be called, that leaves them entirely at the
mercy Of the season. A late, wet spring,
followed by a severe drought and horde
Of insects, cuts OF the spring grains. A
cold wet summer and early frosls in au-
tumn destroy the corn crop. A dry au-
tumn so weakens the plants Of wheat on
poor ill-prepared land, that they cannot
stand & severe winter or cold winds iu
early spring. II we try to avoid thii
evil BY early sowing, the chances are tba
the IIcssian fly will destroy half the crop
The only remedy is better farming Thh
is very unpopular doctrine, but IL q
true. There Is no royal road 10 gr0a
Ing good crops 0f wialcf wheat hl
j must make our lands rich enough, aat
mellow enough, aud moist enough, au,
, ripe enough to secure a strong health.
= vigorous root growth 10 Tie fail bclon
inter sets in Land fuil of weeds
sowu with q spring crop, aud The weed
suffered 70 grow for some weeks afleI
} harvest before ploughing, may prodac
fair crop Of wheat, but ask aHy seasi
, bic farmer II be has a right 10 expect Sc
e | should about as soou expect 70 draw
prize in a lottery Or cure dyspepsia wll
] patent medicine. .--I Gar. AmeF Agrcdtu
! rid.
}. Are dose beils ringing FOR hre2 iugaii
i ed Simon u Iibehus. No, indeed, ans