The Red Cloud chief., 1884-05-09
EcOnOmiZing Land.

Concerning the differences in the
methods of farming between this u
try and certain parts OF the old world
none are more striking to the traveller
than in the ecOnOmizing of land. In
Japan and China the steep mountain
sides are terraced and produce luxuriant
crops in situations that in our country
would be considered quite unavailable
for agricultural purposes. In France.
Germany and other parts of Europe
nearly every square foo of so ! is care
fully titled and made to yield its share.
The ground is broken close to the
hedges or other confines. and every
nook and corner is utilized. The aver
age farms" in some of those countr es
seem | tile larger than good-sized gar
dens in America, and it is o ten n mat
ter of wonder how the ownrrs or ten
ants of these small plots cln gain a
living from them for them ,elves and
families. 1t would he still more sur
prising to one who had no previous
knowledge of the subject to learn what
immense crops are produced on such
diminutive farms.
This difference is mainly DIE. how
ever. not so much to the prin iple OF
economy adopted for principles sake.
rs to the ne esSi:y OF the case. The
farming lands of Europe are generally
thickly populated and extremely valu-
able. Tie needs of the resident popu-
lation re uire that the soil should be
made to vie d its utmost, and even then
Serp is often barely enough for SUD-
Iistence. These circumstances do rot
IN. nx,St sp th;, p,,~Nr- a1kbo,-I, xIn.-
may, possibly. in centuries to come. But
until driven by necessity. it can hard v
be expected that our farming lass wnl
practice that econ nv in the use of
land which now prevails ir older coun-
tries. Yet the subject is one which
may be protitably considered by all
who are interested in improved systems
of agriculture.
No doubt the %cheapneSs of land with
us and the vide areas in different par
of the Union that still lie unnccupied.
have given rise to loose and waSteful
methods of farming. a wautOn prOdigal-
itv in the use of land that is not excus-
able under any circumstances
An idea seems to prevail with a large
class of people in this country that
farming consists mainly in spreading
out V 4 vast number of acres. w tn
but little reference TO the real question,
how to make the most out OF the soil.
The landowner aspircs to he "a mon
arch of all he surveys" even though
his monarchy consists in part of
swampS, barrens and other desolate
places. He counts upon .'c total
amount of MS acreage rather than upon
the average producing value of his
acres. To a great degree this diflusive
style of farming is labor lost and un-
profitable. No man ever gains any.
thing by spreading himself over too
much ground; a truth that applies to
agriculture as well as to other pursuits
In this respect it will be found far more
profitable in the end to concentrate
means and energies within reasonable
limits than to acqu re a g eat number
OF acres to be neglected and half titled.
There IS no excuse for ~Slovenly arm
ing even where land can be had for the
asking.
The motto of every farmer should be
to make h most of every foot of soil.
he should improve the waste places,
drain the SlOughs and swamp-hoIes and
clear away the wide. struggling rows q.
underbrush by the fences and walls.
He should not allow spaces of valuable
and fertile land around his barns and
dwellings to be covered over with
debris. or given up to the possession of
unsightly weeds. Nea,ness and care
fuiness pay as well in farming as in any
uthe- bus ness. When our farmers
learn To practice that economy in the
use Of land which they are forced to e.
ercise in other dircc ions they will
max more money with less labor thas
they do uow.-N i OdserOS:.