The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-02-20
Agriculture Department.
w. s. SHIELDS. EDITOR.
Diversified Husbandry.

1
Diversified Husbandry.
Mr.. w. Ii. White, swriting to the
Country Gentleman, gives the fol- /
loving in regard to diversified farm
Ing. that IS peculiarly adapted to the
farmers Of the South. and we repro
duce it as an article worthy OF their
earnest consideration /; he says:
In times like the present, when |
general business is dull, and SO
much distrust prevails in business
circles, it becomes necessary for the
farmer to protect himself by econo-
MIXING and making the most of his
income and resources. He should,
as far as in him lies. produce what
is necessary TO his own sustenances
and which is to be consumed on his
own farm. Even when that pro-
duct costs as much as if it is pur-
chased in market, he will find it
economy in thus doing. am aware
that specialties in production re-
duce the cost Of that product, but
there is the risk of a market; and
if the main reliance is resting here,
a loss is seriously felt. If instead
OF the single crop, the energies are
divided among several, there will be
some which will pay a profit. if
consumed on the farm, thus much is
actually saved and added to the
iuceme; at all events we have some
thing of our own to sustain life, in
stead of going to market with an
empty purse.
In everyday life find that if one
man in a community makes little
more money than his neighbor, by
pursuing legitimate business, or a
specially. bis neighbours fingers itch
till he has tried something of the
same sort and thus it is till a whole
community Of farmers are pursuing
the same speciality or make that a
leading product Sometimes this
results in success for a term of
wears, but eventually there is a
change and failure results. Often
individuals lose all the savings of a
lifetime before they are willing TO
change. | could name many small
farmers who have made specialties
their dependence aud who have with
in a few years become bankrupt.
Others in the same neighberhOod
have produced more diversified
crops, and have gradually added to
their possessions till now they can
live at their ease. When first start
ing in life, each had an even chane,
so far as capital goes.
Could we be always assured of
favorable seasons, constant markets.
aud ordinary influences, specialties
in farming might answer as well as
any but even in the best of seasons
untimely frosts will come, insects
will revel in the fields; let the pros
poets of the farmer be ever SO Yalua-
BILE, rust, with numerous ether ills,
will beset us on every side. When
such fatalities meet our expecta-
tions, how serious the consequent
ces Having entrusted our hopes
in the keeping Of one frail bark,
when that stands, or goes down, our
expectations go down with it. Five
or ten years of steady, moderate
profits, are better than the same
amount Of profit, in single year,
followed by several years of no pro-
fits, or of loss. Steady, small pro-
fits are better and more sure of Civ
ing competency, in the long run,
than large, uncertain ones. Better
then is it for as, small farmers GER
tainly, to divide energies among
such products as our farms are
adapted for. Although any one par
ticular product may only give us a
small profit, the aggregate fills the
pocket. The Moderate showers Of
rain are beneficial. while those come
in torrents are oftGner productive of
damage.