The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-05-07
Small Farms.

l have always been an advocate OF
comparatively small farms, believing
them to be the ideal farms, says writ
er in the New England Farmer, and
have found that great deal Of pro-
duce can be grown on small farm
when managed right. To illustrate: I
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-fve cents: besides using all we
wanted in the family Of four persons;
some were 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 a little
hetter-sixty-one and cne-half to the
acre. Onions also did better that year.
From n piece of ground 27x64 feet, /
harvested forty-thfec bushels. Now
who will say in the face 81 such facts,
that a small farm cannot be made to
support a family in good shape. In
deed, / am certain that If properly
managed very few acres will support
a family we'll; and if l was young
man again, l would purchase piece
of land somewhere, even if it were but
two acres, and build up home there
on; then if more land was needed, add
to it afterwards as opportunity offered.
l have a great deal of faith in we'll en-
riched and properly managed soil.
like the term intensive farming" and
the more we apply it to our farming
operations, the better it will be for us.
Starting Tomato Seeds.-Take cigar
box, pry the bottom loose a little to
let out the water, fill with nice soft
dirt, place the seed just where you
want them, and cover one half inch.
| generally push them into the dirt
with match. Soak it with hot water
mot 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 warm fold a 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, and don't forget to take look
at them the fourth day after planting.
If you wait many hours longer you will
be apt to find your plants long and
leggy. Set the box in sunny win
dow or where they will get good strong
plants and in transplanting be careful
not to break the small fibrous roots
Elk.
Glover Hay.-Clover hay is much
better appreciated than it used to be.
While most horsemen in cities are still
shy of it, the farmers know, as they
always have done, that in nutritious
value it far surpasses timothy or other
grasses. 1t contains more nitrogen
GUS nutrition than the grasses. This |
ia what makes it hard to cure without
turning dark colored. but the late clo-
yer crop, which is always nearly black |
when got into the barn, is for sheep.
cows and calves the best hay of ALL !
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
IS beginning to work with his brain,
with the result Of reaping the reward
himself.
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