The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-02-13

The Joshua Cockey farm contained 312
acres, II of which were sold off before Mr.
Bachman purchased it. He built large
barn on the farm, 40 by so feet; also a
large two-story dwelling, SO by 20 feet,
with bodybuilding 10 by 20. Before the
new buildings were erected there were two
old barns on the place, one of which was
left standing. Other outbuildings were
erected, as need required, until the farm
was made one of the most complete, in all
its appointments, of any in the neighbor-
hood. There is an abundance of limestone
on the land, and large quarry which was
extensively worked Lime was freely used,
aud made liberal return in produce to the
proprietor. Wheat, corn, oats, clover and
timothy constituted the crops. Mr.. Bach
man lived forty-one years on the Cockey
farm, and was thrifty farmer, paying the
closest attention to his business, wasting no
time in running to town or to the city on
unnecessary errands, or in cunning, fox
hunting, or other proftless pastimes.
Mr. Bachman also conducted another
farm, containing 147 acres, which he bought
of Mr.. Joseph Hoover. This farm he
subsequently sold to Mr.. Henry Yingling,
for the sum of $4,000. Another farm
contains Ill acres, so of which he bought
from Mr.. Hoover, and adding 80 more
acres to it, made the number as above
stated. This farm, under his management,
produced about twenty bushels of wheat
and about twelve barrels of corn to the
acre, and produced well in clover and tim
othy. Mr. Bachman is an advocate of
heavy manuring, turning grass under, and
outstanding all the resources of the farm,
so as to bring the land up to its best pro-
ductive condition A moderate outlay for
commercial fertilizers is judicious use of
capital, but it may be overdone. The
farmer may rely too far on these fertilizers
for his crops. Land will gradually deteri-
crate unless kept up by barnyard and stable
manure, by the application of lime, and by
the turning under of vegetable matter. If
the farmer buys his phosphates, from year
to year, giving his notes payable at the
maturity of the ensuing crops, he will very
likely impoverish his farm and himself too
and failing crop will be followed by a
failing credit and an inability to meet his
phosphate obligations as they become due
This is the experience of many, who are
gradually falling behind in this way, until
they find themselves very seriously embar-
raised, and know not which way to turn to
meet their financial engagements. Mr.
Bachman is not farmer of that class
He has no place in that category. He has
relied more upon lime, grass and stable
manure, and if commercial fertilizers were
deemed necessary, his outlay in that direc-
ton was governed by moderation and a
sound discretion. In ordinary seasons,
thorough manuring and thorough tillage
will produce a crop. But production is
only one branch of thorough farming.
After the farmer has realized good crop,
the next consideration is to sell it to the
best advantage. And after it has been
sold, and the money in hand, the expendi-
ture of it injudiciously too often places the
spendthrift on par with the farmer whose
bad management gives him no crops to sell.
Economy is, after all, the secret Of success
in all pursuits. It's, generally, not so hard
to make money as to save it after it has
been made. Mr.. Bachman possessed the
art of taking care of what he made, and
his example, in this respect, is worthy the
emulation of all. He is justly regarded as
one of our most successful farmers, and his
industry and economy have been the prin-
cipal sources of his success and of the finan-
cial ability which has fallen to his lot, or
rather won by unremitting toll. 1t is a
source of pride to him that he has been the
architect of his own fortune, pride that
is EVERYDAY commendable.