The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-05-21
MORE METHOD IN FARMING.
Certain Fundamental Principles that Must
be Observed in Order to In
sure Success.

There are many good ways to run a
farmland probably and equal number
of bad ways seem to be the worst pos
sible. There are successful truck farm
ers, successful general stock farmers,
successful farmers who make hogs,
horses, sheep or cattle speciality.
There are some comparatively success
full farmers who make cotton their
main crop, with only corn enough to
feed the plow mules three months of
the year There is range enough in
the agricultural field to please the
most exacting as to variety Some
farmers are adapted to one farm or
one method, and some to another; and
SO it goes. However, there are certain
fundamental principles that apply to
all farms and all farmers-ju Just as the
whole vast range of mathematical
science is based on few axioms. At
the beginning. every fence, building,
or structure of any kind from barn to
chicken coop, should be substantially
built. 1t is better to build smaller
than to build amply, but temporary, in
character. Let every post be of dur
able wood, well set in the ground. Let
every board be full thickness and well
nailed on, and don't build more than
can be painted. Remember the wise
man who builded on a rock, and his
house stood the gale; also, the fool,
who built on sand and the rains de-
seconded and the winds blew and beat
upon the house and it fell, and great
was the fall of it. He who build for
to-day will spend tomorrow repair
ing. Early dilapidation is the result
of neglect of these principles, which
apply to every structure on the farm
residence, barn, stables, cribs, grain
bins, hog sheds. chicken coops, fences,
etc The soil must be fed if it pro-
duces. As well expect milk from a
starved COW as to expect a continued
succession of crops from starved out
soil The soil is like bank-you can't
draw on it forever without making a
deposit Some soils require more feed
ing than others, but the only excep-
ton to the rule is the deep alluvium of
the river bottoms. and these are fed by
the sediment from occasional over
flows. Success depends largely upon
an intelligent study of methods. Farm
ing is not exempt from the rule that
the man best qualified, other things
being equal, is the man who knows
most about his business; and man
can never know much who does not
think, study methods. As the farmer
must sell products in order to prosper,
il becomes necessary to study markets
as well as methods. 1t is as necessary
to sell well as 10 produce well Some
men by nature are incapacitated
| for outdoor business But many,
even of these, can overcome this
natural deficiency by putting into
requisition an extra amount of deter
mination and persistence. In g9 cases
in every l00 IL will be wise to vary
crops. on the principle that 10 is not
safe to carry all ones eggs to market
i'm one basket. ANY single crop will
| reduce both farm and farmer TO power
| ty. A judicious diversity is necessary
| To general success. aud the crops 10 b,
| produced and the stock 20 be kept will
| vary with conditions aud surroundings
| and also with farmers. la adopting q
| system there is a wide field for the ex
ercise Of judgment That which viii
suit one farmer may not suit another
| that which suits one farm may not suit
The one across the 'lauv. There can b.