Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-01-10
The Forty Acre Farm.

The average northwe tern farmer is
possessed of the idea that not less than
100 acres of land is necessary in order
for him to profitably employ his time
and labor. While under condition
incident to new country, where land
was cheap and methods necessarily slip
shod and wasteful, this assumption may
have been justified, it is none the less
true that with the changed conditions
Of the present there is much to be said
farms, we'll titled, are a very marked
factor in all the most prosperous agri-
cultural sections OF the old world. We
have been asked to state in what manner
could man operate farm of forty
acres so as to makea good living and
save a little money 1t is not an easy
question to answer, because. given the
best conditions for carrying on such a
farm, not every man has been properly
educated to successfully do it, The
conduct of such a farm involves at the
SldIb uu CuttfC thduSC hi CAiotibS
methods the adoption OF an intensive
system OF working the land and regard
for small economies which are largely
wanting in prevailing methods. There
will have to be greater diversification Of
crops and literal making OF two blades
of grass and two kernels OF corn to grow
where but one grew before. The COW,
and for such a farm she should be of
the highest dairy type, will have the
leading place on such forty acre farm;
the cow will be supplemented to the
fullest extent possible by the hen; few
pigs may be kept, but not many; there
should be at least two acres of orchard,
vegetable garden and small fruits and
if one can properly care for them twenty
five or thirty hives of bees in the orchard.
In the matter of stock and poultry, only
pure bred amin ais should be kept, as
quite an income may easily be derived
by having pure-bred animals, fowls and
eggs for sale to breeders. Corn should
be the main grain crop raised, as this
better than almost any other crop will
stand forcing and make the largest re-
turn for extra fertilizing and cultivation.
There are several special crops, which,
on such farm, it would pay to raise,
such as onions, celery, popcorn, potatoes.
II not located too far FROM market, to-
matoes, peppers, melons, cabbages and a
good large bed Of asparagus could be
made very profitable. The raising Of
forty bushels OF corn or oats to the acre
on quarter section farm and the selling
OF such crop at twenty cents bushel,
as so many do, represents what is proba.
bly, the most Improbable type OF farm
ing to be found, and from this low level
is we'll defined series OF steps upward
and forward, and well up towards the
top will be found the well conducted
forty acre farm.
A farmer will have the best success
with those crops and that kind Of stock
which he knows best how 10 raise. New
things are apt to he failures
The pessimist. occupied with mag
inary evils, forgets to fight real ones.
Take sides and that moment all the
reasons opposing your course bristle
around you.
In the struggle for existence the am
bush and skirmish are to be moro
feared than battle.
To live in the world, we must have
much tolerance OF others; to live
alone. yet more of ourselves.
Not to smoke and yet have no OBJ
| lection to smoking promises tolerance
| in much more serious matters.
A good thought. not followed by ac-
tion, is spark which falls dead ON
the hearth. leaving its wood unkindled.
Y