The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-12-13

Laying out the Farm.
One great mistake farmers usually
make is not giving sufficient t%hOughtand
attention 10 laying out the farm, and
distributing the crops and labor in the
best possible manner. There are few
kinds of business which require such
careful forethought, and study rs plan.
ming the years crops on a farm in such a
manner as to distributcthe labor through
out the season az evenly as possible, and
get the largest returns Tor the land under
cultivation, and the money invested in
labor.
When we consider the variety OF crops
which may he raised with profit on al
most any farm, the great number Of
causes which influence their growth, the
nature and condition Of the soil, the
prospects of the markets, the possibilities
Of double cropping, the relation OF this
years crops to Il rotation and the dis
trihuti0n Of labor, 80 AZ not to have more
at any one time than it is possible to do,
and yet to have enough at all times, the
question becomes interesting and at the
same time exceedingly complex--yet all
these things should be carefully con-
sidered, not only each by itself, but in
relation to each other, and whoever
everlooks one OF them is likely to make
serious blunders. He may Sow his seed
on coil not in proper condition, and so
fail Of a good crop, or he may raise n
good crop and have no market, or he may
be 50 crowded with work as not u be
able to give it the proper attention atthc
critical time.
My manner OF laying out a farm is
this In n book write the name OF each
field, and the different crops for which
the soil by its nature and present con.
dition with the fertilizers which ! can
put on it, is best adapted also the time
Of sowing and harvesting, with the
amount OF labor required and the
times Of year it will be needed. ! then
compute, as nearly AZ ! nm able from
past experience and the condition
of the market, the probable proceeds of
each crop per acre, deducting cost OF seed
and labor. This will show which of all
the crops for which each field il adapted
will give the largest probable returns,
Having gone through with each field in
this way and decided what crop or crops
will give the largest net returns, ! next
put them altogether, and see how the
labor is distributed, and how much grain
OF each kind | am to SOW or plant. If !
find too much labor required at any one
season, | turn back to the pages contain
ing the fields with the conflicting crops,
and select the best crop which will rem.
cdy the labor difficulty.
Much can be gained in the way Of
economy in farm labor by using the best
means and implements, Fall pl-wing OF
wet lands and surface draining when
needed, greatly facilitate early work in
the spring. New and improved tools are
also n great advantage in doing work
quickly and economically. Farmers
often work year after year with old,
wornouL tools, when the extra crops
which could be raised with new labor
saving implements in one year would pay
for half II dozen such tools. The neglect
of cultivating hoed crops, until the weeds
get fairly rooted, not only Injuries the
crop, but adds greatly to the labor OF
caring for it and destroying the weeds.
Cultivation promotes earllness as well
as growth, and partly supplies the place
OF manure, and, in laying out the year,
work, every farmer should be careful not
to put in anything which will have to be
neglected. Better till five acres well
than plant ten acres and leave the crops
to fight it out with the weeds. Plan
your work carefully, making due allow
ance for rainy weather and lost time
cultivate thoroughly and manure well,
and you will be sure to get The largest
possible returns for your labor.-An Ohi