Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-03-25
Large and Small Farms.

In the Ncr England Farmer OF Dec.
u, noticed an article from your cores.
pondent at Newport, Vt, entitled "Smali
Farms Best" The writer seems 10 as
sumo that the title OF his article Is an
axiom too evident 10 bc coutradcled;
and doubtless hoped his fnely.wrought
picture, made mole glowing by strong
contrast, might lead every ti,ier OF the
soil, less obSeyyaut than himself, 10
view the subject from his own stand
point. All ,hatyoUr correspondent, or
any other writer. has. or may uuthtully
say against the silly and foolish practice
OF country Young men docking TO the
city to exc out miserable existence
there. or in favor OF Improved husbandry,
I readily subscribe to-
When your correspondent speaks OF
large and small farms. we reasonably
expect his remarks 10 be applicable, at
least. 70 the latitude and longitude of his
own State. unless he locates them else
where. Now The Vermont man that
owns less than fifty acres OF land, We
would not call farmer. Many of the
mechanics. merchants, and professional
men think they must have that amount
Tor their own convenience. One hundred
10 ono hundred and twenty-five acres OF
good land we would call small farm,
and three to SIX hundred large one.
While the number of those that contain
their thousands OF acres are too small
% De reckoned in the comparison. Your
correspondent would seemingly have
every man have a q by 5 farm. rs well
might be thiuk OF conGnins men in other
occupations % the same narrow limits.
Adaptation is The bes. The o by s
man 20 the by farm and the Is by -
man TO the 10 by 50 farm, and 50 or.
Who among ;he men OF Vermou; tina;
have depended ou farming for their re-
sources have done The most to encourage
the same 10y the Introduction O.: bIooded
stock and improved utensils The q by
sor the large larmers2
The roller that rolled so beautifully in
Mr.. Wheeler's picture OF The small farm,
more frequently see on the large one.
y mower the snall farmer j. only Just
able &c have; also the tedjel and many
other approved and necessary implements
he never dreams of buying The small
farmer rarely p.oughS over live OF six
inches deep Tor the want Of "a double
team OF his own to plough Ten OF eleven
inches. Unfortunately for him, his
neighbor appears to be in hurry"
about that time, wanting his team 10 DO
his own work.
Your correspondent speaks OF the grain
often being lodged on the farm that he
pictures as having The manure 50 dis
tribHted as to DO bu; little good Now
that Is different from It's workings ON
mine. II your corr espoudeut had not so
often coupled himself with farmers, by
the prOnOun 1--WE" l should have taken
him 10 have been some theoriscr. having
had little or no experience on either a
small or large farm. Indeed the disad-
vaRtages Of the small farm, which all
summed up, il the farmer has any dis
position 10 lay by something To retire
from business with in old age, rs is Gus
tomary in other callings, are fully equal
to those Of the large farm.
The small farm may suffice. even with
large family, by praclieing The most
rigid economy to keep soul aud body to-
gether. and will rarely DO more than that
without some other business connected
with il. have yet 10 lean that the
small farms on an average are cultivated
better. or as well, as the large ones. For
the most part, the man who has the am
bition for large farm, has an ambition
10 conduct all of its manipulations after
the most approved style. Aud whege
there is a will, it usually works out q
way.
As to the young tools who annually
flock 10 the cities. think they viii have
to DO brayed in a different mortar from
that of small farms before their foolish
ness will all depart from them.