The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-05-30
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DEFECTS IN FARMING.

The question, Does farming paw i?
may be answered as positively yes as
no, and no as yes. The whole thing,
in my opinion hinges on the man. Put
q genuine farmer on poor piece of
soil, and he will bring it into good
state of productiveness, if there is any
element in it. If swampy and cold, he
will underdrain thoroughly, and make
it bloom as a garden; if sterile from
overuse, he will, by aid of green ma
nures and other fertilizers, bring it up,
and make it give returns annually while
under the process of renovation but
put poor manager on to the best farm
in the country, and he will plan it so
as to make the investment scarcely pro-
ftable. Now, propose to point out
some OF the most important mistakes
made by the unsuccessful. Many far
mers do not appear to realize that the
results of projects may frequently be
very accurately foretold by reasoning
and the use of figures, and that oftimes
the expenditure of money and days
of hard manual labor may be saved,
and the same end accomplished in
short, that calculation is better than
hard work. Hard labor is not always
attended with profit. A man may be
diligent and frugal all his life and die
poor, while another who labors less,
with equal advantages, may enjoy life
by the liberal use of accommodating
means, always have plenty, and leave
handsome Inheritance to those who are
dependent upon him. In the latter
case it is not good luck, but the result
of bringing into daily use the reason
ing as we'll as the executive faculties,
through all departments of his indus
tries. Let this be called brain-farming,
book-farming, or what it may, it is real
ly mathematical farming-the use of
the pencil with the pillow. Before any
project is entered into, it is we'll to
count the cost, and figure out the prob
able results. 1t is an easy matter for
a dairyman near a cheese factory to
see that every calf raised upon his
farm, at the expense of two gallons of
milk per day, costs him at the end of
the first three months at least twice the
worth of the animal, unless, perhaps,
it be one of uncommon promise and
blood. Yet all dairymen do not real
ize it. 1t is equally evident that the
keeping of two fully-developed work
horses perpetually upon farm, where
not more than ten days labor with
team is required in year, is mourning
a risk and heavy expense, and of course,
loss; yet it is practised by thousands
l might enumerate cases of this kind
to almost any extent, but the object is
simply TO show the necessity of more
thorough investigation in all minor, as
we'll as prominent points, in the pur-
suit of farming
A majority of the farms throughout
the country are not paying three per
cent annually on their estimated values,
and still these farms are year after year
kept under the same routine of manage
ment. A low per cent is returned by
tillage, when higher could be obtained
by grazing; others give a meagre in
come by grazing, when tillage would
pay beautifully. Others are used for
mixing farming when especially adapt
ed to some certain brands. Mixed
farming, in the broad sense of the term,
IS adapted to but few localities, and
there is wisdom in the arrangement.
One branch of husbandry we'll follow
ed makes efficiency in that line, and the
interchange of products facilitates the
growth of enterprise, and give
healthy tone to all department. Of home
industry. Then the f. 49, 10 " .h n1 sar
mer should Dr. -. INNS w 10
a. % what their lands are best
...pted, taking nature of soil, conve-
nience to market, &c, into considera-
ton, and then make the particular line
or lines the leading feature of their
avocation, regardless of their particular
tastes respecting the different branches.
Because this matter is not thoroughly
settled may be attributed very many
of the failures in farming.
A continuous shifting without TAX
ing notes is as improbable, and per-
haps more SO, than sticking to an unre-
munerative line. Some men are always
moving by the influence of fuctuat-
ing market, as the mercury in Their
mometer by the influence of the tenn
perature. If wool takes a sudden turn
upward, there is headlong plunge for
sheep, high prices paid, and dairy cows
sold at a sacrifice, and vice versa 1t
requires number of years to get we'll
established in any line of husbandry.
If in dairy or wool-growing the herds
and focks must be sorted and resorted
before either is brought up to proper
standard of excellence, and the sacrifice
of frequent changes is more than gener-
ally realized.