Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-03-28
Intensive Farming"
Southern World.

Some persons speak and write as if
Intensive Farming" was the develop
ment of new principles in agriculture.
Anxious enquiries desire to be put into
the road that leads into the practice of
the system, as emigrants to some famed
Eldorada. Some old farmers Care
they old fogiesD look upon the apos-
ties of the "new departure" as young
enthusiasts-possessed with zeal not
according to knowledge" We are
afraid that these old veterans of two
hundred acre fields look upon the adj
vocates of intensified farming as young
upstairs and vislOnaries who will soon
be awakened from their vain delusions
by the sound of the the Sheritf's ham
mer.
Now, what is intensive farming? Is
it anything else than common sense
farming? Does it depend upon the
discovery of new principles in agricul-
ture, or the enforcement and applica.
ton of the principles of eternal truth ?
A merchant who succeeds in piling up
colossal fortune as result of his
care, economy, industry and sound
business sense has only enlarged his
field of operations as his capital in-
creased, but observes all along the
same principles that governed him
when he started in business with only
few dollars of capital, or a wheel
barrow-full of goods. He watches the
run OF his business; takes quick note
Of what pays and what does not pay.
He presses with all his energy in those
channels which past experience has
taught him conduct to profit, and
avoids those which have threatened
loss. He keeps books Of account, a
sharp eye on his outgoeS and incomes.
He learns where to buy cheapest, and
how to sell to the best advantage
whether by large sales and short but
sure profits, or on long credit at high
prices, but doubtful pay.
Intensive farming is extensive gar
dening. Almost any farmer can have
a good garden if he will. He knows
that it is folly to plant cabbages, on|
ions, garden peas, and such like yege-
tables on ordinary worn soil. He does
not stint manure when he prepares to
plant the garden. Any sensible man
knows that the more liberal the appli-
cation of fertilizers the better the prep.
aration, and more thorough the cul>
ture, the greater will be the return of
profit and comfort. He reasons sensi.
bly, who argues that what has been
done may be done again, and what one
acre can be made to produce, can be
produced on another acre; what can
be done on few acres can be done on
many. Thus proceeding--step by step
acre by acre if need be-we extend
the operations which had been confined
to a quarter of an acre, planted in gar.
den vegetables, until ten, fifteen, an
hundred acres are brought under the
same methods substituting in place of
the kitchen vegetables, the ordinary
field crops.
A thousand ill-fed, badly clothed,
and worse equipped and drilled men,
hastily marshalled under the control
of "a poor general would be a poor
match for an hundred thoroughly drill.
ed and equipped, and well disciplined
veterans, under the command of
skilIful captain, who knows every man
of the hundred. The application is
apparent.
Intensive farming is farming by the
cardinal rules of arithmetic. We add
together all the factors that promote
large yield, subtract all unnecessary
and Improbable labor, multiply vigi-
lenge and industry, and divide nothing
with the provision merchant. The re-
suit will be comfort, contentment,
prosperity and happiness. R.