Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-10-11
Diversified Farming.

read with interest:
The farmer who devotes his time priLci-
pally to the plow, that is, breaking up the
land, raising grain, and other titled, annual
crops, such as requires the constant use Of
the pillow, harrow and hoe, will die poor
man; particularly if he pursues this system
steadily through a long series OF years.
There is no system so laborious as plow-
farming. The ia no other returns 60 ANAL
profit.
Diversified farming is more interesting,
more educating, refining, and more profta.
bic, pecuniarily, than the drudgery of plow-
farming. Variety in agriculture, as in every
other department of life, is more interesting
becase less laborious and monotonous.
In order to keep the farm up to its high
est productive capacity, as small an area
should be in crops requiring the constant
use Of the pillow and harrow, as is compati-
bic with the greatest yield per acre, ard the
each crop. There should never be such an
extent OF any one crop as would trespass
upon the time necessary to devote to others
equally important in their season. Flow-
ing too much land is the rock on which
many industrious farmers are stranded.
Other important work on the farm has to be
neglected, the labor becomes excessive, and
the burthens Of the farmer and his family
are simply an oppression which even a gal
ley slave should not be subjected to. II is
this mistaken practice which wears the life
out of many farmer, bringing on prema-
ture age, disgusting bis sons, making slave
Of his wife, and the whole life on the farm
a mere existence without rest, recreation, Oh
enjoyment. To grow rich. to make money,
is the declared object Of these unnatural
sacrifices; and yet no man ever grew rich
by such course, while it has impoyerished
lands, and rude, comfortless homes.
Where farm work is steady drag with
the effort TO cultivate more acres than the
force under the control of the farmer can
accomplish in season, and perform with
ihoronghness, the land is never made TO dc
It's best. and the returns are generally far
from profitable. And when everything is
staked ON a single crop, failure is sure 10 be
disastrously often.
A well.ordered farm and system OF farm
ing contemplates variety and diversified
crops. Some will sur, ly give good returns
for tie seasons labor, ana steady income
may be counted upon-with much cert4inty
II the farm is largely seeded in tame grasses
the land will always remain productive
when placed under the plow. Cattle, sheep,
and hogs should be part of the mouey-crop,
and good orchards should contribute to the
farmers income. His fowls are neglected a;
a rule and their profit merely nominal. The
dairy product is half lost from a lack Of
knowledge in its management and want Of
proper arran. ements for preserving milk
and cream and manufacturing the best quail.
iiy OF butter. No ms gnifcant sum is an
nually expended for sweets, largely consist
ing Of inferior molssses, and aduiterated
unwholesome syrups, while scores OF gallons
OF tine purest and most wholesome go to
waste on every farm for the want of bees to
gather and store it. The hard life and
scanty remuneration OF the farmer, SO gen.
orally complained OF, are largely attribute
bic to the lack OF ability 10 develop the full
capacity of the farm. There are numerous
branches in farming, all Of which require a
degree OF special training to pursue with
profit,
And again, few farmers have a well de-
fined system, that they pursue steadily,
without permitting their plan TO be charged
By disappointment and partial failures. A
well maiure6 plan OF diversified farming,
pursued steadily and inielligently for ten
years, will never fail of achieving an aver
age succ IS which will satisfy reasonable
exnec.a.iors