Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-04-27
FARMING AS A BUSINESS.
Practical Suggestion on the Pos
sibilities of a Two-Horse Farm.

Southern Cultivator.
At the Farmers Convention
held in Augusta, Ca, on the 15tf
of February / was invited, by
gentleman who is deeply interest
ed in the agriculture of the State
to write for the press short arti
Gle on the possibilities of two
horse farm in Georgia. At frs
thought that seemed to be an easy
task, but after a little study the
matter presents itself in such 8
magnitude and variety of phases
as to make it almost impossible tc
treat the subject intelligently in g
very short space. I have there,
fore concluded to discuss it only
as srelated to the capabilities of the
ordinary two-horse farm and in
methods as to such crops as are
generally grown by the farmers Of
this section, and I shall write less
for instruction to those already en-
gagged in farming here than for in
formation to those who may desire
to cast their lot among US and en-
Joy with US the lnunifcent gifts of
soil, and climate, which are un-
surpassed by any other country on
the globe.
In the beginning I shall lay
down two or three propositions,
and when they are admitted as
true, for I shall not consume your
valuable space in attempting to
prove them, we will begin to con-
slider the subject in its practical
bearings, and I shall confne my
self to what has already been at
tanned on many farms and can be
accomplished by every man of
average enterprise and ability:
1st. For successful farming the
farmer must either own the land
or have continual lease upon it.
confidently believe the terrible
famine in Russia one year ago and
again at the present time is the
legitimate result of their system
of farming.
I'd. The first object of the farmer
is to raise a comfortable living for
himself and family.
sd. Hffs Hffs--.,ax+nhjaat-i -cnntin--
ually to increase the value and
productiveness of his soil.
AS the chemist must have his
laboratory supplied with the nee
essary arts and appliances of his
profession if he wishes to conduct
his researches in satisfactory and
profitable manner, SO must the
farmer be supplied with the tools
and implements which are neces-
sary to the economic and success
full prosecution nf his farm work.
With these provided for, we are
now ready for tae apportlonment
of stock and land.
A two-horse farm conducted Oh
the intensive plan will require
fifty acres of arabic land of fairly
good quality, exclusive of pastures
and meadows. Of this, two acres
should be set apart for kitchen
garden and truck patch, which
should at once be brought up to a
high state of cultivation by very
liberal manuring. The remaining
forty-eight acres should be sub
divided into four equal parts and
continuous system of four years
rotation practiced upon it as fol-
lows: 10 acres oats, 12 acres corn
and peas, and "a acres cotton. In
the rotation corn should always
follow cotton, cotton follow cotton
and oats, and oats follow corn. In
addition to the above, peas should
always be sown broadcast upon oat
stubble just as soon as the oats
are taken off; it would also be
we'll if the cotton land was sown
in rye at the last plowing of the
cotton in July or August.
The crops should receive an an.
nual minimum application of cot
ton seed meal and acid phosphate
az follows: Corn, 200 lbs per acre
oats, 300 pounds per acre; cotton
300 lbs per acre; peas in the corn
100 lbs per acre; peas after oats
200 lbs per acre. Allowing 1,0o(
lbs per acre for the truck patch
this will give US total of 1880
pounds, costing at present price
about $3.50. From this crop W.
may reasonably expect 10 bales o
cotton, worth at present prices
$3.50; 450 bushels of cotton seed
worth $135; 24o bushels of corn
worth $144; 4S0 bushels of oats
,o,tb e0d0. 10 hueho1c of neae