The record-union., 1894-01-18
FARM AND ORCHARD.
Don't Enlarge the Farm-Cultivate
Well What You Have.
Loosen the Check Rein-Oil for Wagon
Tires-Preserving Grapes-Nari-
Gus Items of Interest.

There seems to be very general desire
on the part of the farmers of this coun-
try to obtain a larger quantity OF iand.
There are cases in which this is Wise
ambition, but such instances are not
nearly as common as is the wish to OBJ
tain larger farms. Under the present
conditions of agriculture our farmers, as
rule, already have more land than they
can cultivate to the best advantage.
As things are now, and as they are
likely TO be for a long time TO come. the
profits of farming are to be increased by
securing larger crops per acre rather
than by tilling a larger number OF acres. |
Most of the farmers who wish that they
had more land now own considerable
acres which have not been brought nearly
up to their limit of profitable production.
In these cases the owners will find 1t
much more profitable to manure their
present fields more literally and culti-
vate them more thoroughly than 1t Will
he to spread their work over large
number of acres.
The expense of conducting large bus
iness, and the risk which 1t involves. Will
be much greater than will be the case
with one of less magnitude. 1t is popu-
lar theory that the proportion OF expense
decreases as a business is enlarged Re-
garding some things, and even in some
lines of farming, this proves true, but
multitudes of farmers who have tested It
have not found the theory correct when
applied 20 their business as whole. The
fixed charges, such as taxes and fencing
land interest on the capital invested
should also be included), are enlarged
H. III l,n cJv ~
increased. If all the land upon which
these expenses are laid is kept highly
productive the charges may be paid and
still leave a good profit. But II, as IS al
most sure to be the case, good deal OF
the land falls far below its possible rate
OF production these costs will bear very
heavily, and, when added to those OF the
original farm. may prove quite emoar-
raSSlng.
a great many men who can manage
small or medium business prohtabiy
cannot be nearly as successful IN conduct
ing operations on a much larger scale.
Numerous instances might be cited OF
farmers who have done well on small
farms, but who, by getting more land un-
der cultivation, have increased both their
expenses and their anxieties, while their
profits have been reduced.
The exceptions TO the rule that farms of
moderate size are much more desirable
than those which are very large are very
few, In almost every case the man who
has money that he wishes to invest in en-
larging his farm would use his capital far
more wisely by putting it into improve
ments and rendering more productive the
land that he already owns. The man
who has farm but has no ready money
will take great risk in buying more
land. Under such circumstances the pur-
chase of a larger area will involve years
,>fH ,,-1 lob nd crr-n0 aT n
and worry. 1t will subject him to the
numerous inconveniences and troubles
which debt always brings, and may COM
pel him to sacrifice not only his own hap
mess, but also the best interests of his
family. Such a man may want many
things, but if he is wise he will resist the
temptation to buy more land.-John i.
Read in American Farmer and Farm
News.
GENERAL FARM ITEMS
Grease the wagon wheels regularly
without waiting TO be told of it by their
squeaking.
Never allow anything to be marketed
in poor conditional gOod-looking pack
age will always pay for itself.
Potatoes and onions are crops which on
the average will yield good returns If
properly planted, cultivated and mar
keted.
Get butter print and stamp your name
on the butter cakes that are sent 10 mar
ket. If you make trst-class butter your
brand will be sought after.
An Eastern farmer who has been feed
ing wheat says that two quarts of wheat
are equal in feeding value to four quarts
OF oats, and stock like it better
Some farmers make it point TO pro-
duce enormous hogs, and the weights are
published as news, but it Is ubtful if
such hogs are as profitable as those that
are of medium size.
Too much Importance cannot be given
the seed, and this is the proper time to
attend to such matters. The saving OF
a few cents in pound of seed may lead
TO the loss Of several bushels in the crop.
Milk. butter and eggs are articles that
bring in something every day. One does
not have TO give credit or wait for rise
in the market. The returns are cash and
help to bridge over the time from one
harvest to the next.
The horse can perspire through all the
pores of its body, much as man, and cat
tie do the same to a limited extent. but
the hog never. His escape valves are
confined to the oriices upon the inside of
his legs.-Prairie Farmer.
The manure from different kinds of
stock, fed in different ways, will be
widely different IN quality. 1t is a good
plan to have a manure pit so arranged
that all can be thrown in together and
thoroughly mixed before being put out
to the field.
The rhubarb and asparagus beds should
be we'll manured now, so that the fertil-
ity can be sinking down TO the roots as
the SHOWS of winter melt into the SOIL
The more generous you are with the
manure the more profitable Will you find
these items of your garden.
1t is claimed that medium m-weight hogs
are the most profitable to grow. They
mature between two winters. and so re-
quire the least grain for finishing of.
After hog has passed $50 pounds it is
doubtful it the average feeder can put
another ounce on him with any profit.
Time flies very rapidly. Put out an
orchard and even if it does take five or
six wears TO come into bearing, you will
have an orchard almost before you know
il. One thing certain-ify you refuse to set
out trees because some waiting will be
required you will never have an orchard.
Plenty of pure air is essential, but when
it comes in at all sides of the barn, and
through cracks and creviceS, 1t is not very
desirable. AS stables and barns are not
usually lathed and plaStered, there should
be no anxiety so far as fresh air is con-
cerned in winter. The greatest difficulty
viii be to keep it out
An English method of testing butter to
determine its purity, is to smear clean
piece of white paper with the suspected
article roll it up and set it on fire. If
the butter is good the paper will emit
decidedly pleasant odor, but if there is
any animal fat in the product the smell
will be Enthusiastically tallowy.
Good stock is the most economical. 1t
costs just as much to feed COW that pro-
duces 100 pounds of butter years as 10
keep one that produces 400 pounds. There
is also a saving OF labor and shelter. and