Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-14
" Extensive" and "Intensiye" Farming.

large areas. Intensive" farming is the
growing of large average crops on small
areas The one naturally prevails in a
country with an abundance of good land,
and a scattered population the other in a
densely populated country. America as a
whole, cannot in this generation become the
home of intensive farming. The north
easterly states are getting some of the neces-
sary conditions, but the sharp competition
of the new and fertile western territory al
most nullfies the advantages of density of
population to us. 1t would seem that, out
side of the truck-farming necessary to
supply our city and village population with
green food, the farming land, of New Eng
land at least, must be used mostly for pas
toral purposes and this, too, under pres.
sure of western competition that will keep
the value of all such lands very low. 1t can
only be as the west fills up with people so
as to much more nearly consume what she
raises, that New England agricultural land,
distant from centers of business, can have
much value. The present "spurt" of agri-
cultural prosperity has little likelihood of
continuance. 1t is based almost wholly on
the crop failures in Europe, very wide
spread, severe, and exceptional in character.
Europe, as a whole, is by no means over
populated, and has land enough and labor
enough so grow her own food for many a
long year yet, especially while the overflow
of her population to other continents is so
free and abundant.
With these facts in sight, nothing seems
any palmer to us than that the farming
people of New England must in the near
future divide into two classes, the " truck
farmers" who supply the villages and cities
with the perishable and bulky commodities
of the farm that cannot proftably be fetched
from the west, and the dairy and stock
farmers who must live if at all, under the
fierce competition of the states of the Mis-
sissippi valley. There is, indeed, place
for one other class-one which, living humby
upon small farms among the dairymen and
graziers, aims only at growing their own
food, and relies upon the pay for work done
outside of their own fences to supply their
other wants.
These being facts, farming in New Eng
4nd must assume either the intensive or
the extensive method, according to crcum-
stances. Either is legitimate, and either
can be carried on upon both scientific and
business principles. They must be so car
ried on, to ensure profit to those engaged in
them.
Our extensive farming must look mainly
to the growth of grass, and must study how
to improve mowings and pastures. Grain
crops and root crops, except as auxiliary to
the main purpose, will have no place in this
kind of agriculture. A New England dairy
and stock farmer would be off his track in
attempting to raise grain or roots for sale.
One of the most injurious blunders made by
such farmers is the growing of potatoes for
shipment or the starch mill. Such crop
usually takes off dollar in grass-yieldiug
capacity from the farm for every half-dollar
it brings to the farmers pocket. We think
most farmers understand this, and few would
do it were they not pressed for ready money.
The working of every source of fertilizing
material and the skillful use of it to promote
the growth of grass is the strong hold of ex-
tensive farmers. Generally they will make
very little use of purchased fertilizers. If
they have capital TO use in improving the
land, it will be better spent in buying rich
feeding material, mill-feed and oil cake, in
order to increase the value of the homemade
manure. With this will naturally go a
scrupulous care in saving and handling the
manure made from such feeds. This class
of farmers may wisely expend nearly all
their capital in land and live stock. But
they need moderate working capital, III
order to be able to buy and sell to the best
advantage.
The intensive farmer will handle small
areas of land convenient to the business cen
tiers which make their market. As they will
grow products that must be marketed from
day to day, they must be located so as to dc
this advantageously. As they must depend
mainly upon purchased manure and artifi
during the growing season, and often through
the year, they need the money the gras
farmer has in his stock in the form of read,
cash, in order to work to the best profit. A
tillage farmers, in distinction from gras
farmers, they must make themselves familia
with the principles of soil culture and will
the kinds of crops which are adapted h
their soil and their market They mus
understand the art of preparing their crop
for market, as well as of growing then
successfully Often they will be requires
to sell them directly to the consumer il
order to realize the best profit, and so mus
have some of the skill of the dealer in mel
chandise.
Within their recognized limits both tn
extensive and the intensive farmer ma
practice what is called mixed farming. Tn
extensive farmer may keep either COWS
horses, sheep or swine, or all together. II
may, if he has taste that way, and can a,
quire skill in it, be breeder and improve
of live stock, and make it pay well. But b
must always understand that his prospert
is based upon growing grass first, aud, Sc,
ond, upon knowledge how to feed that gra,
to profit. On the other hand the INTENSITY
farmers prosperity stands, fguratively speal
ing, upon the pillow. Skillful tillage is h
forte, and the products of tillage are h
merchandise. He may grow vegetable
fruit, flowers, nursery stock, or anythin
else that customers may be found for, b.
in order to grow them to profit he mu
realize that liberality in the enrichment
his soil and energy in the management an
sale of his crops must be the main road
such success as he will desire