The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-12-25
FARMERAND PLANTER.
THE SMALL FARM.
There IL Profit In q Little Farm II 1t A.
Well Titled.


Well Titled.
Many farmers spread their labor,
over TOO great an area of land, doing
nothing well and being always hur.
ried and behind in their work, with nc
time for rest or recreation. BY at.
tempting TO cover too much ground
The work is only half accomplished
with the result that the yield is much
Aessened and the quality of an inferior
grade, so that the returns from the
large farm in many instances will not
cover cost OF production; while, If
.nere should be a small surplus, large
taxes and cost of repairs will swallow
~ up. 80 that the hard worked farmer
mas nothing to show at the end of the
year for his long season of tedious La
bor
VI course there are some men DOS
sessed with capital and exceptional
business talent who are making large
farms pay all expenses and yield a
handsome profit besides; but the ma
Jority OF farmers will secure better re-
suits and obtain more real enjoyment
Tor themselves and families by adopt
ing system of extensive farming.
The writer has but Az acres of land.
half OF which is under cultivation. the
other half being in sugar brush and
pasture, as 1T Is unsuited for tillage.
From this rs acres of tillable land is
produced enough to maintain a family
OF six persons, and fodder for the stock
Kept. besides sufficient to sell to re turn a
handsome surplus each year. A couple
OF well-bred Jersey cows are kept.
which give an abundance of whole
some butter and cream for the table
ana some to sell. Generally three
horses are kept, eight to ten ewes, and
enough hogs to furnish pork for family
use aud six or eight for sale each sea
son. A small flock Of poultry is kept.
and from ten TO twenty colonies of
bees. by giving the best of tiIIage.
enough wheat Is grown for use, suf-
neient clover and timothy for stock.
and some corn, oats and peas; but oc-
casionally little rough grain and
shorts is purchased to add to the roots
which are grown and boiled for
the hogs. A considerable guam
tity OF onions are grown for
sale each year, and there is a
vell-cared-for apple orchard of 325
trees The main money crop is small
fruit, Of which there are some eight
acres under culture. Our returns from
this usually average about $50 per acre
clear of all expenses.
With such farm taxes are low, and
fencing repairs and machinery cost
but little, SO that there Is a handsome
Income and but little outlay us COM
pared with larger farms.
There is always an abundance of
fruit, both fresh aud preserved, a con-
slant supply of maple strip and choice
honey, extracted aud in the comb.
which, with vegetables and the prod
net OF the poultry yard and dairy,
leaves little to be desired for the table |
ut all seasons.
In the fall there is always time for
the family to take u short pleasure
trip or holiday of some description, and |
during the long winter there is ample |
leisure for improving the mind by |
reading and study, and for maturing |
plans for the following seasons work.
We are but young farmers, and. of |
course. there are much needed i'm
which we shall make as |
admit; but we would |
not exchange our present farm life for
y home in the city, or for larger farm
with its increased expenses and long
hours of toll throughout the entire
year.-Cor. Epitomist.