The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-01-16
Making the Most Of q Farm.

In every neighborhood striking
difference in the productiveness Of
farms may be noted; and this variation,
when acre is matched against acre,
cannot, in most cases, justly be attrib-
uted to the diversity of the soil, but
rather to the effect Of the methods by
which the farming is conducted. 1t is
the difference of character in the farm
ers, and of the objects they aim at,
which are illustrated in their labor and
its products, and various as are these
methods and their results, yet we have
little doubt but every farmer flatters
himself that, considering circum-
stances, he is making the most of his
farm. will briefly sketch some of the
various ways by which farmers strive
to reach the same end. One adopts the
skinning process; his cultivation is
shallow but spreads over good deal
of surface. In measuring land he never
considers depth. but breadth only; so
he sows as many acres as possible, but
sights the work and grudges the ex-
penditure of every dollar in that direc-
ton. A rich farm and fine improve
ments are not 50 desirable in his eyes
as q large farm and money at interest.
He farms at as little expense as posi-
BILE, and makes his property-if he is
SO fortunate with crops of wheat yield
ing ten bushels per acre, corn twenty,
and grass ton-by saving and pinch
ing. If he dies young he dies poor; but
if he lives to an old age, by miserly
economy he amasses considerable prop
erty.
Another considers the farm sort of
q mine from which he may draw treas
ure. He works with skill and patience,
and spends freely for necessary or
profitable labor. He keeps good breeds
of stockton there is most profit in
such-and builds barns and sheds to
shelter them. He sees depth to the
soil as well as breadth, and works &C
cordingly. He 'underdrains and SUBJ
soils, cultivates well and performs all
labor in the best manner. His object
is to get the most from the soil, and he
transforms its products into other
forms of wealth. Such a course may
answer for one mans lifetime, but in
the end his farm will resemble the
squeezed orange" or the mine
whence the ore has been taken and the
lodes run out.
The majority of what are termed our
best farmers in this country. are pur-
suing this plan. It is one that adds
little real wealth to the aggregate, for
it is substantially but transforming the
wealth of the soil into other forms, and
as the soil is not inexhaustible, the
time must come when the supply from
that source will diminish. A third,
and the smallest of all classes of farm
ers, adds to thorough and skillful cult
walton the more important idea Of con-
stantly replenishing the soil with the
plant elements which crops have ex-
tracted from it. The coarse products
are consumed on the farm. and more
food for stock or special fertilizers are
bought to replace the fertility carried
away in the animals and cereals that
aro cold. Wo ooid thoro aro fow farm
ers of this class-few that have matured
and practice a system of farming by
which the maximum of products may
be produced from the soil, and vet
maintain it as fertile and productive
for century. But we have not yet
arrived at the condition where Ameri-
can farmers will work for the future.
The American farmer is not permanent
enough in his location; the abundance
of land in proportion to the population,
the fertility of the soil, the rapid ad-
vance in prices, stimulate the restless
element in his nature, and render him
too migratory to become 3 scientific
agriculturist. 1t needs an ordinary
lifetime to develop with legitimate
means, scientific agriculture on Ameri-
can farms; and not until the young
farmer shall come TO look upon his do
main as his future home can we hope for
this attainment.-PrGcticGl Farmer.