Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-02-28
Large Crops.

of us do. Once in while, everything prov |
ing favorable, we get large Tor what we
call large) yield, but the census reports re-
flute any idea that such crops are the gen.
eral result of New England farming. 1t is
not large single crops, but large average
crops that are the criterion of the state of
agriculture in country.
When we think upon the moderate amount
of profit derived from our best agriculture,
we can but wonder how those farmers whose
small crops do so much to bring down the
averages of the census, live at ALL That
against those who say charming don't pay"
Experience has taught that several things
are essential to the regular production of
large crops. Among them we take, as GER
tainly the most important: First, good
soil; second, industry; third, system; fourth,
capital; fifth, knowledge.
The farmer cannot expect regular sue
cession of good, paying crops from natur-
ally unfertie soil. Even with an unlimited
control of fertilizers, such a result is iinpos
sble. Peter Henderson, in his excellent
and widely circulated little book, Gard
dening for Profit" says it is vain to hope to
supplement deficient natural fertility with
manure in horticulture. If this is true in
business where the land is annually supplied
with fertilizers to the value of two or three
hundred dollars per acre, how much more
true must it be in ordinary farming? The
only way in which land of low grade Of
productive power is ever made to yield
profit to the farmer is, when large tracts OF
it are grazed. And even here the profit is
doubtful. We hear of territory, five acres
of which will starve a sheep, and twenty
acres COW.
Without active industry no chance of sue
cess exists for the farmer who desires to raise
large crops. Land must be made ready III
season, the seed must be prepared and sown
at the right time, and in the proper manner
1t is equally necessary that cultivation and
wedding should be prompt, frequent and
thorough. Not one farmer in fifty seems
aware of the loss he suffers from weeds
Many who are called good farmers allow
their corn and potatoes to be overgrown by
the late growth of weeds, lessening the
crop from twenty-five to fifty per cent. II
any one doubts this, let him try in the same
field the common in contrast with absolutely
clean culture, and note the different results.
Yet the profit of clean culture, though con-
siderable, will never be so large at first, as
after being practiced for course of years.
This in time will make the ground very
clean, by preventing the seeding of success
sive crops of weeds, so that at last we have
only such as grow from wind-borne seed. In
dustry is equally important in securing the
crop, and in putting it to profitable use.
Without forecast or system, in farm oper-
ations, we shall look in vain for great results.
We doubt if, on farms of considerable size,
it is good economy for the owner to do much
field work. Certainly he ought not so to ex-
haust himself by manual labor as to weaker
his power of steady, consecutive thought
the mental work necessary for planning and
supervising an orderly, efficient management
of the farm. Every man should labor with
his hands enough to keep himself in health
but a farmer should spare portion of his
vigor for the necessary FRAMEWORK required
to arrange his operations, provide thought
fully for every thing in its season, overlook
his stock, machinery and buildings carefully,
and by studying his work, be prepared for
everything before the time comes for it to
be done. He cannot do this if he overworks
himself in the field to the point of mental
stupor, as so many do, thus wasting at the
bung hole" in " saving at the spigot"
The lack of capital is chief cause of in
ability to grow large crops continuously.
No farmer ought to have all his money in
vested in land and stock. If he has, he
should hire enough money to carry on his
operations to advantage. In England far
mer cannot get lease of land unless he has
capital for the landlord knows that success
without it would be impossible, and that
either the rent will not be paid, or the land
will be sapped to pay it. That capital is
just as needfu in farm operations as in any
The destruction of the poor man is his pow
erty, because he can do nothing to the best
advantage Many farmers who have in the
more favorable past, saved some money, DE-
not seem rightly to understand this, and
sink capital in stocks or mortgages thai
would pay them better, if used with judg
ment, in their own business
1t would seem self-evident that the pos
session of thorough knowledge of his bust
ness is essential TO a farmer if he would
thrive by the production of large crops. Blu
farming is the only occupation followed il
this world, acquaintance with which is sup
posed, by the majority of those engaged il
it, to come by nature. The consequence o
which is, that many of us do not know tn
best way to do any of our work, and don
seem TO want TO.
We are the victims of prejudice and con
ceit to ruinous extent; or if we seek TO
improvement, our lack of knowledge make
us the easy prey of deception, or the victim
of our own inability to make the proper us
of good thing when we get it, There i
no business in which good education
good practical education, we mean--pay
larger profit than in farming. There is
indeed, no business in which real knowledg
is more absolutely necessary to a high am
continuous success. The ordinary farme
sees this at times, in dim way, and Will
doubtful of book-farming," is consciou
that he might make more money if he onl
knew how to raise such crops of grass a
neighbor A., or could get such yields q
wheat as that man over the river or max
such butter, or breed such stock, as som
man he has seen or heard Of
He will lay their success to better soil, G
better "luck," but inside he feels that it
because those persons know something ths
he don't. Yet If those very men write OF
their ways of doing, for a book or pape
these idoiaters of the good old way wi