St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-02-16
Success in Farming.

HOW TO MAKE AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS
PLEASANT AND PROFITABLE.
The rules may be laid down with very
few exceptions that men like the bust
ness sin which they are successful, and
acquire dislike to that in which they fail.
To the farmer, large and fine crops, raised
at reasonable expense; and paying well in
money, afford positive enjoyment and he
can not help feeling certain delight,
aside from the money profit, in viewing
the rich and luxuriant fields, under clean
and neat cultivation, the result of con-
tinued good management. He will feel
less disposed to give up the business, pull
up stakes, and move into town, or migrate
to the distant region of the West, than
the man who has weedy and stunted corn
crops, winter killed and chess. laden wheat,
bug eaten potatoes, and scant products gen.
orally, together with the frequent losses
and vexations of the incursions of animals
through poor and broken fences, and de-
lays from deranged farm machines. The
question might be presented to the owner
of such farm, whether he who permits
such arrangements would be any more sue
cessfuI in city business, or with his SUPER
fetal labors spread out over the wilds of
the West.
The farmer who would make rural pur
suits attractive to his sons and induce
thems to continue farmers, should sur
round them with pleasant associations
give them an interested share in the
profits, present to them a handsomely
lsid-out homestead, with neat fences,
clean fields and good looking buildings
He should not make them mere drudges as
q matter of convenience to himself, but
throw upon them some responsibility, and
give them the stimulus of participation In
successful results.
A great mistake is made by many cul-
tivators in spreading out their business
over too many acres for the amount of ap-
pliances they can use for thorough and
profitable work. Superficial culture is the
great enemy of good farming. The word
Sshipshod" should never truthfully spply
to farm management. A wheat-feld
thoroughly cultivated before sowing, often
makes all the difference between twelve
bushels an acre and luxuriant crops of
TWENTY-FIVE or thirty bushels. It is more
economical of labor to cut and gather
three toms of hay from an acre of meadow,
than TO spread all the work required for
the three tons over four or five acres, as is
often done by poor managers. The single
rich acre is more easily plowed and cul-
tivated in obtaining the seventy shelled /
bushels of corn, than the three badly
titled acres for the same amount of crop,
even il done in the most careless manner
The man who has moderately sized and
productive farm has shorter drive for his
team In drawing in crops and in return
inc manure, and in.the daily routine in
the superintendence Of work.
But it must not be understood that
merely occupying small farm means
profit and success, nor that a large one is
failure. A large farm may be admirably
managed and yield corresponding profits,
provided the owner has the means to carry |
f on in the best manner. So ON the other
hand the occupant of a small place may
easily neglect and mismsnage it. But the
mistake Is quite common that the small |
farm is detriment, because the best care
Il not given TO it, q course which is much |
easier on the whole than on broad do |
mains. Country Gentleman.