Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-12-05
Intensive Farming.
Southern Cultivator.

Southern Cultivator.
Every superstructure must have a
base. One man "built his house on q
rock" and another "built his on the
sand" 1t is not hard to tell which
was the wiser of the two, even if we
were left without further teaching,
the lesson being so plain, simple and
practical. The wise, prudent builder
is always blessed in his work. AS in
religion, so in science; and not less
so in the science of farming than any
other. One man plants in the ground
and another or it, while a third, per-
haps, plants in the moon, or some
phase of it. 1t is superfiuous and a
waste of time to describe the old way
Of farming. We see enough of it in
every community, and yet the most
important lessons of life are quickest
and best learned by comparisons.
But we may even here have the bene-
fit of contrasting an ideal farm with
some of the so-called farms we know.
AS have been farming on the in
tensive system for some years, my
experience and the results of this
course may be of benefit to the young
farmers of the South. l will give
each in detail. But before / begin
that task let me say the acme is not
reached at one bound, but must be
attained by gradual, persistent, pro-
gressive course. Perhaps if we I'M
derstood the chemistry of our soils,
and the full extent of moisture, light
and heat on vegetable life, we might
advance more rapidly and sooner
reach the desired end. Lack ofknowl.
edge of these things, no doubt, retards
our march of progress; we become
discouraged, lapse back into the ole
ruts, and are readyto proclaim farm
ing does not pay"
"Whatever is worth doing at all il
worth doing well" is an cid but true
saying, and applies with all its force
to the agriculturist. If we do no
reach the goal in the first effort is tina
cause for despair, or that we shall
not finally reach it by perseverance
No, never. We must make up ou
minds to battle against difficultie
and to overcome obstacles. And, by
way Of encouragement, let me tel
that good results are realized from
the start, and the longer and NOR,
diligently we work in this direction
the richer the rewards until there i
hardly any limit, Indeed, l think
might say that we could go on i'm
proving and being improved Gd u,
.fnitttm.
/ began my present plan of farming
by reducing my farm one-half its for
mer size. This reduction in area ha,
to be compensated in some way, or
was evident / should not realize a
much at harvest time as / had bee
doing. So selecting the best land AM
putting on it all the manure / cOul
gather on the premises, made tn
venture. Having but half crop 70
my team and force / INDUCED i
what some were pleased to call a
idle whim; that is, thorough break
ing and rebreaking my land befor
planting. The result following wa
entirely satisfactory, proving to
nearly double the previous year
crop. One-half my farm produce
nearly double the whole of it. n
man could have made me believe TIL
without some kind of demonstration
Upon the hypothesis that if lit
sugar is sweet a great deal is sweete
curtaiIed my farm again, bringin
it down to one-fourth its former siz
thus enabling me to vastly increa,
the quantity Of manure to. q give
area. This small plat gave me amp
time for the most thorough prepar
ton. Hence increased the quantit
of manure and preparatory work j
ahout tho Same ratio / bod diminish