The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-04-04

himself
"Where shall settle IL I go into
farming?" Not long ago l attended n
horticultural convention in Baltimore.
The subject of peach growing was un-
der discussion. A man from Connecti
cut told us of the Incompatible peaches
that are grown on the northern coast
OF Long Island Sound. A man from
Southwestern Michigan said that his
country was a natural peach region
there peaches grew to perfection. A
man from the uplands of Western
Maryland said that his was the ideal
peach country. A man from the Ches-
apeake peninsula was sure that his
was the natural and perfect country
for the peach. AS my turn to speak
came last testified that all the 9th
ers were wrong. and that the only per-
feet peach region was a certain rocky
hillside six miles north of Ithaca. n.
Y. OF course | was right.
The centre of the universe is where
we live, and If we love our home, there
the finest crops. of one thing or an
other, can be grown. Stand on your
own doorstep on a starry night. Note
the myriad suns that roll in the depths
of the sky. See the great conclave of
the milky way. Consider the dome of
the wellin. Swing the radius of the
mighty arch; the centre is where you
stand.
If you contemplate moving to the
country, save enough money to pay
half or more down on the farm and
have at least $500 left for contingent
and running expenses. Many a good
man fails Mt farming because he has
locked all his capital in the Investment
and then cannot hire help or buy fer
tilizer or tpray his trees at the critical
time. Many crop of fruit has been
lost because the grower had not sufii-
cient means to give the land extra till
age in n dry time. Better be in debt
for part Of the purchase price than to
be handicapped for capital until the
crops come in.
Begin small. Learn the business.
Don't go into fancy farming" At
first give more attention to the condi-
tlon of your soil and TO the welfare of
the crops and stock than to the build
ing of fences Handsome buildings
are the result of good farming. not the
cause of it. Never mind If people
don't like the looks of your farm; 1t is
yours. Go to the farmers for advice.
If you are industrious, intellectually
honest, and willing 10 learn, they will
respect and help you.
II you buy a small farm-as most
city men must-aim to produce things
for special trade Don't try unusual
things like mushrooms and ginseng.
but grow the things that every market
wants - only grow them better than
most men do. Last season one of my
New YORK friends made money from
watermelons, Notwithstanding the fact
that Georgia melons of greater size
filed his markets. Grade your pro-
ducts and pack them carefully. Use
neat new tasty packages. Advertise.
Put on a label The buyer will pay
you for the package and the advertis-
ing. Last year my peaches brought
me an unusually high price. sold
them under large labels in red and
green ink. One person thought 1t fool
ish for me TO spend money for printers
ink. / told him that l was not: the
purchaser paid the printers bill. Raise
a good thing. Then adopt the adver-
tisers maxim. IF you have good
thing, push it." The nearer you are to
the small city markets in the East the
better will be your chances of secur-
ing a special customers The local gro
Ger will find that customer for you,
and viii sell the products better than
you can.
II your means are small, run your
farm yourself. Do not trust to n man
ager or farmer" Remember that
the farmer and hls family are to be
fed off the place. What they consume
would go a long way toward support
ing you. If you are farming primarily
for pleasure and recreation, you should
have n manager. If you are farming
for living, you must work. Your
work need not be tedious, however, IL
you think while you work. 1t need be
no harder than shop work, and not so
dirty. You will have a warm dinner,
without SCOT. You will lie on the grass
after dinner and watch the swallows.
When yol are tired, you will stop un-
der tree and sleep.
Now, my city friend, you have the
problem before you. Never were there
so many opportunities in farming as
now. Neither economically nor So
cially is agriculture on the decline. 1t
is only changing. Old methods are
going out, and many farmers are
going with them. Whether you Will
succeed or fail II you go to the coun-
try no one knows. The fact that some
succeed should make you hopeful. The
fact that some fail should make you
cautious. Remember that your COM
pensation is in living as much as in
money. For myself, my heart is in
the country Professor L. II. Bailey
in The Worlds Work.
Rare Inducements in Collins.