The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-08-02
Large or Small Farms.

THERE are very many advocates of both
large and small farms, but, like many
other things, the assertions of interested
parties must be taken with few grains of
allowance, and due regard must be had to
the governing circumstances which con-
troll the individual who hovers over the
uncertainty of a decision. ''Ten Acres
Enough" and My Farm of Four Acres, !"
small works purporting to give the details
of the authors successful experiences on
tie sized places named, had very large
sales and quite host of the readers, espe-
cially citizens, at once jumped to the con-
clusiOn that they saw way to solve the
problem OF gaining good living, and
with something beside to lay by for a
rainy day, and forthwith started farming
ON q small scale, only to he utterly disap-
pointed, in a majority of cases, in the
course of year or two. Farming, wheth-
er on large or small scale, is q business
which requires considerable knowledge,
some means to start on, and an ability and
willingness to WORK hard and constantly,
especially on a small farm. If the farm
is large the, and there has been suffi-
cient means invested to insure success,
most of the owners time is required in
directing the labors of others, but it is es-
sentia' to know what should be done, and
when and how to do it, which can only be
learned by experience.
A small farm is the best when you in.
tend to devote the most of it to raising
vegetables and small fruits; at least, in
starting, it is best to commence on few
acres-and it should, invariably, be near
the city, or in close proximity to some
large town, for the nearer you are to the
consumer the better chance you stand of
obtaining the highest prices, other things
being duly considered. As your expert
ence enlarges, the size of the farm can be
extended proportionately.
If raising stock is the desire of the
wOuld-be farm purchaser, then we would
advise such persons to make trip into
the country during the height of the grow
ing season, say during the latter end of
June or early in July, and then select
good sized farm on which the crops
grow finely and the animals show un-
doubted evidence of good living. Do not
purchase larger farm than you con
properly carry on, for we have known
some men who paid nearly or quite all of
their means for large grain and stock
farms, and were then 80 pressed for means
to successfully carry on farming that sue
cess was beyond the reach OI even an eX.
perienced farmer in the same predica-
ment.
Very much derends upon the man,
however, whether large or small farms
will prove most profitable, just the same
as some military men are fan better as
Division Commanders than they would be
as Commander in Chief. Some men can
manage large farm and realize more
profit than they could ON a small one,
while others would make q small farm
pay handsome returns and yet be at
sea- ON q large one. success in any
OF small Il business concerns M depends r.
great measure upon each mans capacity
for managing, experience being only Sec
ondary to it. If the AGILITY is wanting,
success will never be attained on farm,
whether large or small.-D. z. Eoans, IT,,
in Practical Farmer.