Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-09-03
SUCCESSFUL FARMING.

A late number OF the New 1Ork fOSl
contained sketch of an old farmer who
died recently in Sussex County Of that
state at the age of 81. He began life
with an interest in one farm left him by
his father on condition that he pay off
the interest owned in it by several
brothers. This equity was worth about
$1,000. When he died he owned fifteen
of the best farms in that part of New
York, and was worth over 100000.
1t is said that when he started out he
adopted these resolutions: To practice
reasonable economy in all things; to
make a study of farming in every detail
and know the business as thoroughly as
possible; to look after small matters;
never to buy anything he had no use for
because it was cheap, to pay cash for all
purchases; to be temperate in all things.
As he was believer in the business OF
farming he invested his surplus in farms
which he rented on shares. He always
put good substantial improvements on
his farms so that an "Oscar Dunn farm
always meant a farm with good build
ings and in good condition. He made it
possible for his tenants to make money
and always advised them in farming
matters when they needed advice.
The success of this man was due to
the fact that he put business capacity
and brain power into his farming
methods and did everything in the best
possible way. He looked after little
things which are sometimes considered
beneath ones attention. An exchange
saws these include:
''The absolute prevention of any waste,
the keeping of all fences, gates and
buildings in good repair, by mending
every small break as soon as it appears.
keeping harness and tools well cared
for, by sheltering, oiling, etc. The
study of the best methods of cultivation,
of saving crops, especially of curing hay,
so as to have the most feeding value.
The saving of all the manure possible in
the best condition and using it the best
way. The raising of the best stock and
poultry, and making of the best butter.
The marketing of products in the best
condition and getting the best price, and
many more of such things which the OBJ
servant farmer, determined to succeed,
will keep in mind all the time"
1t doesn't make so much difference
where farmer is located providing he
has fertile soil, as it does how he farms.
There is no business in which a thor
ough knowledge of details is so essential
as in farming, and the person who uses
good business judgment in the manage
ment of his farm will succeed whether
he is located on the prairies of the west
or the hillsides of New England. A study
of the markets and adaptability of soil
and climate to the various crops de-
manded by those markets will lead TO
successful farming if the conclusions
formed are carefully carried into effect.
We have lately visited some of the
productive farms of the central west and
closely observed the means employed
and the methods followed in several
states, and have had our faithlin New Eng
land agriculture strengthened thereby.
We haven't the broad acres, but we
have many advantages not enjoyed
there. The great fault with New Eng
land farms, be they large or small, is in
the fact that they are not worked
enough. A farm containing fifty acres
of tillable land will have only three or
four acres under the plow, while it
should have fifteen or eighteen at the
least.
Instead of cutting over fifty acres of
grass land to get thirty tons of hay,
there should be twenty tons OF ensilage
per acre grown on eight acres, making
about double the feed that would be
grown on the entire farm under the
bound-out grass system. Dispense with
the manual labor so far as possible, and
increase the machine work many fold
over the practice to-day. AS soon as one
crop is off plow the land and have an
other crop growing, and have stock to
consume the crop.
There is not town in New England
where these suggestions will not apply,
and where greater profits will not come
from such course. The average farm
will furnish work for one good team
every day in the year if the farming is
systematized and the crops
we'll arranged. This is the way in which
farmers are succeeding elsewhere, and is
the practice that should be more gener-
ally adopted here. 1t will require good
business ability to direct it, but will
represent the difference between direct
ing the farm and having the farm direct
the farmer. The present Is good time
to look into this matter and make plans
for next years operations. 1t is the
basis of success in agriculture at the
present time, and will increase in i'm
portance in the future.-MirrOr and
Farmer.