The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1883-01-13
Special or Mixed Farming.

The question has often been discussed
whether II is best for the farmer 10 fol-
low what Il called mi ed husbandry.
that is. growing u variety Of the .arious
crops for which his soil " adapted OF
are most profitable for market. aud on
which he can concentrate all his knowl-
edge and experience,
There are good reasons for following
either practice. and II is not always easy
10 decide which Is the right system TO
pursue. While the farm $ still partial
~ uncleared and In the pioneer stage,
II Is simply q necessity 10 "a So what
ever can be produced TO the best adj
vantage and will bring the most money.
The farmer Is Obliged to do this both
from the condition OF his farm and that
force OF circumstances which compels
him 10 raise any or all crops that will
pay. But As the farm becomes well
improved there Is an opportunity and a
necessity to adopt some system and
select such crops or stock rs seem best
adapted TO his location. The reasons
given in favor OF mixed husbandry are,
that there can be no general failure. be.
cause II one crop falls there are others
maturing at different seasons that are
not likely 10 fail. Another, that
the various crops coming in al different
times through the year bring in money
rs needed. avery Important matter to
the farmer who does not have a bank
account TO 20 to for his running ex-
penses.
On many farms q certain rotation OF
crops seem 10 promise better for keep
Ing up the fertility OF the soil than TO
contne Il 10 one or two special crops.
On most farms there Is n necessity for
raising n certain amount Of the several
varieties OF grain both rs food for teams
and other stock as well rs to aford OPP
portunity 10 break up and reseed grass
land Few soils will produce the same
crop or the same class Of crops year
after year and give the best Yield. al.
though some crops will do better than
Others grown in this way, and the de-
gree Of cultivation given las much in
iluence on this point, better cultivation
giving better results, yet Il is a we'll
known fact that soil does Il o. so TO
speak. OF the same crop continued an
nually and n steady decrease IN yield
win generally be noted. The lands that
In the Eastern States for years raised
good crops Of wheat at last seemed TO
TAIL altogether, the crop fell an easy
prey 10 insects and other causes OF fail.
nre, and the crop would not pay for
cultivation. After q few year. of rest
from wheat raising, at the same time
producing good crops OF other grains
and grasses. Il was found that q good
crop OF wheat could again DO ra sod.
The great wheat regions Of the North
west that have heen growing this grain
for many years are signally falling and
the farmers are obliged TO turn their at
tcntion TO some other crops.
II Is quite likely that the troublc here
may be lack Of fertilizer, continually
taking from the soil certain elements
and returning none. and Il Is also prob
ably true that wheat Is a crop that does
follow itscif for years without change,
rs well as some other crops, yet Il Il
n lac, significant for ordinary practice
that II docs decrease In yield slowly but
surety.
IL is true that the vegetable garden Is
an instance OF continued cultivation Of
the same class Of crors on the same
soil. but here the crops are changed as
much n possible from one portion 10
another. the highest cultivation i given
and the soil skept In The highest con.
dition Of fertility possible And this Is
perhaps. the secrrt OF the whor mat
Ter. Continued spec al crops will re-
Quip the highest cultivation or they
! will not succeed With II they NAV do
better than = rotAticn. NJ least whore
the market Il such that they sell nc
good prices In siock.growing all de-
pen Il on circumstances On large
farms or ranges in the West one class
u stock seems best An beef. or all
wool g best adapted 20 that class OF
stock raising. Here on our small firms
q variety Of domestic animals srv more
nee ed TO consume to advantage the
various products and turn to the best
advantage the many otherwise products
into money. Sheep will eat perhaps
4 ~tttlitMAMA W A+t@'t AMtAA1 ttNtNi
cattle. cattle more than swine and
horses something that neither Of these
will use.
80 the farmer here must sc q man Of
diversified knowledge and acquainted
with the wants Of III kinds % stock
and understanding the cultivation si
all kinds Of crops In breeding I'm.
proved stock sherr are few that will ex.
oel in msre than one kind Of stock. al.
though occasionally n i found tia,
will succeed with several Generally
he who divides his attention among
many finds himself only an ordinary
breeder.
Tssrs = ne doubt lhAl he tendency
Of improved Agriculture 4 IN a measure
toward special crops. but they require
~ hlHkeet skIll snd heet knowledge
~ pG1re>a ao1 pkould only b e.
o1mp1o1 n tkuos Who arp certain ihsy
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