Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-08-13
AlNrs mo- nEalNNEas-
suggestions 90 Those who Are LearnIns
60 Become Farmers.

BuRrestions 90 Those who Are Learning
60 Become Farmers.
When persons new to farming take
up this profession they eagerly read
books on the subject, subscribe to the
agricultural papers, quickly grasp tho
idea OF high farming and decide that
that Is the style 10 suit them. So they
buy the latest style Of improved imple-
mcnts, and begin the work with en-
thusiasm, looking with secret pity and
compassion on tho old-fashioned ways,
simple life and close economical meth.
ods Of their neighbors, who are ac-
customed TO rely wholly on their farms
for their living.
Meanwhile, these plain neighbors. so
mcthodical, so unenterprising, so
welded to old ways, look in their turn
at their new neighbor. and among
themselves begin to estimate how long
he will last as a farmer; two, three,
four, and, II he has considerable re-
sources, possibly five years is generally
the length of time accorded him.
Occasionally one with real taste for
the life, with energy and resolution
also, begins, as he gets TO the end of his
purse, TO grasp the realities OF farm
er's life and chances of success. Such
an one, casting aside his own ideas, be-
gins to suspect that these plain neigh
bors know more of farming than he
does-begins to adopt Their methods,
and possibly makes a successful farmer.
But Of all false ideas the one that ANY
fool can be a farmer" is one of the
worst On the contrary, it takes u
clever man, an earnest man, and a man
who loves the life, TO suoce,d d.
IL seems to me that agricultural books
and papers are, in measure, responsible
for so many of the failures, so many be
ginners. apparently, are among their
contributors. Il is all so new to them
and they are so eager to communicate
their ideasl And in turn other beginners
imagine II all so easy; all you have to
a. is to plow, harrow and manure, or
iortilize heavily, and the thing is done
Having money IN their purse, they fol
low these ideas, spend their money,
sell. or are sold ont, and 90 back TO
where they came from.
A safe advice to beginners, and one
that any agricultural paper could afford
to keep always printed in special type,
would be. In substance:
Go slow. Do not buy any new inn
plements, if you can get good second
hand ones.
"Do not buy anything more than
your neighbor, selfsupporting farme,
uses.
"Do not do anything differently from
what he does. And after copying him
and his ways, say for three years. begin
to spend any money YOU may have In
carrying out your ideas Of improvement,
Il you have any left. "
| write feelingly on this subject, for
have been farming now for five years.
and looking back regret that could
not have followed such a course.
IL takes several years for person to
know his own farm. IL takes a begin
rer several years to know how to avoid
wasting money. He may think he
knows, but he will lind he does not
About the only thing he can safely do
at hrst is TO haul manure to the spots
that need 1t most And after one or
two seasons trial he will begin to un-
dcrstand these apparently simple things:
How much time it takes; how much
ground il covers; what increase Weld in
,rops-and consequently what he can
aiford to spend in making his manure.
Beside, what answers in one locality
may be disastrous or Improbable in
another. Following books and agri-
cultural papers for several years. have
been making my soil very fine and light
for wheat This year | shall simply
drill it in on half my field, not even run
ming the harrow in front OF the drill.
In this section wheat follows corn.
Corn is generally plowod three times at
most Then, after being cut, the field
is narrowed once, sometimes twice, and
wheat drilled in.
The result Of my observation, expert
ence and thought is, that | shall work
my corn three times with the double
shovel, twice with the cultivator, and
then shall drill the wheat on half the
field, Immediately after cutting the
corn; the other half | shall harrow
think this needless, but a trial will test
it.
II may seem odd, but my observation
is this: We have very little snow in
this section. Snow seldom covers the
htiin hbIt thau lew udla NJ uIne.
Consequently, wheat is constantly sub
iected to alternate freezing and thaw-
ing. II the ground is very line. the soil
compacts about the young plant. The
first freeze gives the young plant a
wrench, then follow successive lifts,
till finally large portion Of ones
seeding is found upon the advent OF
spring lying, roots and all, prone upon
the ground.
Now, If upon well worked corn land
the drill is run without preparation, a
rough furrow Is left alongside the seed
bed. Each successive freezing tugs At
Lifts the plant-and at the same time
the outside Of this rough fprrow ridge
melts and recover3 the roots. Tn s
keeps on all winter. and spr ng finds
the ground level and the wheat plant
well covered with soil.
But a treatment such as this would
not answer in New York, where the
snow lies deep and long; hence the adj
vice that would answer Tor a beginner
in New YORK would prove utterly unfit
In Virginia. - Hrgliia Cor. Country
5 HtiemaR.
POULTRY.