The silver star., 1897-05-13
Small Farms.

I have always been an advocate of
comparatively small farms, believing
them to be the ideal farms, says a writ
er in the New England Farmer. and
have found that great deal of pro-
when managed right. To illustrate:
have grown the past season on four
teen square rods of land. twelve BUSH
els of Strawberries, selling to the
amount of twenty-nine dollars and sew
enty five cents: besides using all we
wanted in the family of four persons:
some we're also given away. From five
rows Of cabbages, fifteen rods long, we
had all We wanted to use, stored some
for winter. sold to the amount Of ten
dollars and forty-six cents, besides
some waste and small heads fed out.
Nine rows Of onions. fifteen rods long,
produced twenty-three bushels Of fine
onions. Oats yielded fifty-six bushels
to the acre. In 1895 they did little
better-sixty-one and One-half to the
acre. Onions also did better that year.
From piece Of ground 27x64 feet.
harvested forty-three bushels. Now
who will say, In the face of such facts.
that a small farm cannot be made to
support family in good shape. In
deed, I am certain that II properly
managed very few acres will support
a family well: and II l was q young
man again, l would purchase q piece
OF land somewhere, even II 1t were but
two acres. and build up home there
on; then II more land was needed. add
-, ~ tor o,.flo ~ nffaraA
I have great deal of faith In well en-
riched and properly managed soil.
like the term intensive farming" and
the more we apply It to our farming
operations. the better 1t will be for us.
Starting Tomato Seeds.-Take cigar
box, pry the bottom loose q little to
let out the water. All with nice soft
dirt, place the seed just where you
want them, and cover one half inch.
l generally push them into the dirt
with q match. Soak It with hot water
not hot enough to scald the seed but
warm enough to warm up the dirt. box
and all. Now, to keep the surface wet
and to keep them wnrm fold news
paper and tie over the top of the box.
Place the box On an iron mantel shelf
In the family room. kitchen or some
place to keep the heat up pretty regu-
lar, aud don't forget to take q look
ut them the fourth day after planting.
II you walt many hours longer you will
be apt to find your plants long and
leggy. Set the box In q sunny win
dow or where they will get good strong
Dlante and In transplantlng be careful
not to break the small flbrous roots
Ex.
Glover Hay.-Clovcr hay Ia much
better appreciated than It used to be.
While most horsemen In cities are still
shy Of It. the farmers know. a. they
always have done. that In nutritious
value II far surpasses Timothy or other
grassen. II contains more NITROGEN
Gus nutrition than the grasses. This
II what makes II hard to cure without
turning dark colored. but the late clo-
YER crop, which II always nearly black
when got into the barn. ID for sheen.
cows and calves tho best hay Of ail.-
Ex.
For thousands Of years the farmer
has been working with his hands and
others have to . too great extent
reaped the reward for his toll. Now he
IL beginning to work with his brain.
with the result Of reaping the reward
himself.
A fresh esq has . limeiiks surface
- lka ahafn ~