The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-01-18
HOW TO MAKE THE FARM PAY.

! L
The following essay was lead at meet
ing of the "Cecll Farmers Club" Decem-
Der 9th, ult,, by VIM. f. Gillespie
Mr.. President and Hon. Members of the
C1u6:-At previous meeting held at Judge
Evans, on the sth of August last (Which by
the by was very pleasant one as they all
have been, and not only pleasant, but
trust profitable, he read an essay, the sub
,ject of which was, " wiz Farming Pay,"
which he answered pretty conclusively in
tho affirmativc,-all things considered
Judging by the surroundings, think lie at
least has made it pay.
| AS no one since has referred to it, l
would now venture to ask the question:
How are we to make it pay, what methods
to adopt, and what course to pursue in
order to be successful
would first remark, that men in all pro-
fessions, farmers included for is not farm
ing profession, a science? not mere
occupation are all too impatient to become
rich. Unless they make money by the
handfulls, as it were, they think they are
doing a slow business.
| Now farmer, above all others, should
| not expect to become rich in a day; neith-
er was Rome built in day las we all
know Great achievements are rarely
attained in short time, but often require
years of toll and patient study. If a man
knows what he wants, and what he is aim
ing at in his every day life, he must get it
Just as he would seek any other educational
development.
If you desire musical education, what
do you do? You practice for that. Ifyou
wish to be an artist, what do you do? You
put yourself under a master and work for
form and color. So it is with every pro-
fession in life; we must lay our foundation
upon which to built. The foundation of
farmers knowledge should be that of the
soil. wish now to give some OF the fun
dimental elements of agriculture, viz:
1 All land on which clover or the grass
es are grown must either have lime in it
naturally or it must be artificially supplied
in the form Of stone lime, oyster shell lime
or marlS.
2. All Improvement to land must look to
lime as its basis.
s. Lands which have long been in cul-
ture will be benefited by application in
| the form of bone dust: guano, native phos-
phate of lime, composts of fish, ashes. or in
oyster-shell lime, or mari, if the land needs
| lining also.
| 4. No land can be preserved in high
state of fertility, unless the clover and the
grasses are cultivated in the course of rota-
ton.
s. Mould is indispensable in every soil,
and healthy supply can alone be preserv-
ed through the cultivation of clover and
! the grasses, the turning in of green crops,
or by the application OF composts rich in
the elements of mould.
! 6. All highly concentrated animal ma
nures are increased in value and the bene-
fit prolonged by the admixture Of plaster
or pulverized charcoal.
| :. Deep blowing and subsoiling greatly
| improve the productive powers of a variety
of soil that is not wet.
s. All wet lands should be drained.
y. All ClUpS Dt HdIftSbcu
several days before the grain is thoroughly
ripe.
10. Clover, as well as other grasses in
| tended for hay, should be moved when in
bloom.
| II. Sandy lands can be most eifectually
improved by hay. If such land require
| lining it is best done by compost of lime
and clay. In Stacking lime, salt brine is
better than water.
IL. The chopping or grinding ofgrain to
be fed to stock, effects Il saving of at least
twenty-five per cent.
Is. The draining of wet lands adds to
their value by making them produce more
and better crops, by producing them earl
er, and by improving the health of the
neighborhood.
II. To manure or lime wet lands is to
throw manure, lime and labor away.
| Is. Shallow blowing operates to impov-
erish the soil, while descreasing produc-
tons
16. BY stabling and shedding stock dur
ing the wintera saving of one-fourth Of the
food required is made than if they were
exposed to the inclemency of the weather.
H. A bushel of plaster per acre, sown
UIOSuCdSt over CiONCl, Will lIOul lNtH-
ty to one hundred per cent. to its produc-
| ton.
Is. The periodical application of ashes
| unleached tends to keep up the integrity of
the soils by supplying most, if not all Of
the organic substances.
10. Thorough preparation Of land is
absolutely necessary to the successful and
luXuriant growth of crops.
20. Abundant crops cannot be grown on
the same land in succession, unless fertiliz-
ing matter is returned to it in equivalent
proportions to those taken away.
But what does this knowledge avail
unless we practice it? A great many scott
at theoretical knowledge or book farming,
as it is called. What is book farmingo
Simply the best farming put into books.
Yours, gentlemen, if it is the best. \ fool
versed in the business he writes upon, not
man of mere accomplishments of learn
ing. What is thought of the man who
opposes education? And what is educa-
ton but to learn to know thing. If
prejudced person (prejudiced against book
farming) knows how to trim his vine, he is
the man, if he has words for it, to write a
book on tie subject. Still we may have
all this knowledge and practice it, yet if
we do not econimize what will be the re-
suit? Our backs will soon go to the wall.
1t has been remarked, economy is wealth;
for who ever got rich without practicing
ii? An anecdotc is told of an old gentle
man who had acquired large fortune, on
being asked to what he attributed his sue
II, Lee Gid. 9. Rl1,.: .ha ILL.