The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-04-16
Agriculture.
THE SMALL FARMER.

q
knows from many years of hard ex-
Dar,ence the trials and troubles of
the small farmer. With poor land
and but little capital, and family
to support, he starts out Furdened
with tears and many misgivings.
An around him are examples OF
failures of long standing-whole
families giving up the struggle in
DESPAIR of ever doing any better,
selling out and moving to sOms mill
or factory. He sees on every hand
wrecks and dilapidated farm build
ings, neglected orchards and run
down fields. He hears the old false
hood, that farming don't pay, re-
Deated over and over until he Is sick
at heart. He calls to mind that
nearly everything he plants is SUD
iect to the early and late frOsts that
dry weather or destructive floods
threaten him all along the way that
his wheat may be destroyed by the
fy, rust, smut or the chinch bug
that his orchard may be invaded by
some scale or blight or bug and
ruined, his hogs die of cholera, his
sheep be killed by somebody's be-
loved dog, and thousand and one
other ills face him and follow him IN
every step and turn he makes.
Notwithstanding all of these per
picking conditions, the small farmer
may fight his way through all OF
these difficulties and find serene
peace and plenty smiling on field and
flock, ON hrri and home.
How can this be done?
CuLtirdte but fer acres.
PiOv deep and put In fine order
every foot OF land intended for any
crop II the land is rolling and in
clined to wash, terrace or hillside
ditch so as to surely control the sur
face water and thereby keep soil,
manure and crop ON the field where
it belongs. Don't get in u hurry and
slight this foundation work at any
point. When everything Is in good
shape, the season, the condition OF
the soil, select seed, etc, ready at
hand, begin to plant and stick to 1t
regardless of the moon until Il first
class Job is finished, never forgetting
for d single day any crop you may
plant, whether it be c I'm, wheat,
cotton, tobacco or any other crop.
Go and look iG over and study Its
needs; cultivate shallow and often /;
feed 1t with uffectionate care and at
tent n from planting to harvest.
Put d few acres in cotton IT you
must, but be sure you make bule
and d half 10 the acre; this may
pay, but less will not.
Bend every energy to make big
yields to the acre. Ten or fifteen
bushels of corn to the acre will not
pay, but from fifty to seventy five
viii More than double of this lat
ter number OF bushels have been
made per acre time and again.
Tue oOrn crop Is d very important
OIc N the struggle the poor man l.
moaIng to get ON u better footing.
He must have an abundance OF corn
tie year round. 1t Is the best and
cheapest feed he can raise anu Viii
always be d sure standby IN emeF
geuaIrS, as it will iced and sustain
ev. r. Jmng on the p ace. Study the
com pant and make much OF It's
ueel- and possibilities, as no man
has ever found out yet what IL ctn
d..
There Is another very important
crop Inc small 1aTmer can raise 10
great advantage and proht-tue
Ll~l potato. They are SO easily
gIsau, always good tor home Use
ali -euerI.Iy sell for good prices the
yrar round. Northern grown pOta
fue- are now selling IN my nelghUor-
LHs- Tor one dollar and u quarter
per Du,hei. What bonanza Tor
ous farmers, If they would only
learn how to raise them and keep
tuu.u IN good condition! Every
s"au FARMER IN North Carolina, II
Makes no dltfe. en.e whether he nVes
IN the middle, eastern or western
part OF the State, ought to plant hs
many potatoes this spring as he can
10 Justice by, and when fully ma
tnred dig and store away in some
u@fA, cool place, and then prepare,