Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1882-09-23
6ome and Farm.
Systematic FARMING

Inc most successful business man
Is he who best informs himself i, ro
gard to all the details of his business
and therefroih arfahges practical
system for conducting it. He learns
the best methods Of doing business
and does not depart from them ex.
cept for good reasons, yet is ever on
the watch for improvement. Ihfarm
work it is more difficult to work by
rule, to have exact methods than il
is in the trades and professions; but
Il is at the same time true that the
nearer farm operations can he
brought to a system and conducted
with definite end in view. the
more complete, and as rule the
more successful win be the result.
There are many things to be met
in raising of crops which are entire.
II above the control of the farmer
aud which many times bring disor.
der to the best system. Drought will
sometimes destroy the grass seeding
and thus interfere with the uniform.
ity of crop rotation, but does not
argue against the system. Wheat
will winterkill even under skillful
cultivation and so reduce the profits
Of the farm materially; while be is
absolutely helpless before the frost
which destroys the frnit crop.
Men have been acquiring a knowf.
edge Of the soil and its products for
ages and yet their modes Of practice
in details are nearly as far from a
uniform system as ever. Science Is
doing much FOR agriculture, but the
average farmer is slow to adopt and
apply the principles, even when
their correctness is fully established.
Where we find one who recognizes
and conforms to the fundamental
principles of agricultural science We
find many who still scout the idea OF
any other authority than the usages
and traditions of their ancestors;
that still hold to the influence Of tho
Signs in the hsavens, and believe
the different phases Of the moon
have more influence ON the growth
of crops than the combined effect Of
sunshine, air and rain. The latter
may often raise good crops bnt the
neglect to receive and apply wen di-
gested and advanced principles,
still holding to the old notions and
traditions, is not in the line of true
systematic Improvement.
The farmer must study his soil
and adopt rotation or system Of
cropping that viii bring the best re-
turns and at the same time keep mp
the fertility Of the soil, and the crops
must follow each other in such order
that the cultivation and growth Of
each crop is the best possible pre-.
parati0n for the succeeding crop.
1t will not do to blindly follow and
apply the same method to every
farm nor to each field in the farm.
Some fields from uncongeniality Of
soil or want of drainage may not be
suited to all crops, and to try to
raise those not suited to the condi-
tion of the soil win result in failure
and loss of labor. 1t is better to
raise such crops as will grow well
until the land can be put in condi-
ton to enter into the system Of ro-
tation. There are many farmers
who from some cause have adopted
a system which meets with abun-
dandant success, yet they can give
no reason for it except that it does
well with them. Such are uneon-
sciously following, in measure, sys-
tematic farming. Were they able to
give scientific reasons for the system
they follow their example Nould DO
worth much more.
The use of improved implements
tends to improve practice in culture,
and consequently to increase tho
product by more thorough and sys-
tematic cultivation. Nature rewards
the cultivator OF the soil precisely in
proportion to the efforts he puts forth
in conformity to her laws. II be
puts the soil in condition Of thor
ough cultivation the elements OF
plant feod are dissolved and are cas-
lily taken up by the growing crop,
the ordinary disastrous effects Of
drought are less felt, and he receives
the full measure Of reward for his
labor. If the soil is wet or adhesive,
then thorough drainage must pre-
cede good cultivation to make sue
cess sure; but with these two the
farmer may almost defy the weather
be It wet or dryssa -
A simple yet complete system Of
records and accounts OF all farm
operations is one means of giving q
farmer full knowledge Of his bnsi,
ness. If he keeps no account ofthe
expenses of production he does not
know whether any crop is produced
at profit or loss. If there is no 40.