The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-29
FOR TIE FARMERS.
CHUNKS OF WISDOM FOR THEN
TO DIGEST.
mo Farmer can get to the Head OF
the Procession by Hanging to the
Tail of q Scrub Cow"
IAmerican Farmer.l

|
The amount of money invested in
farm implements is enormous. In
many cases it is not necessary for the
farmer to own so many implements :;
but in still more, the farmer is to blame
for the treatment of such tools. Many
an expensive implement, to buy which
the owner has mortgaged his farm or
given his note, is allowed to stand out
in the weather and may, perhaps, be
broken up or ruined before it is paid
for, because of sheer neglect or shift
| lessneSs.
The one crop system followed up,
| will breed disease, no matter what the
crop may be. A rotation of crops
will, in measure, if not wholly, pre-
vent its development. Diverse crops
on the same soil is measurably pre-
ventive and as we'll a rejuvenator of the
soil. Corn following corn, or wheat
following wheat for series of years
is the prime cause of insect pests !;
whereas as absolute change, not only
of crop, but of variety of crop so as to
induce change in the method of cul-
tivation, in the habits of plant growth
and the demands on the soil will be
very apt to prevent the development
of insect pests.
Let us urge upon our farmers read
ers the importance of carrying small
lite insurance policy. Thousands have
d5ed when their little farms were only
half paid for, and in cases where the
husband had his life insured the widow
was enabled to lift the mortgage and
retain the farm for herself and child
rem. Otherwise she was left destitute
and thrown upon the charities of not
too charitable world. 1t costs but
a tr;Re to take out and maintain a
small policy, say $1,000, and the hus-
band and father who does not do so is
sadly neglecting his duty to his family.
For want of tools and materials to
work with, many boys grow up without
the least knowledge of their use, and
| consequently without the development
of any mechanical ability that they
may naturally have been possessed of.
Every farmers boy should have a
knowledge of practical machines, SO
far, at least, as they apply to agricul-
ture. And he should have an oppor-
tunity of acquiring the skill needet! in
their application to the various depart
ments of farm work. The work shop
| is great practical educator, and
should be permanent institution on
every farm.
The time has passed for farmers to
depend on muscle and hard labor
alone. They must use their brains as
we'll as hands. They must do more
thinking and planning if they desire to
receive the best results. The lawyer
studies law. The doctor medicine
The merchant must study commerce,
the laws of supply and demand, and
the banker must acquaint himself with
the principles and details of finances.
Just so the farmer must study farming.
The experiments of last year in crop
raising and breeding must be rene m
bered and put to practical use this
year. Not only his own experience
but that of his co-laborers should be
his to profit by. Farming is science
and there are many new things tc
learn in it yet; and the best and cheap
est way to learn those things is to
study. Take agricultural papers, read
in their columns the experiences and
observations of others and avail your
self of the many useful hints and sug
gestions.
! When the new butter extractor come
into general use, as it surely will i
present indications are to be relied
upon, the expensive creamery machin
merry now in use will be discarded
butter milk will be thing of the past
starter vats and stirring cream will b.
dead methods, and the labor Of th'
butter maker relieved of all the trial
and vexatlOns which have made it suCl
a burden to the housewives. Butte
can be produced cheaper and conse
quently the consumption will increase
All the farmer will have to do will b
to haul his milk to the extractor an.
take home the skim milk and butter
and we might add pack and hun
a market for the latter. The new but
ter extractor is coming to stay and
our farmers are wise they will at one
. take steps to have it operated SO the
will come in for share of the benefit
to be derived from it. This is one {
the wonderful and important inven
tions of the nineteenth century an
should be blessing to the farmer an