The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-10-26
Thrifty Farming.

A great deal Of the work in the newer
farming districts of the State is done by
men OF small means, who often have
not finished paying for their land.
Sometimes they complain that it is hard
to get ahead. and it is true indeed that
many drawbacks exist which it is hard
to overcome No matter if the crop
fails the family must be supported, the
ordinary expenses borne and the taxes
and interest provided for. All this,
EoWc"er, being admitted, the agricult-
ural Truth rel aims that failure oftenest
cen cS from want OF care and economy,
want of observation, and want of cner-
gy, or stated rs Il whole, thriftiness. Of
no industry on earth can it be more
trnly said that ga penny saved is a
penny gained Yet there is no in
dustry sub iect to SO much waste as this,
none tina needs more care to prevent
leaks, and few that receive less. A farm
L ghtly considered is network of in
dustrics, ~ vast combination of ma
chimes. Nothing must be allowed to 60
to waste. Indeed, this seems ABSOLUTE
ly unnecessary with the varied oppor-
tunticS OF d'spOsing of all that is useful
and using all refuse as n fertilizer. Bet
this is not half the story. 1t needs ev-
cry energy to develop the capacity of
the soil to receive fertilizers, TO assimi-
late them and to give them forth again
in bountiful crops. He must learn how
to cultivate the soil, how to drain it.
When the soil and climate will produce
thirty bushels peracre why raise half that
quantity? When sixty bushels Of corn can
lie raised .pcracre why raise only thirty?
On land that can be made to produce
two tons OF hay why be content with
one? If it be lack of fertilization apply
that to be obtained TO half the land. Ii
it G for lack of labor to give proper
cultivation, far better to work half the
land and !et the balance grow what it
will, TO be fed off by the stock. The
new farms may not be fitted for high
farming. but good farming can be every
where applied. There is no need of
raising two head of cattle to produce
the same meat that can easily be grown
in one, nor OF feeding, two sheep to pro-
tluCc wool that one can easily grow.
Nor is this complete statement Of
the manner in which success is wrought
out bv the toiicr. The farmer, all other
things being equal, who is most accus-
toned to studying crops elsewhere, re-
ports, statistics, methods of farming and
all that, will gather the greatest profit
from his investments and labor. When
everybody is planting a certain crop he
w II not hasten to enlarge his acreage
OF that crop. When any crop is drug
on the market he will not hasten to ig
more its cultivation the following year.
Farmers more than any other class of
people may live well at little expend-
iture of cash. On a thrifty farm near
ly all that is eaten can be produced on
the farm. In consideration of the fact
that q large proportion of the good
things of life in the food line can be and
arc grown on the soil of our own eli
mate, it is lamentable to sec how poorly
supplied are many farmers tables with
these same articles. There can be an
endless round Of fruits and vegetables
for the whole three hundred and sixty
five days of the year. The whole list OF
grains and meats can be had, all of the
best quality and at cost price, no mid
dlc-man's commission or retailer profit
added.
1t is true that the lack of ready mon
ey often prevents farm improvements.
Money could be used to good advantage,
if only money could be had. Labor is
costly and on new farms it does not
bring ready returns, while most Of it
goes into capital only in the way of per-
manonS improvements. Hand labor
especially is expensive and slow and the
farmer must as soon as possible avail
himself of all the help attainable in the
way of machines and mechanical helps.
In newer neighborhoods farmers can
club together for purchase of stock or
implements otherwise quite beyond their
reach. They can buy mowers, harvest
ers, seed drills, ditchers. dredgers, levee
builders and many other useful and Ia.
Dor saving implements; always remem
bering that the occasions are few wher
it will pay to run in debt for any o.
these. Pay day always comes and the
expectations often fall short, ,-~DetT0i
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