Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-16
Running n Farm.
CThe Country Gentleman)

Editors Country Gentleman.
A young man of 10 will next year have
10 take charge and work his mothers
place of forty acres, near railroad; nearest
market, Washington, ID. {. Place mas
had poor cultivation for several years.
and is much run down, except garden and
a small lot, where a good crop Of potatoes
is generally grown. His means are limit
ed. They own two horses, two COWS,
and raise a good many fowls. He wishes
TO get place in good order with least ex-
penditure and quickest returns. one held
has an old apple-Orchard at one end
the other being principally low ground
with spring branch running through IL.
1t would seem that the old style OF farm
ing-co-n and wheat-is not the best IN
this case Can you suggest rotation
that will bring quicker results, or, per-
haps, entirely different methods?
NJ A. II.
ANSWER by Professor /. r. Roberts)
The young farmer should, first of all,
plough deeply this fall. 1t is not yet TOO
| late TO SOW rye as a cover crop on this
! land Next spring the ground should be
reploughed when the rye is from four
| inches to a foot high Do not delay the
ploughing until the season is advanced
| and the rye is tall. During the fall and
/ winter a careful study should be made
/ of the markets in Washington, and ope-
rations should be planned with the view
/ of raising those things which Will bring
| the highest prices and which are always
| the most difficult ones tc cultivate.
For example. it has been bad season
| (difficulO for potatoes in Central New
/ York. but those who have been successful
enough 10 raise good potatoes in most
/
/ $50 pee acre for them. Many other crops
/ might be mentioned which will give as
! large or larger gross returns.
Try to get a few acres Of the land fertile
| and productive. Just how it is best 10
secure increased yields can never be de-
! terrnined beforehand. Next year as soon
! as the crops come off, plough and sow
/ crimson clover, as il is usually cheaper 10
! improve the land, especially that Whlch
| il deficient in nitrogen, by the introduc-
! ton of legume as cover crop tldh 10
! improve II with manures or even tertll-
| GERS II should be remembered that the
/ cover crops. which are TO be soWh every
wear. sowing clover early in the season
| and rye when il is too late for clover,
| NAV not bring the land up as readily as
! desired. and il would be an excellent plan
| IN use commercial fertilizers intellgently.
| II can soon be determined by leaving
! some rows untreated whether The use OF
| fertilizers is profitable on tnis land. Keep
on with the corn and wheat old-style
farming on a part Of the land, and do not
invest 100 much in high-priced manures
10 start with. As the inquirer is only
! 1e wears of age, he has many things 10
learn and he can learn more cheaply on
small areas than on large ones. In fact'
| ne had better let a part Of the farm lie
| idle rather than TO undertake intenslhed
| agriculture. on a large scale, the first few
| years.
on such a farm as this poultry should
| foru a prominent industry. Then, too'
sU,ine might be INTRODUCED into the or
| cbard. In truck farming, there is much
refuse material. and my experience is that
MICS are quite as profitable as poultry.
desire TO caution this young man not
! 20 start any Of these new industries
tbot Is new 10 him, in a large way, but
90 no satisfied with a few chickens, two
ar three brood sOws at most. ana a
sroou area of the various kinds Of high
nriced vegetables. ! desire also to adj
nopisb him 10 study this winter. II ne
co,,Id 90 TO some college and take three
roonths' winter course, he would get IN
sniration and much valuable knowledge.
7, the warm climate Of the District OF
Columbia and. as l judge, light soil. pains
sboul1 be taken 10 keep the land nllec
vim humus This. also. II properly man
a-od will furnish all the nitrogen needed
,rben the mineral matter which Is rela'
,t,-elv cheap. can be added in the form Of
Dotasb sulphate, or muriate. and phOs'
rboric acid in the form OF acid rock oil
bone phosphate