Connecticut western news., 1884-08-06
FARM AND GARDEN.
Special or Mixed FarmInEs

FARM AND GARDEN.
 Special or Mixed FarmInEe
 The Columbia County Club consid- cred this question at the last field meet ing. Years ago markets were near by and farmers kept all kinds of stock and raised all kinds of produce. But with the development of the country came the necessity for change of methods. The opening of the great West, with its cheap and fertile lands, made the raising and fattening of stock comparatively un- profitable at the East. We must study the needs of home markets, and raise such perishable and bulky articles as cannot be sent from distance. Milk farming is a most profitable industry for those favorably situated. Farms in the neiehborhood of certain condensing factory have risen in value to S200 and $500 per acre, and are profitable to buy at that price because of the value of the milk product sold. Surrounding cir cumstances often give farmer peculiar advantages for marketing special prod ucts. Fruit. especially small fruits, is another specially that can be pursued to advantage.
 The farmer must study his market, and if taking up any special crop should proceed step by step, learning by ex- perience how best to raise and market it. It may be objected that thers are more risks in special than in mixed farming, and SO there are, but a man who goes into any business must make up his mind to take all the risks and keep steadily on regardless of mishaps The red sand lands of New Jersey are held at S200 and $500, because near proximity to two of the best markets in the world make fruit and vegetable growing exceedingly profitable. Timo- thy hay is a special crop worthy of at tention. The raising of poultry is profit able; the demand astonishing. The consumption of "'broilers" at the Coney Island hotels is 24,00O pounds a day and that is only a dropin the bucket Quality and appearance is an importan consideration. When F. T. Quinn frs took his pears to market they did no meet with ready sale; his commission merchant emptied out several barrels and repacked them properly in Mir Ouinn's presence. These found imme diate sale at SIP barrel, while the rest of the lot sold slowly at half that price
 The other side of the question was vigorously sustained. It was said that generally speaking Columbia County farmers must of necessity follow mixed farming. For success in specialties [ man needs to be sort of speciality him self. If not competent there is grea risk of failure. One speaker never knew a man who engaged in ordinary farming and attended to his business, to fail Failure always came from outside spec ulation or meddling with things he did not understand. There is demand for everything farmer eau raise. A variety of crops cannot fail in one year. The great defect in our farming is that w have too many unproftable acres and d. not do well enough what we do. Anoth CT speaker thought the trouble witl specialties is, if any one product pay very we'll everybody going into it bring the prices down below profit. Whel hops were high years ago he went int hops, but when the vines came int bearing, prices had fallen and he los money by the venture. Another advo cated mixed farming because the farme needs hay, straw, etc., for his own us and the surplus is always salable.
 One had seen it stated in late agri cultural paper that corn is au unpro6i able crop for the Eastern farmer, but h did not believe it. What would ou farmers do without the corn crop? Afte sowing oats and planting potatoes, hand are profitably employed in blowing foi planting and cultivating the corn croI While harvest is in progress the corn growing, and then in the fall the hand are again profitably employed. The foC der is valuable and the necessary cult vation improves and cleans the soil. Al other thought was that man needs be good salesman if he makes frui
 growing a speciality. Another speak' by watching the markets varied his croT somewhat; for several years he raised few acres of sweet corn at a profit s60 per acre. Farmers must use brain learn what they can from others e perience, but not blindly do, witho' considering their own circumstance Concentrate thought upon the farm. E foolishly operated outside the farm ar lost lots of money every time. Is CO vinced there is no other calling und ! heaven so calculated to raise and d velop a man as farming. Several othe spoke in favor of mixed farming, al : seemed shy of specialties.-KNDE | HOOK