The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-08
COMPARING Farms.

The Massachusetts, PIotUmdn says that
farmer is acting wisely who makes it his
rule to compare the condition of his own
farm with the condition of that of his
neighbor. He gives it as his opinion that a
few hours spent now and then comparing
notes with neighbor farmers would be few
hours we'll spent. Say, for instance, the
corn in a neighbours field is bright and
green, while bis own corn is yellow, sickly
and out of good condition generally; it will
be natural and proper to inquire into the
cause of this difference, to ascertain the
seed used, the manner of planting and the
kind of cultivation carried on-in word,
all the particulars. This illustrates the
gain derived from comparison Of crops
Usually the difference will be slight, but
there will be some difference, and it should
be accounted for.
1t is equally probable that the visit may
show comparison favorable to the home
farm, and there is a sense of satisfaction
over the result of labor faithfully per-
formed, and intelligence carefully directed,
that can never be felt IL no comparison is
made between ones own success and the
successes of his neighbors. But the COM
parison rarely fails to be OF mutual help.
Looking over the fields and buildings sug-
gests topics, and each must gain from the
discussion. One does a certain thing better
than his neighbor, while the neighbor as
certainly excels in another direction, and
each profits from the other.
In making comparisons, it is well to go
beyond the usual boundary of the neigh
borhood. There is a tendency in a small
cluster of farms to follow a certain course,
pursued by ancestors from time immemo-
rial, and to jog on in certain ruts. 1t is well
to get outside of this narrow boundary and
see what the rest Of the world is doing. If
ones self and ones neighbors get along with
implanted buildings, and broken down
fences, and are contented with the yard as
carriage and tool house, If each one uses his
barn as shelter for horses, cows, hogs and
hens, and finds the rubbish heap in the yard
no eyesore, it is easy to comfort ones self
with the thought that one is as good farm
er as is necessary, and ''new-fangled notions
don't amount to much"
But if the farmer, whose eyes are not
nDAlly ana forever ClOSel, UdkSS urlNe OUT
of his neighborhood, out Of his town, and
gets a peep at another world, where buildings
are kept in repair. fields carefully fenced,
and animals properly cared for, where neat
ness and sensible economy are apparent,
even to the passer by, he cannot fail to OBJ
serve the improvement in this state over
that in which he exists, and cannot rest con-
tent on his return until he has brought his
farm up to the condition Of these better
farms that he has seen, and when he has
improved his farm the neighbors will follow
him one after another, and an improved
community will he the result.
There is time in tho busiest farmers life
for him to compare farms, continues our CO.
temporary, forit is as essential to his success
and well-being to know by seeing what the
world is doing, as that he should read the
best agricultural papers and learn what
advanced agriculturists throughout the
country have to offer. Make the home farm
as good as possible for ones own knowledge,
and then compare it critically with the
farms Of others.