The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-07-24
The-farmer.
Economical Farming.


Nowhere are the disastrous effects of
false system of economy more apparent
than in the management of farm. The
man who thinks that economy stands for
starvation of mind and body, for mean,
petty, selfish, narrow way of living will
ever be as far from success in farming as
he is from the truth of the matter of econ
omy.
The farmer has constantly before him
the best teacher of true economical princi-
pies that there is in the world, and that is
Nature itself All her operations are car
ried on according to those principles in
their best and and strietest sense. Nature
is wise conservator of forces, and her en-
ergies are always spent when and where
they are needed, to the full extent demand
ed, no more nor less. She gives to every
herb and plant its full complement of nH-
tritious Juices and never makes the mistake
of supposing that if she holds back part
this year they will do just as well for it in
the next. She is generous without being
prodigal; she is free without being foolish.
She does act upon the principle that it is
waste of time and energy to make some
things beautiful as well as lasting, and that
everything is lost that is not spent in min
istering to the commonest every day uses
Among other lessons that may be deduced
from study of the science of economy is,
that it is poor way to effect its ends in
farming to erect poor, unsightly, unsub-
stantial buildings for any purposes.
1t may cost less money to build house
in make shift fashion, with thin, open
walls, unseasoned doors and windows, and
refuse lumber for the roof and floor tim
bers, but after few years, if the cost is
counted up, of repairs, mending leaky roofs,
and putting in new materials to say moth
ing of the doctors bills brought about by
cold and dampness, it will be found that
economy missed its aim in this instance,
and that good house, well put together.
strong and durable, would have been a
saving in the end There is moreover,
more actual waste in household matters
where accommodations for storage are poor
and inadequate, than where facilities and
conveniences are provided for doing work
quickly and neatly, and properly caring for
things.
1t is much easier to practise economy in
all household matters where the house it
self is well built and conveniently arranged
in its interior. The same principles may
be applied to buildings for storing produce
and farm implements and for sheheTing
stock. Success in farming depends to a
very large degree not OIL y in producing
abundant harvests and raising fine stock,
but in knowing how to care for them after
they come into possession. The profits of
a summers work work VIII soon leak and
waste away in poor rickety granaries and
barns, and the finest stock soon deteriorates
in cold, dirty, crowded stables.
No farmer can afford to put the product
of seasons labor under shelter that is not
shelter, but where it is constantly exposed
to drippings from the roof to destruction
by mice and rats, and wastefulness in all
directions. 1t is the poorest kind of econ
omy to erect cheap, i'll arranged outbuild-
ings on farm.
The economical farmer will keep well
supplied with the best agricultural imple-
ments that his means will afford and that
he can use to advantage. He will not
make the mistake of thinking that because
these things cost more at first than the old
fashioned tools he will save money by
plodding along in the old way. He will
see that machine that does the work of ten
men much easier than all together could do
it, will be saving in the end over tool
that does not cost fftieth part as much
but which requires ten times as much hard
labor. He will keep his implements, when
not in active use, under cover, and make
such necessary repairs as they may require
without delay. Good tools in bad order
are a continual drain upon the farmers
pocket.
Good, strong fences on division lines
and between pastures and growing crops
are true means of saving. A single in
road by the sheep and cattle in field of
growing corn or wheat costs more than a
long section of firm, well built fence.
Economy goes wrong when it dictates
the building of fences out of material that
rots down or blows away the first season.
1t pays in the end to keep the best
breeds of stock and feed them well and
treat them kindly. 1t costs no more to
feed and shelter the best kind of cattle
than it does an Indifferent, mongrel breed.
Poor, broken-down, diseased horses are
more expensive than young, sound animals.
They require much more care and do not
do their work half as well. The same
truths will apply to sheep, hogs and poul-
try. If any of these are kept, it pays to
keep the best.
In short, it will be found that the true
way to save is ofttimes to give-to deal
generously with man and beast, and not
spare to-day what must be compensated or
wholly lost tomorrow. 1t is not the way
to make sure gains by wasting the powers
of mind and body in unremitting labor.
He is wisest who rightly SO distributes his
time between necessary work and recreation
as to keep the whole being mentally and
physically in tune