The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-22
Glre 6armer.
METHODS OF FARMING.
The Difference Between Good and
Indifferent Management.

There are many ways of managing a
farm. Every man is of course expected to
have ways of his own. His individuality
may show itself in the construction of his
house and barn, in the breed Of stock
which he raises, in his personal appearance,
STYLE or dress, etc. Those things, unless
INDUCED to extremes, do not affect his ma
terial prosperity. There are other matters
however, which concern his getting along
in the world which will admit of little lati-
tude.
A good farmer will take care of his prop
erty. His buildings are kept in good re-
pair. There are no barn doors off the
hinges, no shingles off the roof. His gates
are in good condition with proper fasten-
ings. He does not climb over the fence
because it is easier than to open gate.
His plows, mowers, reapers, rakes and har-
rows are put under shelter when he is
through with them. His wagons, are un-
der cover. His buggy, if he has one, is in
carriage house, clean and ready for trip.
The harness is hung upon peg, also
brushed clean. The carriage robe is put
away from the dust The straw of his last
threshing is nicely stacked to carry his
stock through in case of a hard winter
His fences are all in good condition, and
do not encourage hungry animal to try
to break them His orchard is we'll dress
ed out The prunings from his orchard
and vineyard are piled out of the way.
His woodpile is under cover. His animals
L IL INho,, S,,Dlarv
comes he can take his wife or children to
church or to see neighboring farmers.
There is an air of responsibility about his
neatly-dressed children, his tidy wife, his
contcnted looking horses. All things point
to his being good farmer, respectable,
substantial man.
The poor farmer shows his want of meth
cd quite as decidedly as does the good
farmer his thrift and take care Of things.
The poor farmer has boards off his barn
and sheds; shingles off the roof, and doors
off the hinges. His fences being out of re-
pair, his cattle are tempted to reach over
to 'get bite" breaking them down still
worse He has no gates, or if he has any
they are nailed up, because it is easier to
climb fence than to fix up a gate every
time he goes through When he moves
from field to field he must take down and
put up the fence; he has no time to make
gate. His wagons are left under an oak
tree for the cattle to rub against, and for
the chickens to roost on. He has no place
to store anything. His plows and other
agricultural tools are either left in the field
where he used them last, or they are set
against the barn to be out of the way.
He has no woodpile, but occasionally throws
a chunk or two into his wagon as he re-
turns from town. His wife and daughters
often have to hack off wood enough to get
supper against he comes home He is
always behind about his work and always
in a hurry He sows his grain after other
peoples is several inches high. His plows
are dull; his horse thin and his grain gett-
ing badly put in, he only has half a crop,
which he is obliged to sell soon as it is
threshed, to pay bills. He did not get
time to prune his orchard or thin out his
fruit, so he could get nothing for it. His
hogs are of the razor-back breed and will
crawl through crack of the fence and be-
tween the pickets. He don't have good
luck raising cattle or horses. "Pears like
luck was agin him." He is tired of the
farm His sons want to get to go to the
city. His daughters want to learn trade,
dress-making or tailoring. His wife looks
dragged out as though she would welcome
death as day of rest. Nothing about him
looks respectable. The cattle, horses and
hogs all have an inhospitable, unsatisfied
look. Even the large yellow dog that at
other places fercely barks awhile and then
joins in the general welcome, here only
growls, and as for showing signs of joy, he
forgot how to wag his tail years ago All
looks dilapidated and discouraged, all because
their master never learned to take care of
thinus