New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-04
SMALL FARMS.

Here are a Tow facts and figures which ought to
be of interest and service to large number of our
readers women as well as men. In the special bull
letin issued by the Census Bureau recently, show
ing the size and number OF farms held i'm the States
The total number stated to be 400S.907. OF,
these only 1924 less than ten acres in size.
That is say. only 1892 persons IN this country
have thought IT worth while to cultivate for profit
patches of ground of less than ten The fact
almost Incredible but it Is a fact. How many
thousands of women and tens of thousands of men
are struggling now for life in great cities who
could rent these small farms and make healthy.
comfortable living from them ! But how Let las look
into the matter a moment and see The reason why
any man or woman should need information on the
subject is that Americans have the misfortune of iv
ing IN an enormous country aud dealing with large
stakes in life Their eyes and ideas are used to
sweeping over such immense spaces that petty
business with petty profits seems to them contempt
be. Farming" to most of our readers. means
vast sweep of land IN Minnesota gwen up to wheat
n few miles in Texas or Colorado with tens OF
thousands OF cattle or at the least, couple of hun
dred of rich i'll Ohio or Pennsylvania, all of
which are 10 be controlled by the owners eye, but
with which his hands shall have little to do.
Such chances fall to very few. But how
many men or women could cultivate from
one to ten acres owing the kind of vegetable or
fruit for which they can find the most profitable
market7 Take cucumbers for example. The aver
crop is from 80, 900 to 10000 per acre. Ready
sale for them is found in this market to pick,ers
at from 81 so to - per thousand. Yet cucumber
raising is not considered one of the most profitable
for a small farmer. Let him cultivate the finer
fruits the berries the better class of pears grapes
if he wants to make n marked success and high
profits. The finer the grade of crop and the more
L.
the better it will pay of course Flower and herb
raising are industries which only just beginning
to attract notice in this country they are espe-
cially suited for small plots of ground and for
women. A quick wit will find new paths in this |
trade as in any other. The first man who grew |
mushrooms in a cellar for this market made n |
fortune.
Bee keeping is another exceedingly profitable use |
of small farm which our people are just finding |
ont. The report Of the Bee Keepers Association |
shows that during the seven years ending with |
1879 the average yield per hive was 80 pounds
weight. Twenty-Five hives are allowed to each
acre. Our readers who well know the average
price of honey in the mes rest market estimate
the probable profit. Poultry raising is a business
which Oh a few acres can be made to pay we'll One
woman we know who, beginning with ten dollars
worth of eggs in eight years possessed forty yards
Of the finest stock in the country, which yield her
competency.
Mr. Gladstone for three years has been urging on
the small propretors of England increased atten-
ion to what is there called villa farming-the cul
tNation of every inch OF tabc ground in small
patches IN the raising of food supplies. IT," says
recent number of The Estates Roll every acre in
England was carefully farmed what an immense
Inference there would be in imports and
Dorts returnsw The same argument comes home
orcibly to us when the price of every kind of
arm product Is almost doubled.
But, argue the timd, what if our crops fail our
'ees are frozen. our poultry die Such mshaps
ire not unlikely. Failure is probable in every bust
less. The only remedy or prevention is constant
are and hard work. Farming, and especially small
arming requires more than any other employment
he actual personal attention OF the owner. IL
an in case be done by deputy. That personal
are ensured, intelligence and industry will pay. we
elieye. in this work as well as in any other.
-- ,
What is the use of the committee of the Mon