Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-12-08
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
HOW TO BEGIN A FARM.
Ad, ice to n Beginner, hut Even Old
Farmers win Profit by
Reading This.


l am thinking of starting smayl
farm on a place containing about 200
acres, so of which is cleared, rest in
good blackjack and long-leaf pine. Soil
is very light inclined to be sandy.
Road running on boundary of place
has been cut down into the clay,
showing clay subsoil. | don't know
how deep this clay is. The land is run
down by negro farming. Some of the
best land is hillside, running down to
a branch on both sides. My idea is to
plant enough grain and feed for two
head of stock. Plant rest in truck and
berries. | expect to have to run at
least two years without profit
/. want to know what it will cost
to run this place two years, and feed
myself and mules, starting with no
feed on place. What will be best time
of year to start in to make the place
begin as soon as possible to feed me
and the stock while | am bringing up
the land to get some profit out of it,
2. would like to know also how
much it would probably cost, and what
kind of stock to stock the place with,
some fertilizer-bearing stock.
3. / am greenhorn, and have not
got into the scrape yet. If | DO, hope
to mix all the common sense ] have
or can get with all the advice can get
into a kind of compost-heap, and see
il can make good fertilizer for mix
ing in all around. That is my object
in taking the Southern Cultiyator II
year before ] expect to begin.-J. f.,
Florence, S. c.
Answer: /. We think you are wise
in proposing to try your hand farm
ing This is the noblest, freest and
happiest pursuit. There is plenty room
here for energy and brains, and there
is pay for their proper use. The cost
will depend largely upon the manage
ment and plan pursued. A horse or
mule will consume about seventy-dol-
lars n year. But much of this can be
grown upon the farm the first year.
The best time, if you were simply
running an ordinary farm, would be
in the spring. But as you propose to
go into berries and trucking, it would
be better to begin in September. Pre-
pare your land thoroughly by break
ing your clay subsol ten of twelve
inches and narrowing smooth and fine.
Then set your berries in early fall, so
as to give them time to root well.
Some wheat, winter oats, rye and bar
ley for cutting and feeding green, as
hay, and dry. Thus you will greatly
reduce your feeding bill Your own
board will be expense until your
truck begins to come in spring. Would
therefore say you would have to meet
six months for yourself and stock;
perhaps it might be eight months, or
about one hundred and fifty dollars.
Your expense bill for labor will be
according to the management, and
you can estimate that nearer than we
could. BY April your truck should
come in, and after that your farm
should run itself Truck for sale and
crops for feed should succeed each
other in regular rotation.
You will need about a half dozen
or more cows, as you wish, to start
with. The COW is the best and cheaL-
est fertilizer factory on earth. These
cows will cost you anywhere from ten
to thirty dollars each, according to
the grade and breed. If you are so
situated as to use the milk or butter
proftably, the high-priced cows would
pay best. But if you can not use the
milk, then the cheaper grades will do
to begin with. But breed always
from thoroughbred male. From one
hundred to one hundred and fifty dol
lars should cover this item.
3. This is the best part of your
programme. The more brain you use
the larger will be your returns. There
is more room for the profitable use OF
brains on the farm than anywhere.
Study, read, think, observe, and do not
fall into ruts, and you will succeed
Let us hear from you, how you are
getting along.-Southern Cultiyator.