The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-09-09
A Living from a Small Farm.

Eastern conditions. but the most
Of IL can be adapted, unchanged, for
other parts OF the country, The
small farm in the West Is not the
small farm OF the East, but the argu-
ments In favor OF trying il are even
stronger in the West than In the
East:
II freqentlv receive letters from
men. and occasionally from women,
who are very desirous 10 go on "a
farm, and who yet fear TO do so be-
cause OF inexperience, lest they
should make failure. have a
deep sympathy for the man who has
tired OF working in a factory, or n
store, or day laborer, and who is
anxious for more independent life.
i believe there are many such who
might better their condition and
lengthen their lives by going on a
farm. AS word OF encouragement
TO such, / would say that some OF the
most systematic and thorough farm
ers in the country are those.who have
had business training in other call
ings, and who carried their methods
OF thoroughnesS into their farm work.
There are thousands OF men whose
wages range from $50 10 $50
month, and who pay from one-fourth
10 one-third OF this amount for house
rent who are obliged TO exercise
rigid economy, and who know II they
were disabled from work their fami.
lies would soon suffer, or II through "A
strike or panic in business they we're
thrown out OF employment their saw
ipgs would soon be swept away
Many such could make success OF
farm life IL they would begin on
small scale, with few acres OF land,
who would be sure TO fail IL they at
tempt TO manage a large farm and
compete with experienced farmers
In growing wheat corn, and stock.
1.-TWO points must be observed III
the novice would expect success:
First, the farm must " so managed
as To furnish as far as possible the
family supplies, and second, until one
has learned what income the farm
can be depended on 10 produce. the
expenses must be kept at minimum.
The mistake too often made by the
beginner In farming is TO undertake
too much and load himself down with
debt My advice is TO make IL the
first object 10 produce family sup
plies Even small farm will fur
nish an abundant supply >@f vegeta-
bles for the entire year; small fruits
in their season, and enough TO can;
"A % nj -,
sell; pork for hams and lard and dairy
products. AS the farm furnishes "A
house, one can live well with little
cash. AS there will BE- taxes, In ur-
ance and some necessary expenses
that call for cash, there must be some
products on which one can defend for
an income, and these must be deter
mined by the soil and the market.
On even farm OF ten or fifteen
acres / can heartily recommend cows
and poultry TO furnish the necessary
cash. 1t is quite a moderate estl-
mate that 81 per year can be received
from each hen kept, and in many To-
calities where good prices can be had
this might be doubled. Where CON
tracts can be made by the year TO fur
nish. cream or butter, from $50 TO as
high as 800 per cow Is received from
many herds, and this can be none In
many places. IL the farm Is small IL
will pay TO keep the cows up In the
stable and small ward, and carry the
feed to them and save all the manure.
This Will enable one TO do without
fences and to cultivate all the land
i would grow corn, wheat, potatoes,
and clover; wheat 10 follow the pota-
toes and corn, clover TO be sown with
the corn TO be grown with reference
TO furnishing food for the cows, and
the wheat not only 70 furnish suit
able preparation for seeding TO clover.
but also TO give breadstuff and straw
for bedding. In some localities other
products may prove profitable on a
part OF the farm. Sweet potatoes,
nutmeg melons, cabbage, and small
fruits are profitable II there l. good
market for them, and any one OF
these will yield from one TO three or
more hundred dollars per acre. But
the beginner must feel bis way care
fully before trying any new thing. II
would be less risk 10 grow only few
crops as / suggested, and depend
largely on cows and poultry for cash
products: for, If the small fruits were
grown, the poultry would need ~ be
confined a part Of the time.
"In these days OF rapid transit and
cheap fares men may work eight or
even ten hours a day in town or city
and live out where they can have a
little land TO cultivate. or a man may
work by the day for his neighbors
more than half the time and keep "A
cow or two and poultry on a small
farm, which will give him profitable
employment every day, when he
would otherwise be idle"
improvement Of the Soil.
There are various ways In which
land NAV no greatly imurOyel and