Smyrna times., 1885-11-04
Potato Growing as a Speciality,

r. con
lined to a small number of farms on,
those who did raise them planted ,
good many and made a business of II
~ ~ seems TO me, for several reasons, a.
Ihough they would make more money
and there need be no loss to those
VINO now raise an acre or two if tbey
should give up the business to the ones
VINO 60 INTO 1t largely; for they can
Uurh tnelr attention more TO some other
SpeclaI branch. On my farm we raised
last year twenty-fOur acres of potatoes
SIX OF wheat, and six of clover and
tlmothy. The hay, including the
rOWen after wheat, fed the six horses
ana one COW, and eight head of younG
CaCUle taken to Winter. The straw
DeGded them, and we sold the potatoes
and wheat. This plan gives a good
rotation and steady, profitable WORK
from April to October inclusive
There Is no great rush of work at anv
Glne, or any chance for idleness either
In Winter we take care of the stock
ana OF the manure, and read and read
and sing, ''''' eau
And though hard is his labor in summer
IN winter he lies at his case"
We buy everything we want exoont
potatoes, milk, and the little Garden
stun. We do not fuss to make bnttar
from one cow inv wife is % enocioIist t.ti
ooo-a housekeeper), but rather eat the
cream on berries which some specialist
mas raised. There isn't a pig or n
cIhlcken, calf or a cot, beehive. n
sheep or a dog on my place. So Won
see practice what preach, and I make
most money with less worry bv so
would not have you think that the
specially of itself will ever helm Won
any 1t will not. 1t only gives Won
Cne chance to excel in one direction
Nor would l have you think that no.
t;'Io raising was any better speciaItv
Iaah many others. An average cro1
oi potatoes pays no better than an av-
erage crop of wheat or corn for q
term OF years. If it did. every ono
would rush into the business and brine
Uhe price down. 1t is the big cron of
potatoes, or corn, or wheat. or tho bic-
ylld OF milk that pays. it don't moke
SO huch difference what the crOn is
only so it suits your taste soil No
kets, and other local cirenmstancos ''
l II Ii nad 100 acres of plOw land, instead
I 1I 90, should not raise potatoes. If
hau only 10 acres, l certainly shouId
not as 1t would be necessary then to
make a speciality Of some croD that
would BRING more dollars to the acre
Chlnk l speak within bounds when |
l say That the potato specialist who |
mas soil and market favorable can
after he has had a reasonable amonnt
Vi experience, make twice as mucb
money out of the crop as the AVERAGE
farmer who follows mixed farmino o9d
raises two or three acres each wear
1oes' VI course we specialists must
expect reverses-all kinds of bus-
ness are subject to them-but. as Col
'neI brigham, of our State Board. said
% me last Winter, speaking on this
'uDJect, Supposing one does lose
'rOp once in three years: two whole
'rops would be bettor than three half
mes" My own experience has been
70 far, that the reverse y wears or
e''rs "nen the crop was poor were the
cars Wheh made the most money
mo t years ago last Summer, for in
lance, with Sl6O an acre from ono lot.
Eggs all IN one basket" doesn't
care me at all. With total failure of
ne potato crop once in three years ,
es, once in two years-I could still
lake more money than l used to in
ne good old mixed way. But I do not
nlnk that a total failure need come
lore than two or three times in a life
me. do not take much stock in {
poor luck or "poor seasons y {
hese are matters largely under our !
ontrOl. Of course circumstances en- |
rely unuer our control may cause l
'lL9res once in a great while. |
NOW, 90 not say this is all wrong. I
ecause 1t IS different from what YOU 5
ave always done or thought. until I
ou have given the matter little [
bought at least.-T. B. Terry in Ohio E