The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-07-05
THE CLARION.
How 10 succeed In Farming.

George b. Loring in the Christian Union-l b
An attempt 10 comply with the re 0
ouegt 10 write ga letter Of practical b
counsel % Young farmers" opens at once 0
n Geld 90 wide and 20 varied that Il u e
aomewhat difficult TO arrange and limit /
he work. The annual increase in the {
agricultural products Of this country j
indicates a surprising degree Of energy 7
and skill in the prosecution Of the q
business Of tilling the soil, and encour- !
ages us to believe that ere long the
United States viii occupy the foremost
place among the great producing nations
If 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 row
investigated, and the patience with
which the mind Of man is applied 10
those ecientifc researches out Of which
the best agricultural laws can be deduced
and on which the soundest and most
profitable practice can be based. In
Che selection and fertilization Of soils,
IN the planting Of the seed, in the
choice and gathering Of the crops, in
the selection Of n market, in the breed
ing and feeding Of animals the student
Of agriculture and the practical farmer
are ondeavoring to ascertain and apply
the best rules; and while the strength
Of mans arm has accomplished much IN
opening the way 10 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.
The young man who proposes to
adopt farming n a business should not
forget this. lie needs health and
strength. 10 j. 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 It's weaknesses. a
strong frume IS not, indeed, the inheri-
lance Of every man, but it is seldom
that % wise and constant attempt 10
strengthen % weak one fails ia its en-
deavors. / have known manga stoop-
ing and awkward youth become active,
erect and strong through n persistent
determination TO overcome his weak
nesscs. have known many q young
dyspeptic, many q young hypochondriac
restored % health and ch|cerfulness by
outdoor exercise, and by gratefully and
heartily receiving the food that was sci
before him. Nature gives grea.
strength TO those who devote them
selves 10 her cause, and responds read
nfra H.. ss.a4 avN.lIa..VN urI h.W.aF ~,
peal TO her life and health-giving inlu
cucos. There is, indeed, a languid anC
reluctant devotion TO the work of tillinl
the soil which almost paralyzes a stronl
man and almost kills a weak one bu
this work when properly pursued, cult
Yates the bodily and mental powers alikI
and, as no other occupation. can SUI
plies vigor in proportion to the servic
performed. There is u system Of farm
ing, | am aware, represented by th
discrepit and prematurely old, who's
early hardships have destroyed thei
elasticity and whose anxicties have b,
numbcd their mental forces. But tina
system has passed away, and the youn
man who now enters ON the work &
farming finds hat the skill Of the il
ventor with his machinery, and tl
researches Of the scientist, and the sy
tematic demands Of the market, hay
given new charms and new case as we
as new opportunities to his business.
The choice of crops is all-importar
to the successful farmer. Such u thin
rs an Improbable crop on well chose
land, and intended for an appropriat
market, is hardly known. The grow
ing of grain on u~nexhausted new Ian
nc government prices cannot be unpr.
litable. The farmer sOws his seed i
autumn on land from which a crop ha
first been taken, aud waits with conf
dence for the return he is to receive
and the dividend is large in %proportio
90 the Investment. The cattle-feede
ON the rich pastures Of Illinois neve
has any fear with regard to his nnu
Sncome from his roaming herds. Tn
market gardner who gathers from a
acre Of land near New York n Gro
valued at u thousand dollars finds tina
after deducting the interest on such
valuable possession, aud the taxes lai
upon il by an expensive municipality, /
has still an ample reward for his laboi
The grower of small fruits along Il
southern coast and in northern valley
does not fail to be compensated for h
work, nor does the producer of the frui
of Florida or the sugar plantations
Louisiana. | have known a crop Of fl,
turnips, properly and extensively Gu
tivated. to yield a fabulous reward We;
after year. We have all seen acres d
voted TO asparagus, and TO onions, an
TO early potatoes and to sweet corr
which were mines of wealth. In fac
the earth never fails to respond to hi
who appeals to her with judgment an
skill and untiring care. That she d
mands judgment and foresight as we
as industry no man can for n mOmer
doubt for we all agfee with BurkI
that farming needs more judgment, pr
dcncc and foresight than any other o
cupation on earth.
The skillful farmer exercises grel
care in. the choice of animals for h
farm. He will insist, be his %selectio
what it may, hat his animals shall
healthy and thrifty know well that nel
% poor soil a feeble animal is the mo.
Improbable possession for the farmer
'h"uAN IT'S VilCCt ut tue udlIl ne Cdl
not exercise too much skill in prOvidin
himself with animals which will mo:
economically supply him with his dair
products. The organization Of n goo
dairy COW differs materially from that
acow for beef, aud the dairy farmer a
ways governs himself accordingly. BV
although the dairy COW is more delicatel
organized she should be none the lie
vigorous and strong, and capable ofbea
ing the burden and performing the wol
assigned her. IL however, the farm
has chosen n wider sphere, he can east
select those animals Of heavier organic
ton, and more robust and phlegmanti
whose uniformity of increase is easi
preserved. Ihave noticed that amediu
size in all animals is the hardest point I
the farmer 10 preserve. Large swim
large sheep, large cattle, large hors
fascinate him at one time, until his G
gets weary or his taste modified. al
suddenly passes TO the other extrem
he and reduces his animals almc
20 inferiority. For profit, and {