The semi-weekly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1879-1882, 1881-11-14
FARM NOTES

LABOR ON THE FARM.--Farm
labor is calculated on a different plan
from that of other avocations. To
save labor is one Of the principal
objects 10 view, but often the saving
Of labor occasions a loes. Economy
should, Of course, be practiced in
every detail, but it is not always econ
cmy to save labor that could be en-
played at work that would be profit
able at lines when otherwise it would
be wasted.
To illustrate The farm is the
capital of a farmer. 1t is his duty to
not only supervise every little detail,
but to exercise bis best Judgment in
making the farm paying investment.
But how often do we see many i'm
portant crops that might be grown
avoided because they require a great
deal Of care and trouble. Now if
farmers will think, there are times
when they have nothing to sell but
the actual products Of labor, and it is
then that labor is just equivalent to
certain amounts of money, and every |
precaution should be used by farmers
to have somewhere to place that labor. |
Suppose for instance, that q bushel of |
corn acquired by what it received
from the soil, the rains and other
sources not furnished by the farmer
the value Of rs cents, but required
also from the farmer by planting,
cultivation, harvesting, etc., labor to
the value of rs cents, is it not appar-
ent that when bushel of corn grown
under such circumstances is sold il
enables the farmer to dispose of labor
which would probably be wasted
1t is the troublesome articles that
command great prices, because they
require SO much labor, and labor is
the farmers lever that enables him
to do that which renders the farm
profitable.
1t is this desire to avoid frequent
and troublesome labor that causes
many farmers to sell their farms and
declare that farming does not pay.
10 convince the reader it may not be
out of place to say that tobacco is
enriching hundreds of farmers in
pennsylvania to-day who would not
touch it ten years ago. Why? Be-
cause it must first be grown in q bed
hen planted on the ground that had
been previously carefully prepared by
much labor, then "wormed," as the
process of going over the field every
lay or two to kill the worms is called.
hen frequent cultivation, and after
'utting, then curing, packing and
hauling it. But with all this labor.
obacco is paying crop, and it is the ,
abor in it that brings in the return of
'ash. The trouble is good invest
nent and there are other crops that
'ill pay, also, If farmers will under. i
AXE the vast amount of labor in
hem.
The old routine of corn, oats, wheat
nd o clover is good in its way and very
ID, but the tobacco experiment in
Dis State demonstrated that there
'ers other crops that might be more :
roataele, because they required a
reat amount Of labor, and every crop
YET requires much labor, II righsly 1
'anaged, will pay. The truck farms Z
fuse more thaa the average amount !
labor to be performed, and hence !
. often aad sUiall truck patch ]
ove profitable to it's owssr than a
'rm 10 the hands Of alssher, because ]
Is well worked. The small farms +:
J New Jersey would be tenantless
ere it not for the extra labor placed
. them, and cotton ia the South
ould not be kisg except for the hoe,
Is the Doe 10 Louisaua aud cuba- {
'as brings up the price of sugar, and | I
Is the extra labor required by that /
'op that makes IT profitable. Let us
'me nearer home and notice the self. I
'nial Of farmers, who deny them. I
Ives actually many things that they !
'uld raise at home. For example. :
ks celery. which is luxury to most a
rmers, because it requires SO much v
re and labor, but celery pays well
those who bring it to market. s
any other things grown could be 3
entioned. I merely wish to impress
! the minds Of farmers th6t they
% making mistakes in avoiding the ;
'ltivation of many cyops that would
able them to sell their surplus labor
: such orops sometimes return I
ore than thei.r cost.-Record.