The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-03
AGRICULTURE.

The United States pays out annually
more than one hundred millions of dol
lars for sugar, and yet is capable of pro-
ducing all that is needed. This country
certainly has far wider field suited to
the raising of beets, and it will be her
own fault il European countries longer
outstrip her.
A farmers prosperity can be pretty
accurately told by his manner of caring
for the tools with which he works; and,
again, how many needless fences he
might remove altogether. The growing
scarcity Of timber certainly leads to a
closer consideration of the fence ques-
ton.
Did you prepare the summers stove
wood in January or February? Then
do it now by all means. Is all the ma
chinery in order? There should not be
an hours delay when spring work opens.
So many things can be done now which
must be done sooner or later.
One good way to do is to manure
heavily clover sod, and when the
clover comes through it few weeks
later-about the LIST of June-plow it
down, broadcast about 1000 pounds of
phosphate to the acre, pulverize well
and plant in potatoes. A satisfactory
crop is almost certain.
Road making consists of as many
problems as there are different mater
ials of which they can be built. 1t is a
profession. 1t should be taught in the
colleges, and furnish lucrative positions
to those who have successfully mastered
it's difficulties. Thousands are spent
every year in attempts to build roads
by those who do not know how.
In the future progressive farmers will
have their fertilizers made to order, and
progressive dealers will be ready to fill
those orders. The farmers must know
even the varying wants of every field,
and the task will not be difficult one
By constant testing he will know just
in what elements his land is poor.
A change is readily noticed when one
visits locality where one or more in
stitutes have been held. They set the
people to thinking. The contented
man is not the one who makes progress.
When one doubts the wisdom of pre-.
vailing methods. he finds better ones.
1t is the doubter who makes intellectual
growth.
The farmer should know far better
than the agent what his farm needs in
the way of plant food, however we'll in
formed that agent may be. The farmer
must know for himself, and there is no
escape. 1t is a lesson, like every other
lesson, which no one else can learn for
him.
II you live in Northern climate. have
an ice house before next winter. You
want it for dairy; it pays it's way in pre-.
serving meat and vegetables from waste;
it shows your city visitors that farmers
can have the comforts and luxuries Of
life as we'll as they, and this is a worthy
desire.
Unless a farmer can grow better seed
than he can get of reputable seed deal
ers. he would better buy all the seed for
his garden. The few he will require
will not cost much, and if he can know
they have been grown apart from other
costly related varieties. they will be
more than enough better to offset the
extra outlay of money.
We hardly realize how few farmers
excel in their methods. When the
average products Of our farms approach
the best records of the best farmers we
shall be able to feed at least four times
as many people as we now feed.