The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-02
Ghe @armrer.
True and False Economy

There is an element of success running
through all the operations of the farmer,
which rewards him with abundant crops,
drives away mortgages from the farm and
makes home cheerful and happy. Every
thing about the farm has the appearance
of thrift and enterprise. In the house we
find pictures on the walls, carpets on the
floors, newspapers and good books. This
necessary element of success is economy.
There are two kinds of economy, and one
is often mistaken for the other.
True economy makes man liberal but
not wasteful. False economy is whole
sale scrambling after cents and dimes to
the utter disregard of social culture and
the comforts and Injuries of life. The
farmers success does not depend on the
amount of labor he performs, or the num-
Der of acres of land he owns. He may
roam over large farm consisting of hun
dreds Of acres, and toll from sunrise till
dark and yet 90 down to the grave, leav-
ing behind him family totally unit for
anything but the same unintelleetual and
slovenly toll. True economy elevates and
ennobles man. False economy degrades
and degenerates him. True economy says,
give back to the field, so that when you
have taken from it rotation of crops 1t
will be in better condition than it was be-
fore.
False economy says, farm n field until
it is nearly WORKOUT and then let it rest
awhile True economy says, save all the
manure, and if this is not sufficient buy
fertilizers and apply them literally and
judiciously. False economy says, farm as
your forefathers farmed, and though you
do not get as good crops, argue that the
seasons are not as favorable as they used
to be. True economy says, | will put out
ten acres of corn, prepare the ground care
fully and cultivate thoroughly and gather
one hundred bushels Of sound, ripe corn
from each acre. False economy runs over
twenty acres Of ground that have been
carelessly prepared, cultivated in SLOW
emily manner and reaps half crop. True
economy tries to bring the crops up to the
highest standard of excellence. False
economy is satisfied with very meagre
return for the labor True economy says,
drain the waste places in your fields and
make the land all valuable. False econ
omy thinks it viii not pay to buy tile and
Law oat money in this way. True econ
omy has broad aud liberal views on all
subjects connected with the farm. False
economy is saving at the spigot aud leak
ing at the buug." True economy sets .
man to thinking, leads him to new aud
improved methods Of farming, and bis
business becomes a pleasure instead Of a
mindless, soulless routine of hard work.
Farmers, as a rule, depend too much on
chance. II is impossible in our climate
for season to be favorable for the growth
of all tie crops we endeavor to produce
For instance, spring which is favorable
for the wheat is not so good for the corn
because extreme hot and wet weather in
iures wheat, causing rust aud second
growth while corn on most soils will do the
best under these conditions. Cool, dry
weather ripens wheat the best, but the hay
and corn crops suffer at this time. by
drainage, the use Of fertilizers and thor
ough tillage, we can often secure n good
crop even though the weather is against
us at times
We as farmers ought to do our part and
do it well, and Nature viii not seem bal
as severe with us as with those who de
pend altogether on the chances Of the sea
son. In all the varied work Of the far
mer there is 4 wide field for the exercise
Of economic principles, No business re
auires better Judgment and clearer in
sight into the workings of Nature. Tru'
economy would educate literally every far
mer 10 our land. The physical sciences
all have an important bearing on his Oc
cupation. Our system of farming mus
be vastly improved, or our soils viii de
teriorate and eventually make US a poor
famine-stricken people GeTmaato'cH Tel
eqrdph.