The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-08-23
MIXED FARMING AND STOCK
RAISING

Prot. no. X. rage, OF the OHlReISlly u
Virginia, contending in the Southern
Planter for the abandonment of the sys-
tenn of cultivating two or three crops on
large areas of poor land, at a considerable
expense in fertilizers and labor, and for
the adoption of system of mixed farm
ing and rearing of stock by which half
dozen or more crops may be-cultivated in
rotation on small scale and at less ex-
pense, says: =
= 1t will be contended that this. system is
only applicable to communities with dense
population and ready market for every
thing that can be made out of the soil and
produced in the form of meat, dairy pro-
ducts, ETC. | admit that it can only attain
its highest perfection under such cofldi-
ton of things; and have mentioned. these
facts simply to illustrate the principle in
volved. But that an analogous system, in
which all products that cannot be sold
shall be converted into salable meat, milk,
wool and manure, is the safest and surest
method of obtaining profit, and permanent
improvement of the SOIL cannot be sue
cessfully denied. While no system can be
made universally applicable, every farmer
ought to endeavor to work out one for
himself, according to the location, soil and
character of his farm. In doing this the
following principles must be kept in view:
I. The cultivation of small areas of land
in rotation of crops-primary or staple
crops for sale directly, and secondary
crops to be converted into meat, wool and
manure for additional profits and i'm
pfovemnt to the land. = 4+
-2.Tnat the land cultivated must be made
rich in plant-food, chiefly by the use of
manures made by the stock, which con-
sumo the secondary products, and fertili-
zers only purchased to supplement the
deficiency.
3. The grain crops ought not to succeed
each other, but that there ought to be an
alternate succession of grain, green and
grass crops.
d. That long course is more favorable
to the soil than short one; that a five
field system is better than a three or four
field, and that six or seven-feld system
is preferable to either for the improvement
of the soil and the carrying of stock.
(. That the free use of lime or plaster
with green crops plowed in regular rota-
ton, furnishes the cheapest method of i'm
proving large class of lands; while pure
| ground bones and Charleston fine ground
! phosphate, with nitrate of soda OF sulphate
of ammonia, and sulphate or muriate of
potash, mixed in proper proportions and
| applied in reasonable amount, will gener-
| ally secure a remunerative crop and a
| good stand of clover and orchard grass
seed "a good foundation for the perma-
nent improvement of the field
6. That the making, saving and apply
| ing to the soil all the manures and waste
products of the farm and household
should be made a regular business
Fixed principle of action are as necessa-
ry in agriculture as they are in the most
exact avocations of life, and tits necessa-
ay to adopt them and to study them, in
order to achieve a successful farm prac-
tice. To this end, these imperfect remarks
are intended. The relations of the labor
ing class in our midst to the existing con-
dition of agriculture (the wages of those
work and the large numbers of those who
are idle and predacious) and the change
that will be produced by change in our
system, | will not attempt to discuss, but
will close with the expression of the firm
belief that the only basis for a profitable
and improving system of farming in Vir-
ginia is the system of mixed farming, the
rearing Of stock and the adoption of rigid
economy in the use of labor, fertilizers
and domestic affairs. This is the only way
by which we will be able to create capital
at home, without which we can never be
independent or highly prosperous.