Smyrna times., 1876-01-19
Successful Farming.

The Importance of manurc-tbc basis of
all successful farming-is not sufficiently
understood by American farmers.
Not one farmer in ten, in this coIntrv
makes or saves half the fertilizing material
he might DO, were he to bestow that atten-
ton to it which it deserves. The Iionid
manure espccialy-and which is said bv
chemists to be the richest in fcrtilz;n.
qualitics-is nearly all suffered to run to
waste as il teaches from the barn.vard. and
IS carried of by heavy rains into some od.
Jacent stream. Now, there are several
modes Of preventing this drain on the far.
mer's substance, either by having the ward
lowest in the middle, and keeping it well
supplied with absorbent material 70 s,,c1-
up the teachings as they generate. and
digging small drain around the outside
OF the yard 10 prevent the influx of wafer
from without; or by digging a water.nroof
clstofn just outside the yard. and divert
ing into II the teachings by means Of
small covered drain leading to it from the
centre OF the yard, and as fast as the cistnrn
becomes filled, hauling out the contents
and applying them on the grass land. Or
perhaps still Lcttcrplan would he to have
large compost heap, convenient and IN
der cover, and satUratc the same we'll with
the liquid manure as fast as itaccumulotas
And If, after all the manurial material
attalnabIe has been thus utilized, there
should still be 3 deficiency, to resort to
plowing under green crops, accompanied
with slight sprinkling of lime to correct
their acidity.
1t Is bad economy TO purchase foreign
manures when We have enrichinr materials
50 near at hand. Not that we would dis.
parage the various kinds of phosphates and
commercial manurcs They are all very
good But why use them when we can
have equally as good if not better by hus.
banding ali the resources within our reach.
and at onc-thir;l the expense?
Then, again, soil may be abundantly
supplied with plant food and vet fail TO
produce rcmuncrative crops for want Of
proper tillagc. 1t is necessary to keep the
sol loose and porous for the admission of
light and air, and this can only be done by
proper cultivation and keeping the land
continually producing something that may
be converted into money.
To prevent the yoracious consumption Of
plant food by weeds is another very i'm
portant consideration in successful farming.
No one can expect to grow a fine OK or q
fine horse if the hogs or other animals arc
allowed to gobble up onc-half Of the nutri-
tious food furnished him, and vet there are
many farmers who serve their crops equally
as bad by allowing weeds to grow and rob
them ofhalf alftheirsustenance. Itisamusinr
to hear such men say that they let their
fields grow to weeds in order to rest their
land, and then blowing them under the
next season for manure. But whvnot grow
grass instead of weeds? With very little
trouble the land can be seeded down in
grass and used for pasture or hay, and thus
pe converted INTO meat, milk, or WOOL |
Any system Of farming that will allow any
part of the farm to remain uproductive for |
single year cannot be considered good |
farming. Here is where the great secret of |
successful farming lies. Talk about land
restingl Give it plenty of food and change
Of occupation, and it will need no rest.
Another important item in successful
arming is clean cultivation. you would
grow wheat, let it be all wheat not a mix
ure of wheat, cheat and cookie or other
'ile stuff. Such an admixture is an un-
lightly thing, and shows a carelessness
'ither in the preparation of the seed or in
he cultivation of the land, that admits of
10 apology. In fact, farmer in order to
'e successful must have a taste forneatness
n all his operations and surroundings.