Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-09-30
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THOUGHTS FOR THE FAkM.
The Question of Mined or Speciality Farm
Ing IntoiilgcntIy Discussed In
Its Various Phases.

itH various fhhAes.
During the last few years OF depres-
sion many farmers have branchcd out
IN new lines with the hope Of finding
something more profitable than the
general farming so commonly prac-
ticed. As rule they have not found
the desired profit, and have returned
to the old system, more firmly con-
vinced that spccialties do not pay. In
this they are undoubtedly mistaken.
The evidence on which they base their
opinion is derived from only one or two
years experience with new crop. In
the FIRST place their land may not have
been adapted to the crop tried. And
agian, pthe farmer not knowing the
special requirements Of the crop, fails
in this way.
Special crops, with the general farm
er, usually prove failures. While
there is much truth in the old saw
about putting all ones eggs in one
basket, yet it is much easier to watch
one basket of eggs than TO put one egg
who keeps five cows, raises two colts a
year, grows few tons OF hay, few
acres of wheat and corn, keeps half a
dozen sheep, % fowls, pair of ducks,
n hen turkey and an old SOW, has n
small garden, n few potatoes and so
cabbages, generally spends all the
pleasant days breaking the colts, and
finds that the cows eat all the hay,
the chickens the garden and the hen
turkey the cabbage, while he does not
produce enoagh of my crop to pay to
sell, ard what he does grow goes to
feed his stock.
The trouble with mixed farming is
that the farmer does not produce
enough of any one crop to call the
buyer to him. lie has so little that it
does not pay to go to the city and sell
it himself nor does he post himself on
the market price. AS consequence
he takes what he gets and wishes he
had more. If it is so or 100 pounds OF
wool he thinks another buyer will not
come his way for such small lot,
while the buyer, knowing this, offers
several cents under the market price
and then uses this sale as an opening
wedge with other and heavier WOO
growers in the community. In case
the farmer sends his stuff to market he
has only small quantity of each grade
and the salesman finds ii hard to real
ize on mixed lot Of only few pack
ages
While mixed farming is not proita
bic do not wish to advocate raising
special crops only. This would Ger
tainly prove more Improbable for the
general mass of farmers But ther,
arc many farms which are particularly
adapted TO certain crops and where TIL,
farmer has mastered the details Of an,
such crop, he may with great prof
grow it TO the exclusion of anythin!
else. The farmer should find out wha
his land is best adapted to, then maste
the details thoroughly and grow thi
crop for all there is in it, no matte
whether it be squashes or beans, Gu
} cumbers or peppermint, sheep or tur
keys, tobacco or hops, or anything els
which will pay good return for tn
money and labor invested.
Speciality farming, as opposed I
: mixed farming, means more particu
larly special lines of farming and nc
, growing one special crop only. 1t ma
be fruit growing, grain raising, truck
| ;,,,r a,.lya NJ do, ctn &c
ing or dairying with its accompan
ments of hogs and calves. If til
farmer grows fruit the crop should nc
be all peaches or Strawberries, but tn
farm should be devoted largely TO frui
> Of all kinds. BY starting with straw
= berries the summer will be col
: tinued with raspberries, cherrie,
currants, gooseberries, dewberriel
= blackberries, peaches and plumi
while the fall will find him bus
with pears and grapes, and apples wi
keep the work going half through tn
winter. In such line of farming
mans thoughts are concentrated larg,
" in one direction and his energies al
expended where they will accomplis
the most. II he tries to keep dair
and produce hay in addition to fru
growing he will find that the COW
must be MIXED at the same time tn
strawberries need picking, while
meadow OF hay must be watched an
raked when the cherries are fit to picl
The trucker will not grow cabbal
entirely, nor will the dairyman kee
nothing but cows, the poultryman rail-
anything but broilers, nor the graf
grower give his whole attention
wheat. But he should select line c
crops which will nick one with IL
: other and not conflict, and produ'
n enough of one of two things to wiel
II some influence in the market
II This is broad subject for discussic
II in single paper, but enough can
II said to show the folly Of trying to gro
II everything profitably on one farm. III
II thankfulness Of many writer's in we
II coming IA return to the good old tim
II of peace and poverty" and mix,
III farming is more moonshine than an
n thing else. Edwin c. Powell, in Cou
\ try Gentleman.