Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1883-07-19

Henry yard Beecher's Method.
MARK TWAIN.

M Beecher's farm consists OF thirty-six
acres, and is carried on strict scientific prin-
ciples. He never pUts in any part OF crop
without consulting his book. He plows,
and reaps, and digs, and sows according to
the best authorities, and the authorities cost
more than the other farming implements do.
As soon as the library is complete the farm
will be a profitable investment But book
farming has its drawbacks. Upon one occa-
sion, when it seemed morally certain that
the hay ought to be cut, the hay book could
not be found, and before it was found it was
too late, and the hay was all spoiled.
Mr. Beecher raises some Of the finest crops
Of wheat in the country, but tho unfavora-
bic difference between the cost Of producing
il and its market value after it is produced
has int.rfercd considerably with its success
as commercial enterprise. Ills cpeoisl
weakness is hogs, however. lie considers
hogs the best game farm produces. lie
buys an original pig for $50, and feeds
him $40 worth of corn and then sells him
for about 80. = This is the only crop he ever
makes money on. lie loses on the corn, but
he makes $3.50 on the hog. He does not
mind this, because he never expects to
make anything on corn. And, any way II
turns out, he has thc excitement of raising
the hog, whether he gets the worth Of him
or not. His strawberries would be a COM
Portable success if the robins would eat tur-
nips, but they won't hence the difficulty.
One of Mr.. Beecher's most hauassing diff
ficultics in his farming operations comes Of
the close resemblance If different sorts of
seeds and plants TO each other. Two years
ago his far-sightedness warned him that
there was going to be a great scarcity OF
watermelons, and therefore he put in crop
of 27 acres o. that fruit. But when they
came up they turned out to be pumpkins,
and dead loss was the consequence. Some
times portion Of the crop goes into the
ground the most promising sweet potatoes
and comes up carrots. When he bought
his farm he found one egg in every hens
nest on the place He said that here was
Just the reason so many farmers failed they
scattered their force too much; concentFa-
tion was theidea.
So he gathered those egg together and
put them all under one experienced old hen.
That hen roasted over that contract night
and day for eleven weeks, under the anx-
ious personal supervision Of Mr. Beecher
himself, but she could not phase those
eggs. Why? Because they were those inla-
nous porcelain things which are used by
ingenious and fraudulent farmers as "nest
eggs" But perhaps Mr. Bcecher's most dis
assrous experience was the time he tried to
raise an immense crop Of dried apples. lie
planted 81 500 worth, but never one sprout-
ed. lie has nsye- een-able to understand
the matter with those apples.
Mr.. Beechar's farm is not & triumph. 1t
would be easier on him if he worked it on
shares with some one but he cannot find
ANYBODY who is willing to bear half the ex-
pense, and not many that are able. Still,
persistence IS bound TO succeed. lie was 4
yery inferior farmer when h first began, but
a prolonged and unfinching assault upon
agricultural difficulties has had its effect at
last and he is now fast rising from alluence
to poverty.