The herald., 1896-02-28
A WOMAN FARMER

Miss Mary T.. Cutler, Holliston,
Mass, is counted among the success
fal farmers of her state. And success
in farming, she has shown, means not
only to grow crop but to turn that
crop into money. This farm COM
prised less than 70 acres, an hours
ride from Boston. A few days ago Miss
Cutler WAS called to Boston to tell the
farmers meeting what to grow for
profit and how to do it.
For market garden she has found a
rocky soil should be avoided, as deep
cultivation is necessary, and clay
subsoil is drawback, as, unless under
drained, the land will be cold and late.
The proper soil will have sandy or
gravelly bottom, and the location, if
one may have choice, will be with an
eastern or southern exposure. In the
selection of seed, Miss Cutler said, look
first for quslity,a and pay theprice If it is
eny ways reasonable. With cheap or
old seed. the expense of preparing the
land, fertilizers. time and labor are
thrown away. Trying new varieties is
interesting, but 1t is also disappointing
aud expensive, as not more than one in
twenty proves to be of more value than
the old standard sorts. New varieties
should be tested at public expense at
the experiment stations and agricul-
tural colleges. Small gard sners sbonld
not attempt to grow their own seed, as
it is chea! or to buy where there is a re-
liable firm to deal with. When seed
man proves satisfactory, stick to him.
Don't go running after strange gods,
but let we'll enough alone. A good
year for one crop is generally an off
year for another, aud the success with
the one helps out the other. But, il a
crop fails one year, 60 into it heavier
than ever the next, as the majority OF
the growers will be discouraged and
will not try it again. 1t is not enough
for success to cover crop deep with
fertilizers; 1t must also be dressed
with energy AID ingenuity and intelli-
gence. Market gardening is not easy
work, and it is we'll SO. All farming is
hard to do; If it we're easy il
wculd engage low grade of men
and it would be low grade
business No one who has passed the
t ree-score mark should undertake
market gardening as a business; II is
too taxing. If the work is not early il
is late, and IL not late it is early, and
too much of a demand upon vitality.
The best fruit and vegetables to grow
are those that will make over into the
most money. Aim to have q variety
in kind and color for the mark ct
wagon, and In each season all that be.
longs to il, with some things in ad
vance of it. Market gardening today
is not as profitable rs it WAS ten years
ago, but operations now are 80 eimpli
fed that even with lower prices there
remains fair profit. One secret OF
success is in not attempting to do toe
much; that lie, in having effort exceed
the capital and experience at com
mand. More men have stranded from
trying to do too much than from any
other cause.
One farmer of the audience eX
pressed himself as much pleased with
Miss Cutters success, but WAS afraid
the impression was going out that
farming can be made to pay, and he
knew it couldn't. Now, could woman
Miss Cutler or any other, start out
without capital or experience AND
make 1t Ply? Didn't Miss Cutler gu
better prices because dealing with
friends?
To this Miss Cutler made answer
that friendship is poorest pay" Tnt
products from her farm were sold II
the nearby towns and mostly to stran
gers. In no other business is expert
ence more necessary, and when garden
] ing under glass 10 added there must b.