The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-07-05
How to Succeed in Farming.
George B. Loring in the Christian UniOl


somewhat difficult to arrange and limit |
the work. The annual increase il the
agricultural products of this country
indicates a surprising degree Of energy
and skill in the prosecution of the
business of tilling the soil, and encour-
ages us to believe that ere long the
United States will occupy the foremost
place among the great producing nations
of the earth. But, great as this mate
rial increase has been, it is far surpassed
by the diligence and activity with
which all agricultural problems are Eow
investigated, and the patience with
which the mind of man is applied to
those scientific researches out of which
the best agricultural laws can be deduced
and on which the soundest and most
profitable practice can be based. In
the selection and fertilization Of soils,
in the planting of the seed, in the
choice and gathering Of the crops, IN
the selection of a market, in the breed
ing and feeding Of animals the student
of agriculture and the practical farmer
are endeavoring TO ascertain and apply
the best rules; and while the strength
Of mans arm has accomplished much in
opening the way TO fertile fields and
profitable crops, the power of mans
mind has been equally diligent and
devoted in exploration and invention
for continuing with care and system
the work which was somewhat rudely
begun.
Inc young man who proposes to
adopt farming as business should not
forget this. He needs health and
strength, it is true, and he cannot be
too careful of the constitution which
has been given him for the work of life,
or too diligent in preserving its powers
and removing its weaknesses. A
strong frame is not, indeed, the inheri-
lance Of every man, but it is seldom
that wise and constant attempt to
strengthen a weak one fails in its en-
deavors. have known many a stoop-
ing and awkward youth become active,
erect and strong through a persistent
determination to overcome his weak
nesses. have known many young
dyspeptic, many young hypochondriac
restored to health and cheerfulness by
outdoor exercise, and by gratefully and
heartily receiving the food that was set
before him. Nature gives great
strength to those who devote them
selves to her cause, and responds read
lily to every intelligent and honest APP
peal to her life and health-giving infu
ences. There is, indeed, languid and
reluctant devotion to the work of tilling
the soil which almost paralyzes a strong
man and almost kills weak one but
this work when properly pursued, cult
Yates the bOdl Y and mental powers alike
and, as no other occupation, can sup
plies vigor in proportion to the service
performed. There is a system of farm
ing, / am aware, represented by the
discrepit and prematurely old, whose
early hardships have destroyed their
elasticity and whose anxieties have be-
numbed their mental forces. But that
system has passed away, and the young
man who now enters on the work of
farming finds that the skill of the in
ventor with his machinery, and the
researches of the scientist, and the sys-
tematic demands of the market, have
given new charms and new ease as well
as new opportunities to his business.
The choice of crops is all-important
TO the successful farmer. Such thing
rs an improbable crop on well chosen
land, and intended for an appropriate
market, is hardly known. The grow
ing of grain on unexhausted new land
ut government prices cannot be unpro-
titable. The farmer sows his seed in |
autumn on land from which crop has
first been taken, and waits with conf
dence for the return be is to receive
and ~ dividend is large in proportion
to ! Investment The cattle-feeder
on the rich pastures of Illinois never
has any fear with regard to his annual
income from his roaming herds. The
market gardner who gathers from an
acre of land near New York a crop
valued al thousand dollars finds that,
after deducting the interest on such a
possession, and the taxes laid
upon it by an expensive municipality, he
mas still an ample reward for his labor.
The grower of small fruits along the
coast and in northern valleys
ioes not fail to be compensated for his
work, nor does the producer of the fruits
If Florida or the sugar plantations of
louisiana. l have known a crop of fiat
urnips, properly and extensively cul-
ivated, to yield fabulous reward year
fter year We have all seen acres de-
'oted to asparagus, and to onions, and {
o early potatoes and to sweet corn, l
which were mines of wealth. In fact,
he earth never fails to respond to him s
Tho appeals to her with judgment and =
kill and untiring care. That she de- I
hands judgment and foresight as well a
5 industry no man can for a moment t
oubt; for we all agree with Burke,
lat farming needs more judgment, pru-
ence and foresight than any other &C. p
lpation on earth.
The skillful farmer exercises great
ire in the choice of animals for his +
rm. He will insist, be his selection a
hat it may, that his animals shall be :.
,althy and thrifty know well that next ="
poor soil feeble animal is the most -
profitable possession for the farmer \,
lould his object be the dairy, he can n n
t exercise too much skill in providing 6.
mself with animals which will most !;
onomically supply him with his dairy g,
Oducts. The organization of good -
Try COW differs materially from that of - -
,ow for beef, and the dairy farmer al Il
US governs himself accordingly. But -
aough the dairy COW is more delieately ~
yanized she should be none the less - :.
porous and strong, and capable fbear- &
; the burden and performing the work - =
igned her. If however, the farmer I.
chosen wider sphere, he can easily II n
sct those animals of heavier organiza- -.
D, and more robust and phlegmantic, - -
ose uniformity of increase is easily -,
served. have noticed that amedium - -
, in all animals is the hardest point for r r
farmer to preserve. Large swine, ~
&c sheep, large cattle, large horses 80 -
cinate him at one time, until his eye h.
s weary or his taste modified, and oe
denly passes to the other extreme, =.
and reduces his animals almost ~
n