Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-01-24

profits. Aside from the chances of
temporary success that they incur,
there are several serious objections to
this kind of farming.
In changing from one speciality to
another, there must of necessity be
quite change in the machinery and
general outfit employed. When a
man makes up his mind to devote his
whole farm to wheat growing, he
must purchase all those labor-saving
implements that make wheat grow
ing, on large scale, possible Of prof
it. The implements are expen-
sive, and will work up a good share
of the profits upon the first crop or
two. Perhaps by the time these are
paid for, he comes to the conclusion
that live stock will pay better profits;
so he seeds down good portion of
his farm for pasture and moving.
The implements purchased for carry
ing on the wheat business thus be-
come, to quite an extent, dead prop
erty on his hands. He can realize
but little if he undertakes to sell sec
ond-hand machinery, for the country
is full of agents who are pressing
their wares upon the farmer on long
time and little or no interest.
How many radical changes in the
management of the farm we see in
perhaps the period of ten years:
Hops, tobacco, grain, hogs, sheep,
ETC., etc., are rushed into, in turn,
and vast amount of capital sunk in
the expenditures for outfits necessary
for carrying out these various enter
prises. To be sure a few fortunes are
made; but they are few indeed COM
pared with the number who embark
in the enterprises, and sink a good
share of their available means in so
doing.
Nor can the fertility of farm be
maintained by such fitful manage
ment. The man who makes a spec
ialty of grain, hops, tobacco, or any
other crop that is to be sold off the
farm, will soon find that he is selling
his farm out from under himself.
Special artificial fertilizers only ag-
gravate the evil by stimulating the
crops to the greater absorption of the
natural fertility of the soil.
What then shall be raised? Why
raise all of these crops that l men,
toned if the local conditions are ia
vorable; but not one at time, as the
demand shifts from one to the other.
Adopt regular system of mixed
farming-one that seems best adapt
ed to your location, soil and markets
and pursue it steadily year after
year. The profits may be small, but
they are comparatively sure. The
profits of any well-filled line of legi-
innate business are small. 1t is only
when one gets out of the lines of legi-
innate business, into the speculative,
that occasional large profits are real
lied, in the face of all the chances
that are above enumerated.
: Special farming annihilates some of
the finest features of farm life. There
, may be a great deal of money in a
hog farm, when everything is favor
: able, but who wants to spend his
, days in the sole production OF Christ
5 ley grunters?"
Tobacco growing may be very prof.
5 liable for a time but what man with
a proper respect for his profession, OF
4 regard for his family, will sacrifice
: his garden, orchard and other farm
| accessories and means of comfort and
: luxury, for the sake of amassing 8
: few dollars in ready cash?
/. Look at those countries where
e special farming is almost exclusively
!, practiced? Look at the stock farms
4 of the Southwest and the whea
}, farms of the Northwest? You may
: travel for miles without habitatior
e in view. You look in vain for tn,
s school-houses that should dot tn,
y country every two or three miles
r You are forced to travel around hug
e farms that should be cut into man,
l. times and intersected with roads
+ The social life of such country cal
o best be,expressed by nOught.