The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-08-19
WHAT SMALL FARMS WILL DO.

The diffusive farmer spreads his ma
nure and labor over a large territory,
producing unsatisfactory results. He
is more intent on acres than bushels,
and seeks 70 increase area rather than
the yield. Most American farmers have
little idea Of the capabilities Of an acre
OF land, but the experiments conducted
at the Riverside Stock and Expert
mental Farm" Avon Springs, N. Y, an
account Of which is given in the Empire
STATE AgyTeHitwfsf, shows how manage.
ment can overcome difficulties. The
farm contains thirty acres, and is mostly
4 reclaimed swamp, portion Of il how
ever, being stiff clay. Last year 1000
heads Of celery, between the rows Of half
an acre Of sweet corn, were produced.
The celery plants were set in a furrow
between the rows after corn cultivation
was finished, the corn serving to partial
ly shade the celery. From one and
three-quarters acres :, 100 bushels Of car
rots were grown, 500 bushels Of which
were sold at forty cents Der bushel.
Seven acres in corn produced 1890
bushels Gears, )and from the same ground
I6I bushels of medium beans were har-
vested, for which So. 20 per bushel was
realized. Over , 200 head Of cabbage
were grown between the carrots and
parsnips, and sold at from five to ten
cents each. A cabbage plant was set
out on every vacant place. Less than
an acre Of land gave 500 bushels Of par
ships, which were wintered in the ground.
From purc-bred Yorkshire hogs 5000
was derived, and twcnty-six hogs were
slaughtered. The soiling system is
practised in keeping stock, and great
portion OF the farm is devoted TO grow
ing grass for horses and cate. Prickley
comfray is considered by the managers
of the farm to be one Of the most valua-
bic Of fodder-plants. II is claimed for
it that square rod will give a ton of
green fodder, which is highly relished
by all kinds Of stock. The comfrey
once set is perpetual, rs it springs up
anew as soon as cut. The farm is un-
der the management Of DIR. l.. G. Smcd-
ley.
In the spring of 1875 correspondent
of the Rural Nes0 Yorker bought forty.
five acres of WORKOUT land. His entire
capital was Ssoo, and in the purchase
of the farm debt Of $500 was incurred.
BY system of green manuring, soiling
what few cattle he gradually procured,
and judicious method of cultivation, the
debt was soon cancelled, new buildings
were erected, and the farm is now we'll
stocked and in good order. One of the
main reliances of the correspondent, was
poultry. Ii required less capital to get
a profit from poultry than from any.
thing else, and by giving s,ric, attention
TO them they averaged, clear of cost,
over s: per head. This was nearly all
profit From IS hens, in single month,
SS,.,o for eggs was received, the cost
of feed being SO, leaving prof, of $40.
This shows that hen can be kept
month for cents, or for about 81 a
year.
These instances demonstrate that by
high tillage and good judgment success
Is attained even on very small farm.
Large farms are not As desirable As small
ones thoroughly cultivated. The ma
nure required for an acre is, to con-
siderable extent. wasted when spread
over two, and i; requires more labor to
harvest the crop. The best farmers are
those who improve their farms and en-
deavor to make them more and more
productive. The proper system of farm.
ing is the one that increases production
with each succeeding season. Il is more
remunerative to practice high farming
than to depend on large areas with poor
Yields.