Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-16
Mixed Farming.

While it is not wise for any one to
have ''too many irons in the fire =" it is,
no doubt, the best plan generally for
the farmer to raise variety of crops,
for by so doing he is reasonably sure of
succeeding with one if be fails in an
other. While he may engage most
largely in particular fine, a moderate
degree of prudence and foresight wsuld
provide smaller ventures in other
branches of agriculture, thus increasing
the chances of success over the numer-
Gus risks that attend this industry. The
folly of depending wholly upon any sin
gle crop is painfully illustrated by the
frequent famines that devastate certain
parts of the Old World, where the prod
ucts of agriculture are limited to one or
two staple articles. This is the case in
some parts of the East where rice is the
only crop that receives much attention.
When this crop fails, for any reason,
the people are reduced to q state of
starvation. The same is true of Ireland,
where the potato is the chief and almost
sole dependence of the masses of the
people. If the potato crop fails, there
is straightway great cry of distress.
We have no reason to doubt that other
crops would grow there quite as well as
those mentioned, while with q variety
some would be quite sure of escaping
disaster.
While the dire results that are seen
in India and Ireland are not likely to be
the result of any methods of farming
adopted in this country, yet there is 4
principle in singie-crop farming that is
applicable everywhere. 1t is needless
to mention the risks that must be en-
countered in the most favored regions,
the early and the late frosts. the
droughts of summer, the ravages of in
sects and many other causes that do
stroy growing vegetation and wreck the
hopes Of the farmer.
ltrarely happens that some class Of
products do not pass safely through all
the vicissitudes of the season; the very
causes that contribute 10 bring ruin Co
one crop may operate in increasing
another.
There are numerous reasons why il b
better to raise variety of crops than
to tax the soil from year to year with
the production of the same kind of veg
citation. Even with the use of fertilizers
there is seldom q piece of ground 80
rich in any given material that it win
not become impoverished after q time
by such process. A succession Of
different crops on the same ground is
advantageous in more ways than one;
the soil is kept In better condition, and
the chances of success are increased.
Mixed farming prevails more gensfA
ally in this country in the older settled
regions where the farms are smaller and
markets more accessible, and we be-
lieye this Is one reason why this ciass al
farmers are more prosperous, compare
lively speaking, than the great land
owners who make specially Of one or
two things. The former method affords
. better opportunity 10 put in practice
the theories of fine farming and to test
the various improvements that are from
time to time put forth for the benefit of
agriculture. II induces more careful aad
systematic work, and gives . zest to
the pursuit that would hardly Be posi-
bic where one o. two crops receive ali
the care and attention.-M = Observer.