Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-30
In The Isle Of jersey.

To say that the peasant farmers on
the isle of Jersey (many of whom can
neither read nor write) are the best and
most scientific farmers in the world
sounds like a contradictory statement
9 very boastful one, to say the the least.
1 make the statement on my own &C.
count, for have never heard it said of
them, nor do the islanders themselves
set up any such clam. They are quite
unconscious Of the fact, as only ssssy
small portion of them have ever been
away from home to the extent Of Cross
ing the channel that separates the is-
land from France or England. / call
them the best farmers In the world for
the simple reason that they make their
farms produce more per acre than any
other farmers 1 ever saw or heard of.
The little island of Jersey is only IA
miles long and four to seven miles
vide. There is, however, q resident
population of 5000, and that this is
land is able to support its own inhabit-
ants and feed 10000 to $4,000 visitors
annually is something wonderful. But
when tell you that in addition to this
there is exported from the island year
ly between S30OOOOO and 100000
worth of farm and garden products no
one will question that these island
farmers deserve the distinction that L
have given them.
Early potatoes and cattle are the
principal farm products. The potato
crop alone that was shipped from the
island this year brought $2,175, ,855.
There are on the island all told about
25,OOO acres and of course great deal
of waste land along the coast, so that
there are only about 10000 acres of land
worked or titled by farmers. There are
1900 farmers, and the average sized
farm, therefore, is about s1s acres.
On an eight acre farm there will be,
say four and half to five acres of po-
tatoes followed by q crop of roots
same season), an acre or an acre and q.
half of grass, and on the balance of the
farm, oats or meadow, garden and
buildings. The farmers pay from $40
to $75 per acre annual rent. A crop of
800 bushels Of early grown potatoes is
considered good one, while crop Of
490 bushels and even more is not un-
common. am afraid to tell the num-
Der of tons of mangels that are pro-
duced per acre, after the potato crop,
without additional fertilizers.
How is it possible to grow such crops
on such small piece Of land, support
such large population and export
over 100000 worth of produce year.
ly and at the same time increase the
fertility of the soil? reply, by keep
ing large number of COWS for the
manufacture of fancy butter for the
pocket, horses for the work and barn.
yard manure for the land. Incredible
as it may seem, on these 10000 acres
there are owned according to the last
census, 1881 s. of Jerseys, 2,34a
head of horses, to say nothing Of pigs
and poultry.
The farmers try some commercial
fertilizers and draw tons of seaweed
that is gathered on the sand when the
tide is out, which they spread on theil
meadow and grass land. but their prin
cipal reliance is bsrnyard and liquid
manure. doubt If there is farm OF
the island without liquid msnur,
cistern, the contents of which ar,
pumped into hogshead on . twt
wheeled cart and distributed on tn,
grass and meadow.
But how can they feed such q mum
Der of cattle from 80 small an acresg
,of grass land when potatoes and othe
, crops occupy about two thirds OF thre
fourths of the farm? With 1924 hes'
of live stock there is nearly an anima
and a half per acre for every scr
farmed. They do 1t by adopting
! strict soiling system. Only the mill
COWS are allowed to go to pasture, an
J these are tethered. Beginning at on
y end OF Geld, each cow mows her owl