The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-08-04
Improvements in Farming.

\ Boston correspondent of the Country
Gentleman, says:--It is interesting TO
note the improvements in agriculture as
well as ia mechanical arts. The writer
remembers well when he was young man
on the "old farm" how he used to take his
turn in 'leading" a gang Of at least a
dozen mowers or reapers, the one who took
the lead on the first round taking his place
in the rear on the next, and so on, until
the whole piece was cut Much depended
upon what the negro MINISTRIES would call
these lend men"-the leader and driver.
Il was no uncommon sight for the latter
to be nearly even with the former, aud an
exciting race was no unusual occurrence,
the front man sometimes being forced out
of his swath. All this is now changed !;
the moving and reaping machines enable
the farmer to do with few hands that
which formerly required many.
Equally important improvements have
been made in all other agricultural imple-
ments, but great as these improvements are,
they are no greater than those developed
in the cultivation Of the soil, although the
farmer does not enter so readily into the
changes that science and education have
demonstrated tho best for the cultivation
Of his farm--he negleots to inform himself
on these matter. Only let him take the
same trouble and expense to educate and
keep himself up with the time in this, as
he does on the new aud improved labor
saving machines, and he would, in my
opinion, derive greater benefits from it,
We used to think 40 bushels of shelled
corn to the acre good yield. Now, under
circumstances no more favorable, 100
bushels may be raised with little or no
more expense. | notice that Mr. Ropes
of Sterling, Mass, raised from 2 acres,
27S bushels shelled corn and ten tons Of
stalks, being probably five times greater
than the average yield in the State per
acre. contend if one man can do this,
all ought to. The fact is, farmers gener-
ally undertake to cultivate too much land.
Having perhaps manure enough for only
two acres, it is poor policy to spread it
over ten, as they can raise as much, if it
is put on the two acres, and save the labor
of cultivating eight. In the report re-
ferred to, no particulars are given how
Mr. Ropes managed his land, except that
it was highly manured. One of the finest
fields Of corn that came under my observa-
ton last season, was MANFRED in the hill,
and the corn rolled in plaster, except on
small portion, on which it was omitted as
an experiment. The effect was very per-
ceptible, in the earlier and larger growth,
as well as an increased yield. The same
farmer tried sowing plaster on his moving
and also his dry pasture lands, with very
favorable results, and satisfied himself Of
its being the cheapest fertilizer he could
use.
The facilities afforded by the continued
extention Of railroads to Colorado, Neya-
da, Western Texas, &c, is furnishing a
wonderful area upon which the wheat of
the world will be grown, as also other farm
products. These increased shipping faci-
tiles, at low rates, (now only about fifty
cents per hundred from Chicago to Liver
pooD must stimulate the agricultural in
terest Of this country beyond measure.
This is already maniiesting itself, in the
decreased acreage of land under cultivation
in Great Britain, it appears, by official re-
ports, to have been nearly $4,000 acres
less for the year 1876 than in 1875.
The prospect for farming as a business
was never more fatteriug in this country
than at the present time, and it must be
further stimulated, in case of continued
war between Russia and Turkey. The
depressed condition of mercantile, manu-
featuring and general business, so long
Frustrated, has been felt less by the farm
ing interest than any other, and no ave-
nue. to competency and independence
presents greater attraction than that of
the modern and model farmer.