The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-12-02

increased, mainly by raising grade Jersey
stock, until there is now kept about TWEEN
ty-tive head, in better way than we're
formerly kept the eight or ten. To do
this the oat crop was discarded and rye
| cultivated into the corn-stubble in the
Fall. A part of this was pastured In ear
ly Spring and planted early in May with
fodder corn. A second part was cut
when in bloom and the stubble planted for
a succession crop of fodder corn. About
half the field was left to ripen the grain
and the stubble Of this was also planted
with corn for late feeding and the home
made cheap silo. In addition, much hay
and feed were bought until the farm be-
| gan to produce more heavily of both.
Several times close calculations were
made aud it was found that if all the fod-
der, hay and feed consumed by the cattle
were bought, there would still be profit
on the dairy sufficient TO pay for the work,
leaving the manure made as clear gain.
| The latter was kept mainly under rough
shed, made over about one-half of the
barn yard, and was increased by pur.
chased absorbents used in the stables and
yard. During this period, the amount of
manure made on the farm was increased
nearly or quite threefod.
In looking back, it is thought that this
first Investigation of the farming, by
adding special crops for soiliug and fod-
dering, with the accompanying attentionto
the manure pile, was the foundation of
all other success.
| might add in passing, that in Summer
the cows were either pastured on the
early rye or permanent pasture ground,
and the soiling crops fed to them on the
sod ground-this plan being found to in
volve both less labor and less waste than
feeding in the stable. In Winter, the en-
silage made not only convenient cut
mess to mix with dry feed, but also the
cheapest succuent food, that, on this
ground, could be produced. might add
also, that on ground particularly suited
for grass and hay, as this was not, abun-
dance OF good pasture and early cut hay
might supply, in great measure, the same
end that soiling crops and the silo did In
this case. Abundance OF rich manure
made few other special crops possible.
The sandy soil being especially suited to
asparagus, a patch Of three-fourths of an
acre was set with that plant and this dur
ing the last eight or ten years has yielded
an income OF from two to three hundred
dollars year. Peas were also suited to
the soil, and the owner soon made the dis
covery that 10 grow a good quality of
garden vegetables In the field, rich gar
den soil must be made there. Strawber-
ries needed heavier soil than the farm
afforded, yet small patch of these could
be readily marketed with the peas and
made the income from both about $3.50.
Raspberries and blackberries were omit
ted, partly because they interfered with
harvest operations. Lima beans flourish
ed on the coarse gravel and these and
sweet corn each brought in from $75 to
800 year. Celery is being tried on a
patch that can be irrigated from the
canal, but as yet with unsatisfactory re-
suits.
The above sums up the number of
special crops 1t was thought best to en-
gage in, the idea being to raise no more
than could be readily attended to and
marketed without any increase over the
farm help that is found desirable at crit
ical periods in ordinary farm operations,
thus making in fact the farm work more
uniform, instead Of less uniform in It's
nature.
Well, what was the result The hard
est task was at first in changing the one
or two hundred dollars balance from the
wrong to the right side OF the ledger.
But small as the change was, our friend
fully realized, with one Of the characters
in Dickens novels. that even sixpenee
on the right instead of on the wrong side
of the account can make all the difference
between human comfort and human mis-
cry. After two or three years. the crops
became heavier and the task easier. With
out entering more into details, | will saw
that the receipts of the farm increased
| from about 81. 900 IN to about "a. 900 A
wear. OF course. the expenses Increased
also. but during the last ten wears there
has been cleared over all expenses an
average of $500 year, enabling IS. 900
of the debt TO be cleared off. lenving
So, 900 yet against the farm.
You will admit that this is a modest
and not at all wonderful statement COM
pared with many that we read. But It
has two advantages, 1t ia substantially
true, and II can be readily believed.
What is the moral that shall draw
Shall say, like many writers, that every
farmer can do the same way and make an
equal or greater success No, because It
would not be truthful to say SO. In the
first place, my friend was blessed with
above the average health and strength
and could work hard and continuously
without my evil result. In the SECOND
place, providence has favored him with
family that ably and zealously seconded
his Efforts. II is true that he paid his
children customary wnges. but Ind he
been forced to depend upon hired help |
believe such results would have been i'm
possible. Lastly, the more learn OF Ag-
riculturc, the more am convinced that
so different are the circumstances OF diff
ferent farms and different localities. that
the practice of no one farmer can be laid
down as much Of guide for another.
In farming, as in far higher matters, each
one must work out his own salvation.
Hence, prefer merely to state the facts
and leave you to draw your differences,
fully believing, however, that for the farm
er sneak of. and under his circumstances