The Grenada gazette., 1888-03-10
DIVERSIFIED FARMING.

Of field crop oriiu depending on ont
crop for money to pay their taxes and
meet other obligations The advice il
generally good. There are create,
risks in raising crops than In any
branch Of manufacturing. Persons
who work in building arc protected
from the weather. and are not Obliged
TO suspend operations on account Of
the occurrence ofrain. snow or severe
cold Daring many seasons. however.
farmers are kept from work nearly
half the time by the unfavorable
weather The weather which inter.
fores with tho work Of farmers also in
tcrferes with the growth of his crops.
Some crops are injured more by
dronghls and protracted rains than
others, and the larger the mum Der a
farmer raises the more likely will he
be to have at least one that will suc-
coed. Depending on one crop has re-
suited in the ruin of many farmers. II
the weather is uufavorable it will be a
failure, and if it Is favorable the crop
may be destroyed by insects II good
crop is raised. the price may be very
low in consequences Of large produc.
ton over great extent OF country
With many crops farmer is tolcr-
ably sure Of a large yield and fair. il
not high, prices for some of them.
Wheat raised last year commands but
small price. but the price of pota.
toes and field beans is very high.
S rawberries sold low. but apples
raised on the same farm comm aud ex.
celent prices. Last season. in many
parts Of he country. was favorable to
crops that were planted OF sown early.
but generally unfavorable to those tha,
were put IN late. The reverse may BE-
true Of the crops that will be sowu
next season. Some minor crop. like
beans. fax or buckxheat planted be-
cause s0mothing else failed. or because
seed could not be obtained. may bring
in more money than rs realized from
what were regarded as the leading
crops Oh the place. They may hit the
season and insects avoid them. Only
farmers who have large reserve fund
can afford TO risk the labor of an en-
tire season in any one crop. as its
failure would result in the ruin of
farmer OF quite small means.
As with field crops. so with farm
animals There is the greatest safety
with many kinds of animals. If there
was no danger from cholera. hogs
would be the most profitable animals
the average farmer of limited mean.
could keep They multiply fast, ma.
ture quickly. eat many kinds Of food
and required but little protection. |
But experience shows that there are
great risks in keeping hogs in large
The farmer who devotcs
most Of his land to raising corn. and
who foods il 10 hogs. runs great risk.
The breaking out of an infectious dis.
ease may cause the loss Of all Of hi.
hogs, rs well as the Drop they have
devoured. The disease popularly
called ''pink-eye" has during the
past few years. carried off many horses
in the "eigiborhood aud on the farms
where it has occurred, When foot rot
appears among large flock of sheep.
The loses sre generally very large.
Contagious diseases are not SO com
mon amOug cattle Ms with most other
farm animals, but they are likely tc
occur at any time. aud to ruin farm.
rs who Keep NO other kinds of stock.
A. with risks. SO with price,. Some
sind # tarD stock is low almost every
.rason, bat some other kinds j.. likely
o be very high at The same time.
Neat producing animals are now low.
Jut draft animals are very high. Small
/, is tho lemand for becves, the dc.
nand Tor horses and mules is active.
During the past few years good milch
ows In comparatively poor fesh have
,rought more money in dairy ccnters
han ia, bullocks of the same age have
n the great beef markets Of tho
ountry While dairying is prosper.
us, the demand for good mixers will
Ne active 1t not unfrequently hap.
,ens that mutton is high when wool is
ow. There is less risk in feeding
lorses mules, cattle. sheep and hogs
N the some place than in dcvoting the
arm 10 raising only one kind of stock
disease that aflicts ono does not en-.
anger the others, A fall in the price
+ beef or pork does not affect the
rice # horse fest, 0, Of wool. A
urch5sor may como TO buy q pair OF
lulcS when NO one can be found to
NY tat steers at The price of the corn
hey have eaten.
An old adage tells us of the danger
i II Ing all the eggs in one basket.
he caution IN relation to eggs applies
, tn birds that are halcl,ed from
ZEN. Every large farmer would do q
el to raise turkeys ducks, geese and .
hick rs. The first. though they sell u
ell and furn ,sh most excellent eating,
re generally difficult to raise. Tur- I
"ys are never c'asscd among the sure
ops The !cn is the best general !
urposc fowl. but IS subject to many
iscas .. A season that is unfavorablo
} turkeys aud chicso ia is often an .
scclent one for duck, and geese.