The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-30
ADVICE FOR FARMERS.
Although Offered Gratuitously, It Shou'"
Nevertheless BE Needed.

Although offered Gratuitousiy, 1t Shou''
Nevertheless BE Needed
In early days, when land was cheap'
produce of small value, expenses llght
and wants few, the ''cut-and-coyer
process was tolerable; but In modern
times, when land is dear and largely
Slapped of its virgin fertility, taxes
labor and living high, and produce
low, old methods lead to a precarlous
existence. 1t is possible to make the
average farm yield double what it does
now, and turn off just as much pront
as usual while bringing it up to this con-
dition. Then with Land 500 an acre
the man with fifty acres is doing an
nually $500 better than one with loO
acres, for he saves this much in inter-
est. Till less land, till it better, do not
spread little labor over great deal
of land and manure in proportion. Ke-
move old stumps, roots and ploW-
destroying boulders. Uproot briars
and bushes in fence-corners and foul
weeds all over the farm, and plant fruit
and forest trees in waste places. Keep
/ less and better stock and care for them
with wise liberality; it costs no more
| to raise a good animal than scrub;
the average dairy COW makes lou
pounds of butter; it is easy to increase
that to 800 pounds. Keep all stables,
pens and poultry-houses warm and
clean; keep buildings and feneee va
repair and tools housed and painted.
/ Keep some sheep on most farms; they
consume rough forage which other
stock will not eat; lambs and mutton
are marketable any time of year; sheep
do more good, less harm and are more
profitable weight for weight than
other stock. Acquire the reputation
in market of always having excellent
products in attractive packages and
all holding out equal to the sample on
top; and always tell the truth.
1t is not economy to sell off the young
stock, for the purchaser gets all the
benefit; nor to allow straw-stacks to rot
down; these should be fed to stock and
used in stables for litter and absorbent.
Do not seed permanent pasture-land
with only one or two kinds OF the
grasses: various kinds should be sown,
those that mature early, late and be-
| tween, and such as are adapted to the
soil and locality, and then the surface
will be all covered continuously. Do
not sell hay, straw or much grain off
the farm: better feed it at home. The
reason the soil of England is so pro-
ductive is because she not only con-
sumes all she raises but imports large
/ quantities of meats and cereals, and as
it is law of nature that not a particle
of matter is ever lost the "balance OF
trade in plant food is largely in her
favor. A thoughtful farmer stood on
the dock at New York when a foreign
vessel grain-laden swung out into the
river. There" said he, with much
truth. america has robbed her soil of
another cargo of manure to enrich the
| Old World" 1t is mistake to permit
the soil to remain bare any length OF
time. Nature .. Jves that. She abhors
a nude surface as much as a vacuum
| and proceeds to cover it with some KING
of vegetation in her own slow but sure
way. She can be anticipated by sowing
seeds of useful plants; rye answers an
excellent purpose sown after potatoes,
corn, garden vegetables and other crops
which leave the surface exposed. And.
finally, it does notpay tomake personal
use of narcotics and stimulants.- Terra,
in n. Y TTibu11e.