Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-02-19

lieve the character and condition O
tho soil of our own pastures shout,
decide, In the main, what sort q
stock We should keep. To attemp
dairying, with pastures unsuited Il
the purpose would he q failure, OF
little better than u failure at best
The pastures in this section ar,
most Of them, best adapted to sheer
hnsbandry, yet we should not
strictly speaking, make specially
of this; we should keep every kline
of stock required to DO kept on thu
farm, and raise as much Of tho
stock as possible. We have IN my
times called to mind remark madt
to US, upon this point. years ago b.
an old and successful farmer. Said
he, 81 always kept all kinds Of
stock, and every year hit IL some
where.' If was obliged to fix on
any one principle as the foundation
of successful farming, should take
that of q just proportion between
the different departments Of the
farming business q proportion
which experience proves to us, would
he most profitable; as the success
of farming must he measured by
the morey il makes. Nothing is
more common than to see. among
those who are striving after improve
ments, or II greater success in farm.
ing. u great want of balance be.
tween one part and another of their
farm work. Perhaps, one particular
branch of farming may pay the best
this year and many farmer among
us ut once directs his attention and
labor to this one branch, to the
neglect Of other necessary farm
work. Farming is composite
business, and there can be no such
success in it as we should strive for,
unless we keep a properbalance he
tween its different departments =:
that is we should aim to manage
our affairs of farming in such way
as to be able, in the words of the
old farmer, "cacli year to hit it
somewhere" Many a farmer is
suffering for this want of just pro-
portion in the management of his
business. and it becomes us to look
well for the weak spots, and estab-
lish as much uniformity as possible,
so that every dollar invested may
yield us a good per cent of profit.
If there is any better test of good
farming than this, know not what
it is. And we should also keep in
mind the fact, that it is necessary
for us to keep up balance in our
own heads. for this is the most i'm
portant part of the whole outfit.
Even a good farm. with a bad head
to manage it will beat the days at
losing money, but if u man has
health, industry, energy, persever-
ance, cultivated mind, some me-
chanical ingenuity, and good stock
of common sense, with Il big heart
in his bosom that will never allow
him to neglect an animal, or his
farming business in any way, |
know of no reason why his chances
of success are not as great as they
would be, should he adopt any other
business.
This discussion was followed, by
an essay on the Grass Crop, by 9.
II. Hubbard, of Springfield, which
subject was also discussed. The
other subjects discussed during the
sessions were Fertilizers, Special
ties in Farming, The Butter Dairy,
Smut and Ergot, The Calling Of the
Farmer, Butter Making, Profits of
Corn Raising, the Potato, &C., of
which we shall give a report next
week, not having space in this is
sue. The sessions we're continued
through the next day and evening,
being very interesting, and draw
ing out a large attendance nOtwith-
standing the unpropitious weather.
Wednesday Forenoon Prof. Ed.
ward Conant Of Randolph State Su-
perintendent of Education, arrived
in town, and was invited to address
the meeting, which he did in a very
able manner, on the benefits of the
town system of schools.
On the final adjournment a vote
of thanks to the Board was pass
ed, and also to u. Il. Jameson of
Irasburg.