Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-11-21
Facts for Our Farmers.
SUBURBAN NOTES.


sensive form of agriculture has grown
up in recent years in the vicinity or al
the larger cities, as result or tne
modern tendency toward suburban
living and the almost phenomehai
growth Of cities. 1t is noticeapie
about Springfield and Worcester and
all the cities of New England, ana is
hardly less the case in other sections
of the country. The Country Gentle
man calls it the suburban type OF
agriculture, and goes on to say: This
style of farming presents various
characteristics of merely COMPARE
tive nature, such as the relatively
smaller farm, higher cost OF land,
large investment of working capital,
more intensive methods, large produc-
ton and larger gross profits. Some
times the percentage OF profit is
greater. and sometimes less, than IN
tha oid-fasnioned rural farming. This
type of farming, which goes on unuer
the smoke Of factory chimneys, may
fairly be called refined style OF
agriculture. 1t has all those char
acteristics which go with what Is
commonly called refinement Of in
6ustrv or refinement of society. To
he sure. one has often to doubt
whether 'refined society" is any better
than rural society: and it may still De
a ouosti,a whether the refined type
of agriculture" of the city suburbs Is
better or raore satisfying to the
farmer than the good old frontier
struggle with the wilderness. Never
theless. in the sense OF being more
highly specialized, of being more lnei-
mately in touch with modern sclentinc
discoveries, of being more intensive III
methods, the suburban agriculture is
more refined.
Nf,v the point which brings all this
mn here is that the modern surpurDan
agriculture, like every other case Oh
refined farming, comes pretty near TO
being horticulture. Horticulture is
the refinement of agriculture IN more
WAYS than some people care 10
Take the neighborhood OF
washington as an example. In 1898
the value of agriculture products for
the District of Columbia was as fol-
lows for the items named: Milk, cream
and butter, s1ss,09S; cereals, s7.O99;
horticultural products, $6S9,5SS.
Dairying, which, like horticulture is
a highly refined branch Of agriculture.
N the only rural industry which has
competed with horticulture In the re-
cent development of the District Oh
Columbia. In the decade between
1880 and 1900, the number OF cows
kent In this territory increased 40 pc"
cent and the amount of milk secured
increased IS per cent. The fact tnat
the milk product increased nearly
twice as rapidly IS the NUMBER OF
COWS kept speaks again most en-
phatically of the refinement OF agrl-
cultural practice which has been
going ON. Meanwhile the value OF
market garden products Increased
from 1889 to 1899 from s74,S9O to $780,
All, of $11S,095, depending on
whether potatoes and sweet potatoes
are counted out or in for 1899. At the
same time the total Of flowers and
ornamental plants grown in green
houses and on farms rose to $5lS,ooo
a year. Or nearly 60 per cent. OF the
total of all agricultural products tof
the entire District of Columbia.
Now there is just one moral that we
should like TO draw from this. Most
farmers are anxious for Improvement
In agriculture. The sincerely wantfto
see farming improved in general, ana
they are willing to see some improve
netn on their own farms, provided II
does not require too much trouble, and
providing it gives some promise OF
paying it's way. With this feeling ut
heart, they ought TO give more
thouyht and room to horticulture.
There are hundreds of farmers VINO
win not bother with strawberry bed.
or with plum trees, or even row or
currant bushes. They have more I'm
vortant concerns. Their farming Is
laid out on other lines. Yet in this
refusal they shut up their souls
against the greatest means of grace
(applying a camp-meeting figure to an
topic) which there is open
to them. Always and everywhere,
naturally and necessarily, horticulture
means improved agriculture, and the
man who desires Improvement should
take every chance to avail himself OIL
the proper means. We have pur-
posely left out of account an inciden-
tai advantage to be derived from
beds and plum trees, which
has no relation to the money yield
and which is nevertheless of the
highest importance to the farmer and
his family-we mean the supply OF
the most healthful and delicious OF
Injuries Cor his own table.
Examine Your Bush Fruit Plants.
The con 1ition of bush fruit plants at
the close of the growing season is
certain indication of the product tn"
following year, says an exchange. II
the foliage is free from rust and
blight, the cane mature and well
ripened, stocky and well supplied with
strong, vigorous buds and free frUm
1aa-taa