Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-03-11
Farm Experiments.

Our present knowledgeis is the sum of
our own experience, with the record OF
lacts thst have been ascertained thro'
the experience of others. In agricul-
ture We can only reason from analogy
to certain extent, Therefore we must
ever be experimenting, each for him
self. There are some well-known prin-
ciples which form the basis of agricul-
tural science, with which 8 farmer
must be conyersant before he begins to
experiment, but beyond these every
one of US must learn by practical prac-
tical experience for himself. AS in
medicine physician must understand
the exact constitution OF his patient,
and be able to depend completely upon
the quality of the drugs administered
before he can prescribe for him, so a
farmer must understand the character
or the soil he works and the quality of
the material he uses-as the manures,
seeds, stocks; feed, implements, and
his own or his labor's skill, before he
can say this or that will result in this
or that manner, To by-stander or
an interested reader the differences of
opinion existing among number of
Intelligent. practical farmers alta meet
ing of a farmers club would seem in
explicable, if this fact were not well
understood; and nothing so well illus
trates the necessity for constant expert
menting as this very difference of opin-
ion which exists everywhere. Each
farmer must be law unto himself, eX-
pecting so far as few general princi
ples are concerned. The experience of
others cannot be blindly followed with
safety. Every accompanying condi-
tion precedent must be known and
weighed and compared with those
which affect each particular case, be-
fore their results cad be adopted as
rule for another guidance. For want
of this caution many mistakes have
been made. Conclusions have been
Jumped at, and disappointments have
resulted, and the most intelligent and
observant farmers are the most eau
tious about expressing decided opinion,
because they know best in their own
experience how many disturbing ele-
ments enter into every calculation up
on the farm, and endanger the expect
ed result. AS rule, farmers are not
sufficiently we'll acquainted with their
farms to give satisfactory reply to any
question prOpounded to them. They
rarely count, weigh, or measure either
seed, the manure the labor, or the crop.
Consequently, they have no data
whereupon to found any calculation
for the future. Among the many farm
ers of our acquaintance, whom we have
questioned, we never yet received any
accurate information as to any detail
of their crops. Everything was guess
work. So many bushels of seed were
sown, but the acres upon which they
were sOxn were an unknown quantity.
The loads of manure spead were rarely
Ecounted, and then the road was an il
definite weight. The crop could only
be measured by what was threshed by
hired machine, or sold, or by pos
sibly ascertained number of loads
We are satisfied this is general every
where. The consequence is the gener-
ally accepted idea that there is moth
ing certain in agriculture 1t is most
convincing proof of the profitableness
of farming that it never results diSas-
trously under this hap-hazard system
when ordinary industry, Intelligence,
and economy are applied to it. ANY
other business than this must neces-
Isarily fail if conducted in this uncer-
tain method.
But already there are very signifi-
can't intimations that all this must be
changed ere long. As an industry,
) farming is not SO productiveas it ought
to be, and as others are. Hundreds of
farms worth SIC, 900 to $40, 600 each do
not pay five per cent upon their value,
after fair allowance is made for their
owners labor or supervision. This is
simply because their owners do not
know where the leaks are through
| which their profits drain away and dis
5 appear. And they will never know
| until they begin to make accurate ex-
r periments and observe them closely for
> themselves. Much might be learned
: from the experiments that could and
2 should be made at the various agricul-
, tural colleges, but unfortunately these
/ are either not made or are so incom-
l prehensible or barren of result that il
were better they had never been made
: at all.