Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-11-28
Method II Farming.

Among the contributions by the Far
mers Club of the American Institute of
New York TO the Farmers Club Fair of
Massachusetts. is series of contribu-
lions by its members on agricultural
topics. which we shall publish in future
issues. Herewith we give one of the
articles, written by Horato ID. Shep-
pard, in which he relates the following
as the substance of a conversation which
he heard about half century since, be-
tween two New England farmers. well
known and highly respected in their
dav.
Farmer Jones. who. By the way. was
an intelligent Scotchman. was interro-
gated a. follows BY his friend and
neighbor Farmer Davis whose object
was evidently to obtain, from man of
practical wisdom. some of the secrets of
his success.
How is it. Neighbor Jones. that YOU
always have things in so much better
condition than ordinary farmers? Your
crops are abundant. YOU have grain in
your granery. plenty of hay in your
barn, beef and pork in yorr barrels.
wood in the wood-house. while YOUR
buildings are also in good repair, and
things generally seem TO he easy and
smooth, and if at any time there are anv
needtul things to be sold very cheap
for cash, yon are sure 10 have the cash
10 buy them with. Now | would like
to learn how Won manage TO accomplish
SO much and apparently with little ef-
fort.
To this Farmer Jones replied: Il can
describe to you some of my methods.
which are probably different from most
OF my neighbors.
In the first place, keep nv manure
better sheltered, so that it is not easily
washed away by the rains nor dried out
by the sun. Moreover, apply it on the
best land, rather than scatter il over
poor and grsvellv hillsides: in other
words. | cultivate only as much land as
| can keep rich and in good condition
Ii costs no more 10 Tense. pillow and cul-
tivate an acre of good land than one
that is poor and comparatively worth
less. | find that the labor bestowed on
the best land brings the reward. You
will find. if YOU look around YOU. that
most OF the farmers in this part Of the
country spread themselves over too
much inferior soil; and the tendency of
this practice is to keep them poor all
their lives.
Again, ! do not undertake to winter
too much stock. Rather than do this
! prefere TO sell in the fall and buy in
the spring. But what do winter over
are well fed and sheltered, aud KEEP,
in good heart, at whatever cost. | find
| can generally buy up lean and hungry
cattle, and other stock. in the early
sprlng for yer! small sum; a little
Indian meal, with forage or early grass.
ana good nursing, very soon brings
them up to the right point. These cost
far less than carrying too much stock
through our long winters. Again |
generally manage TO keep some ready
money on hand, or within easy reach. |
consider this one of the necessaiy means
Tor Keeping my finances aud nv gener-
al business in the best condition
Whenever occasion arises for paving
out this ready money | set TO work TO
replace ii as soon as l can, lust as
W ould any other necessary implement
OF the farm or the household
Now it seems to me that many OF our
farmers of the present day would find
it to their advantage 10 take leaf from
the old Scotchman's sound and success
iul philosophy of farming America
Cuitirator.