The record-union., 1892-06-30
SMALL FARMS.
Let Us Have Better Farming and More
Homes.

Let Us Have Better Farming and More
Homes.
The day of large farms is rapidly pass
ing away and it is well that it Is so,
writes Thomas 2. Montfort, il the Prairie
Fdrmer. There are two potent reasons
why the large farm, comprising hundreds
OF acres, should become obsolete. First,
1t is better for the farm owner to restrict
his possessions to a moderate amount OF
land; and second, it is better to have as
many homes in this country as possible.
1t is positive fact that the small farm
the farm of reasonable siZe-pays bet
ter than the large farm. Eighty acres
OF land properly managed, manfred,
cultivated and kept up to its highest
standard Of production, will produce
more returns from the same amount of
labor and capital than will twice that
many acres managed in Il half-hearted
1t is not the number of acres one cult
Yates, but the amont of returns one gets.
that makes farming profitable.
IN many localities, and especially in
the West, farmers bend every effort to
ADD to their landed possessions. They
scrlmp themselves, their wives and their
children in order to be able to accumulate
more land. The result Of the matter is
they get loaded down with land that they
don't need, and which they are unable 10
use TO advantage, and all their lives they
are worried TO keep up expenses and pay
/ taxes. They become land poor; they nor
their families get any enjoyment from
living, and they get small return on
their investments.
The small farm, where it is kept in a
high state Of cultivation, ali the hooks
and corners utilized, and every acre of ii
made to produce to its utmost extent, is
sure to pay good profit on both capital
and labor. When farmers confined them
selves almost exclusively To corn, wheat
and stock-raising, there was some excuse
Tor large farms, but now that 1t has been
demonstrated that other Things I'ay as
well or better, requiring less land and
capital, the excuse no longer exists.
1 would rather own and operate twenty
acres Of good ground, planted largely in
! truIt, than hundred acres run altogether
10 grain. one good, thrifty apple Tree III
its prime viii produce more financial in
come one year with another than an acre
devoted To corn. And yet there is very
little expense or labor required by the
former, and the ground occupied by an
orchard can be made TO do double duty
by raising fair crop of grain, vegeta 0les
or grass.
Then there is small fruit. There is
nothing to which the farmer can turn his
attention with an assurance of greater
profit, and but little ground is required.
Poultry is another thing that pays and
pays big, because Oh the farm it is easily
and cheaply kept, and there is no require
ment for any marked outlay OF capital.
| There are innumerable ways by which
the small farE can be made to yield, not
only good living, but a snug little bank
account besides. And that is something
that cannot be said OF the large farm.
Then again, there are thousands of
| farmers wanting homes, and by cutting
up the large, Improbable bodies OF land
they can, many of them, secure what
they want. The idle acres that are ne
elected and LETT to grow up in weeds and
bushes Will be cleared up and made to
! produce q money earning crop, thus not
only bringing return on the invest
ment, but enabling honest, industrious
! people to live. What we want is more
and better homes, a higher state of cuIti-
walton and no useless waste OF land. In
| other words, we want small farms in
stead of great tracts of lands that are in
cumbrances to the owners as well as
| nrOtitlaSS