The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-10-20
HOW SHALL SMALL FARMERS
Make ENDS MEET.

In these days of financial unrest and
uncertainty, coupled with the hard
times and the prevailing low prices of
nearly all kinds of farm and orchard
products, the above question is to
many vital one, says M. M. Dewey in
an interesting paper read before d
recent Farmers institute in Pomona,
California, and copied in the Rural
Californian. Its many valuable sug-
gestions are as applicable to Utah con-
ditions as in the golden state.
The line between profit and loss with
many has been growing narrower and
narrower, and with the coming of the
years end has veered to the wrong side
of the account. From what l have OBJ
served it seems that a great many
people come to this land of sunshine"
with the idea that fat living may be
obtained on a small piece of land. and
with but little thought and labor.
Never was man more deluded. While
it is true that the reward is sure, and
success to those who exercise good
degree of common sense, together with
honest labor is certain; to him who
lacks the fulfillment of the proper con-
ditions, disaster is sure to follow.
How many people there are today Ia
menting the fact of hard times, who
are, in a measure, responsible for the
condition they are in.
Could not many who own a COW pro-
duce what that COW eats, instead of
paying out the cash?
Could not he who owns few chick
ems in large measure produce what
they SuhsiSt upon, instead of running
to the feed store for it?
Would not pig eat much that now
goes to waste, and in turn be eaten by
the owner or turned into cash?
Would not one or more colonies of
bees furnish much to sweeten life, and
at the same time help to increase our
orchard products by fertilizing the
blossoms?
In short, let him who has few acres
not think to plant it all to trees, and
the street corner crowd amid talks 16
to l; but let him leave a corner-a
large one-for alfalfa and fodder corn,
pumpkins and beets. All of these can
easily be grown by the roadside, and
on vacant lots, which are now produc-
ing in many cases only weeds BY so
doing he would TO a large extent solve
the problem of How to make ends
meet" He would be happier himself,
his grocer would smile to see him
bringing in the fresh eggs and sweet
sary articles in his life; and he him
self at the same time would have more
self respect, and the respect of his
neighbors.
To farmers and fruit growers who
are looking for chances of doing some
thing to make ends meet, I will say
there are many. In this and other
towns about there are today hundreds
OF vacant lots, which, with deep plow-
inc NO.. 4
each succeeding winters rain to save
the moisture, would produce without
irrigation good crops of Egyptian corn
pumpkins, beets, melons, fodder corn,
carrots, potatoes, and other products
What surprise it would be to awake
some morning, and find every vacant
lot in town, instead of being a weed
patch and eyesore, converted into, and
utilized as a resource for a livelihood.
Are we Indifferent to our chances and
opportunities? If not, then let US be
up and doing, and increase our annual
receipts until they shall be larger than
our disbursements.
The most OF us can raise as good. if
not better, vegetables as are furnished
by john Chinaman, and by SO doing
save many a nickle and dime which
now goes into his money bag and out
of circulation
Again, / would say, pay as you go.
BY SO doing you will buy only what
you need. and will need less than if
you bought on credit. Do not purchase
until you have the money to pay.
Use the old harness awhile longer, and
wear the coat threadbare, unless you
can pay for new ones. Let us resolve
to lay by something. however little, at
the end of each year, and do not delay
putting the resolution into effect until
we are gray headed. Credit is a good
thing rightly used, but many of us
abuse 1t.
Were we today as simple in our hab-
its, as economical and frugal as our
fathers, the question of how to make
ends meet" would not be as problemat-
zeal as it is now.
The most successful small farmer of
the future VIII be one who shall come
nearest to producing the necessaries Of
life. The. one-crop farmer 1 fear will
be very much in evidence as failure.
He who makes a spear of grass grow
where nothing has grown is public
benefactor.
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