The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-01-11
Special or Mixed Farming.

The question has often been discussed
whether it is best for the farmer to fol-
low what is called mi ed husbandrv,
that is, growing a variety of the variOus
crops for which his soil is adapted or
are most profitable for market, and on
which he can concentrate all his knOWl-
edge and experience.
There are good reasons for following
either practice, and it is not always easy
to decide which is the right system to
pursue While the farm is still partial
ly uncleared and in the pioneer stage,
it is simply a necessity to Ia Sc what
ever can be produced to the best ad-
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 to raise anv or all crops that will
pay. But as the farm becomes we'll
improved there is an opportunity and a
necessity to adopt some system and
select such crops or stock as seem best
adapted to his location. The reasons
given in favor of mixed husbandry are,
that there can be no general failure, be-
cause if one crop fails there are others
maturing at different seasons that are
not likely to fail Another, that
the various crops coming in at different
times through the year bring in money
as needed, a very important matter to
the farmer who does not have a bank
account to 60 to for his running eX-
penses.
On many farms a certain rotation of
crops seem to promise better for keep
ing up the fertility of the soil than to
confine it to one or two special crops.
On most farms there is q necessity for
raising a certain amount of the several
varieties of grain both as food for teams
and other stock as well as to a'Ord OPP
portunity to 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 has much in
tfuence on this point, better cultivation
giving better results, yet it is a we'll
known fact that soil does ii e. so to
speak, of the same crop continued an
nuallv and a steady decrease in yield
will generally be noted. The lands that
in the Eastern States for years raised
good crops of wheat at last seemed to
fail altogether, the crop fell an easy
prey to insects and other causes of fail
ure, and the crop would not pay for
cultivation. After few year of rest
from wheat raising, at the same time
producing good crops of other grains
and grasses it was found that a good
crop of wheat could again be ia sed-
The great wheat regions of the North
west that have been growing this grain
for many years are signally falling. and
the farmers are obliged to turn their at
tentiOn to some other crops.
1t is quite likely that the trouble here
may be lack of fertilizer, continually
taking from the soil certain elements
and returning none. and it is also prob
ably true that wheat is a crop that does
follow itself for years without change,
as well as some other crops, yet it is
a TACT significant for ordinary practice
that it does decrease in yield slowly but
surely.
1t is true that the vegetable garden is
an instance of continued cultivation of
the same class of crops on the same
soil. but here the crops are changed as
much a possible from one portion to
another, the highest cultivation is given
and the soil Kept in the highest con
ditiOn of fertility possible. And this is,
perhaps, the secret Of the whole mat
ter. Continued spec al crops will re-
quire the highest cultivation or they
better than q rotation, at least where
the market is such that they sell at
good prices. In stOck-grOwing all de-
pen IS on circumstances. On large
farms or ranges in the West one class
of stock seems best. All beef, or all
wool seem best adapted to that class of
stock raising Here on our small farms
a variety of domestic animals are move
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
something to better advantage than
cattle, cattle more than swine and
horses something that neither of these
will use.
So the farmer here must Re man of
diversified knowledge and acquainted
with the wants of all kinds of stock
and understanding the cultivation OF
all kinds of crops. In breeding i'm
proved stock there are few that viii eX-
Gel IN more than one kind of stock, al
though occasionally one is found that
will succeed with several. Generally
he who divides his attention among
many finds himself only an ordinary
breeder.
There is no doubt that the tendency
of improved agriculture is in a measure
toward special crops, but they require
the higheJt skill and best knowledge
for success. and should only be at
tempted by those who are certain they
possess this.-DetroH Post and Tribune.