Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-13
ATAfK on SMALLER FAR

A Afsh oN ShAIfLf1S
Mr. George 9. Dow, well known b. repu-
tation TO all readers OF agricultural htera-
tur,, writes that farmers all over the Gun
try, and particularly all over NE South,
are, as . rule, attempting to cultivate too
large an acreage for their means. This, in
his opinion, is why W. hear Sc much TO the
effect that farming don't pay. In The days
Of our grendfathers, before soils had been
worn down as at present, and before there
was any particular competition relative to
agricultural products, it was ali well enough
for the farmer 10 possess many acres and
cultivate them in q slovenly kind of way,
but the present days are not the days of
our grandfatners. The times are very diff
ferent now. The farmer who now follows
The old methods OF our grandfathers wi.
be left, every time. and viii help 10 swell
The ranks of those men who are constantly
wailing over the failure of farming 10 pay.
1t must be admitted that many farmers
are slow TO see the changes that have taken
place. They decline TO accept new ideas.
and hence remain about one generation
behind the present times so far as relates
10 progress. 1t takes the son a greater por-
ton of his life to discover that the careful
training his father gave him, and methods
his father had il force in his day, are not
adapted 10 the present, which fact, could ne
have realized IT in MS youth or when he be
gan 10 farm, would have been worth very
much 10 him in the way OF dollars ana cents
as & result Of his labors.
The grandfathcrs often operated farms of
tEo and three hundred acres \ large por-
ZION of it, 10 he sure, may have been wood
land and pastures. but the feed in these was
plentiful! and lich, which afforded feed for
L large number Of cattle IN sumner, and it
required liJtl2 cultivation 10 produce hay
enough 10 carry the stock through winter.
But many of those old farms are now worn
80 thinness. and We're this otherwise they
would not pay if operated to-day as our
grandfatherS operated them.
Notwithstanding al these facts there Is
Still plenty of good money to be made at
Farming, but il must be farming conducted
on the modern plan. It must be good farm
ing under the direct supervision of the pro
piietor. II must not be on the sIip-shod
principle 70 admit of this better farming
under the proprietors personal supervision
the farms must not ne so large as formerly,
me large. Old style farms must be reduced
10 that number OF acres that one can afford
10 cultivate in the most thorough and i'm
proved manncr-nor skip over II, blowing
up piece here ana there. planting SO much
land that you cannot half cultivate il, pick
ing over three acres Of and for one bale of
cotton moving over three acres Of ground
10 get ton of poor hay. driving over and
into open bitches or wee oog holes in your
field. your fences only half built for
lack of time, and u consequence animals
III on the crops destroying them, to say
nothing of The travel required by your
teams and men in getting from one job TO
smother on such d farm. Stop all this at
once, IS MIR. BOWS advice. and cut the size
OF your farm down one-half, two-thirds-
yes even Rine-tenthS. or until you can get
il within the bounds Of YOUR ability to care
Tor il III frSt-class shape
You hate 10 give up this field or that, and
think you viii get what YOU can from it
once more, ana SO you 90 on. Cut il of |
from your farm sell il. if possible and get |
St of your mind If there is no market for it. |
Eou can let it grow up 10 bushes and take |
rst. Then. continues Mr. Dow, concen- |
Trate al your thoughts, energies. labor. |
etc. upon your SMALLER acreage under cul- |
ture and no matter what line of farming |
you may adopt, you viii soon realize that |
your farm is paving You better than it ever |
did before, ana that all your land Is improv- |
5ng IL condition frolL year 10 year. Under !