The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-11-21
A TALK WITH THE FARMERS.

A TALK WITH THE FARMERS.
We publish from the american Agricul-
turalist, in the FARM DEPARTMENT of the
present number of The Wing some very sea-
sonabls suggestions to farmers, which may
be supplemented by every farmer from ex-
periences and observations of his own. In
the cold season which is almost upon us, and
when the farmer will be confined in a great
measure, to taking care of his stock and lay
ing plans for the next Spring and Summer,
some well digested and logical thinking
than any single crop he will raise without
it, in the following season. A well-defined
plan, rigidly carried out, will produce much
more satisfactory results at the end of
another twelve months than the loose, care
less mode by which the great majority of
farmers conduct their business.
The want of sufficient capital is one of
the serious drawbacks to successful farm
ing, for that, like other kinds of business.
will be much cramped when there is not
sufficient capital to conduct it properly.
But this is IA misfortune that Cal be par
TALLY remedied by laying plans, which rea-
sonably sure, lie within the ability of the
farmer to fully carry out. Many farmers
attempt too much and make ruinous fail
ures by not possessing the means and requi-
site capital to reap the full measure Of sue
cess.
But there is much to be done during the
Winter season which may increase the
farmers profits if he examines and thor
oughly analyses his business. If, by buy
ing grain and bran to feed his stock, he can
increase his profits more than by investing
the same amount of capital in commercial
manures, he should by all means pursue the
former course. If he invest in grains, etc.,
to be fed to stock, it is of the first Deces-
sity that every shovel full of manure be
carefully protected from exposure to sun
and rain.
Meat and wool always command good
prices and ready sale, and stock of good
quality is found to be the most profitable
by farmers who have turned their attention
to feeding. Those who feed stock for the
butcher always make large quantities OF
good manure which, when properly taken
care of, insures them good crops. To farm
profitably, when stock is the leading crop,
requires neatness and attention, as we'll as
good judgment, on the part of the farmer
His barns and stables must be made COM
Portable for the stock, and all the feeding
racks, troughs, &C., be kept in order, and
the stock daily looked after.
In addition to the waste of third or half
of the substance of the manure made by
the stock, which many farmers are improvi-
dent enough to permit, large quantities OF
materials that might increase the manure
heap, are allowed to waste on the majority
of farms, for the want of time to save them.
1t would generally result i'll profit to expend
a portion of the money appropriated to
purchasing commercial manures, in saving
that of superior quality within reach,
which goes to waste. The three-fourths Of
the poultry manure on nearly every farm is
wasted, for the want of properly con-
structed poultry house; and half of the
hog manure is frequently wasted by hav-
ing no pen, or but a make shift for the
pigs, which should be provided with large
quantities of rough material to be worked
up into manure. Hogs and poultry being
fed principally on grain, produce the best
manure made on the farm. 1t is these
leaks which make the farm poor, and
consequently the farmer becomes poor and
hard pressed. Here is where liberal in
vestment of hard thinking, supplemented
by judicious action, will pay large profit
on the investment.
Every farm, almost, has some swamp or
low marshy spot which has been the bed OF
hundreds of crops of rank weeds, that have
drawn large quantities of nitrogen from
the atmosphere, and stored it away in this
untouched bank, ready to acknowledge
drafts from the farmer when properly pre-
sented, and increase his annual profits
hundred per cent or moro on the outlay.
If these accumulated deposits of rich soil,
which have been carried down from the
hills, mixed with the farmers lime and
bones and phosphates, which he has i'll
vested heavily in in former years, and vege-
table matter that has grown and fell to rot
year after year, were removed from the
swamp and mixed we'll with his stable ma
nures, he would double the quantity, while
increasing the value of every load. But
the average farmer will say that he has no
time to devote to such work, or that he has
tried the experiment and it didn't pay.
His trials, it will be found on investigation,
have been only faint attempts at intervals
and odd times. No well matured plan has
been formed and perseveringly pursued for
any length of time. And in order to find
time for more improved system, the old
non-paying one will have to be modified,
which can be accomplished by some judi
cious thinking, assisted by the study of a
sound agricultural journal or two, which
should be on the table of every farmer.
The farmer who knows only what he has
learned from his own limited observation,
supplemented by his experience as drudg
ing laborer from his boyhood, really knows
but very little about his business. His
education has been principally of muscle,
while that far more valuable element, the
mind, has been neglected.
1.-THE REsCUE."-We have received
copy of this very handsome chrome, from
the publisher of Godey's Lady's Book,
which Mr.. Cooley has prepared, at a heavy
expense, as a present to each Of his sub
scribers. The picture is finely executed,
and is an ornament fit to be placed beside
oil paintings in the parlor or library. The
scene represents two shipwrecked sailors
clinging to a piece of timber in the midst
of the waves, while in the distance the
adna Of thu uracl. is discerned A lice hoat