Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-09
EconOmizing Land.

Concerning the differences in the
methods of farming between this coun-
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 foot of soil 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 countries
seem Little larger than good-sized gar
dens in America, and it is often a mat
ter of wonder how the owners or ten
ants of these small plots can gain a
living from them for themselves and
families. 1t would be 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 due, how
ever, not so much to the principle of
economy adopted for principles sake,
as to the necessity of the case. The
farming lands of Europe are generally
thickly populated and extremely valu-
able. The needs of the resident popu-
lation require that the soil should be
made to yield its utmost, and even then
there is often barely enough for SUBJ
sistence. These circumstances do not
now exist in this country, although they
may, possibly, in centuries to come. But
until driven by necessity, it can hardy
be expected that our farming class will
practice that economy in the use of
land which now prevails in older coun-
tries. Yet the subject is one which
may be profitably considered by all
who arc interested in improved systems
of agriculture.
us and the wide areas in different parts
of the Union that still lie unoccupied,
have given rise to loose and wasteful
methods of farming, a wanton prodigal-
ity in the use Of land that is not excus-
able under any circumstances.
An idea seems to prevail with large
class of people in this country that
farming consists mainly in spreading
out over vast number of acres, with
but little reference to the real question,
how to make the most out of the soil.
The landowner aspires to be s'a mon
arch of all he surveys" even though
his monarchy consists in part OF
swamps, barrens and other desolate
places. He counts upon the total
amount of his acreage rather than upon
the average producing value of his
acres. To a great degree this diffusive
style of farming is labor lost aud un.
profitable. No man ever gains apy.
thing by spreading himself over toe
much ground; 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 acquire great number
of acres 10 be neglected and half titled.
There is no excuse for slovenly farm.
ing even where land can be had for the
asking.
The motto of every farmer should be
to make the 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 oil
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. Neatness and care
fulness pay as well in farming as in any
other business. When our farmers
learn to practice that economy in the
use of land which they are forced to ex.
ercise in other directions they will
make more money with less labor thar
they do now.-N Y. Observer.