The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-12-12
WASTE PLACES.
A Lesson Which All Successful Farmers
Must Learn.

Must Learn.
When farm is so managed that the
portions under cultivation, or these por-
tons that are brought under cultivation
in the course of the rotation or practice
adopted upon such farm are in the best
possible condition, it may serve good
purpose to recommend improving the
waste places, as is frequently sug-
gested. But il must be remembered
that with average farmers there exists
pressing need Of attention to the man
ner of improving even the better por-
tons of the farm before undertaking re-
claiming those portions which from
their character have been long neglect
ed. 1t is only necessary to compare the
average product of all the various crops
grown with the exceptionally good ones,
that are often reported as the result of
extra attention or superior fertility, to
prove that the average is very far below
a point that may be reached with the
proper cultivation upon highly fertile
soil. This being so, is it the best policy,
as is frequently noticed, to recommend
the retaining of waste places. We
maintain that, so far as the question at
present presents itself, there is no call
for such recommend With yield,
upon an average, of less than one-half
per acre what can be produced, is the
best kind of evidence that the present
surface under cultivation is not produc-
ing as m CHI as it ought Then it is
clear tina however many unsightly
fields there may be, there is no demand
for their reclamation until the portions
on hand are brought to a much higher
condition and greater capability.
Even at the risk of opposition, we re-
iterate what we have before stated, that
without some change in manner of cul-
ture, there is now even too much sur
face under what would be termed
cultivation, which includes what is act
ually under the plough and in moving
lands. If there is any good reason to
prove that it is better to cultivate twenty
acres and NOW forty acres to produce
the same amount of crops and hay that
could be obtained from ten acres under
cultivation and twenty acres in moving,
we are willing to be convinced, but we
do not feel at liberty to recommend the
former condition OF things, so long as
there is a possibility of the latter, If
there is any one who believes that the
cultivated surface has reached the limit
of its capabilities in the direction OF
maximum crops, we believe they are
lahoring under a delusion. OF course
it depends somewhat upon the location
of the waste place, whether it should be
reclaimed; il it is of small extent, and
situated in field that is under cultiva-
ton, becoming especially unsightly in
consequence, y would be best to effect a
change that would add to the general
appearance on the value of the farm.
On the other hand there is nothing es-
pecially unsightly in portions of forest
or woodland, and so many of the
rougher portions of farm might be re-
stored to its natural primitive condition
without any detriment to the genera
appearance of the surface. but rather
an Improvement.
Again we say to farmers, adopt an in
tensive system Of farming; it is better
to till but few acres, and lott thorough
ly in everything that relates to the pro
duction of crops, rather than attemp
the tillage of many more acres, where
by there must be neglect in some direc
ton, that has an injurious effect upOl
the crop production. Nothing is gaineC
by attempting to arrive at the position
of being classed as great landowner
if the numerous acres are in half-cul
tivated state. Boston Globe.