The Colfax chronicle., 1903-06-27
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE SMALL FARM ERA.
Passing Away and Small. Well
Titled Farms the Rule.

The small farm era has come and
is firmly established among the agri-
culturists of modern times. Old
plantations, covering hundreds and
thousands of acres, have been divided
and sab-divided among the children
and grandchildren until the farms are
down TO the right size.
The familiar grange motto about
where but one had grown before is
being exemplified in many of the best
fields of agricultural activity. 1t has
brought along an age of trucking and
general gardening, which is. really as
raw of sunshine in the musty old
clouds Of ancient farming, of large
fields to corn and corn, until they be-
came worthless.
Many important lessons have been
learned by the farmers since the in
coming tide of small farms. They
have been taught this. that a little
farm well titled and little wife well
willed, are two good properties. The
latter possession often depends much
on the size of the former. A woman
can not be good natured when she is
constantly over-worked, waiting on
hired men, threshers and extra help
necessary on large farms. The small
farm period has changed this condi-
ton ard made women more healthy
and good natured. This has brought
rays of happiness in homes once dark
and dismal because of overwork and
worry. The small farm is responsible
for hundreds of roses painted on
cheeks that once were pale and with
out color. 1t has brought content
ment.
The small farm idea prevails to
such an extent that many who have
dropped their old notions and adopt
ed intensive soil culture could not be
induced to return to former methods.
Intensive farming brings results. 1t
compels men to study condition of
soil and crops. The poor land must
be enriched and the rich land made
better. Every system TO, the increase
of fertility is given careful considera-
ton by the small farm owner. The
crops are more diversified and the in
come made to cover every month in
the year. To do this the farmer must
be student of nature. He sees the
demands made upon his fields and as
sists the land in producing good
crops by feeding it the elements OF
plant food needed.
Plant food is most important sub
ject for the small farm owner. The
orchard trees become sickly, the tips
of the limbs have pale, yellow color
and appear to be dying. The remedy
is suggested at once. The roots have
exhausted all the plant food in the
soil by building up the tree. Some
thing must be added to make fruits.
The up-to-date small farmer fertilizes
the trees by using some complete
commercial fertilizers, containing
potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen
in good proportions. He uses this be-
cause experience has taught the truth
that soil fertility can not be main
tanned without applications of the ele-
ments making up that fertility. When
the large farms were in operation a
piece would be abandoned when II
failed TO yield good returns. The
small farmer can not afford to let his
lands lie idle. He supplies the re-
quired fertilizers and reaps abundant
harvests. Small farmers have learned
to diversity their products so that no
possible failure of certain cereal or
fruit can bring serious results. The
land is rotated and worked up from
year to year by systematic fertilizing.
A good application of potash insures
safe returns for one year and leaves
the soil in fine condition for the sue
ceeding crop. In some fields there is
too much clay for certain crops. By
the mixing of specially prepared fer
tiiizers the land may be reclaimed
and made to produce abunthntly. The
small farm does not necessitate so
great outlay for machinery and fer
tihZClo aS uhy AO CARCnSCo
are small and the income correspond
ingly large.
One small farmer and fruit grow
er says he gets more money off five
acres planted TO fruits, vegetables
and mixed truckers crops. than he
formerly harvested from 100 acres in
general farming. He uses good fer
properly mixed and keeps up
the fertility of his soil. Another by
the aid of commercial fertilizers has
a greater income from ten acres than
he formerly had from 100 acres Of
similar soil. He can afford to pur-
chase and apply soil fertility to the
small acreage, but could not do SO for
the large farm. Men harvest prod
ucts to the value of 500 TO $500 an
acre from small, well-tilled farms to-
day. Under the old system those
same men did not secure to exceed
$50 from an acre, and depleted the
soil treasury every year. Small farm
ing has solved the intricate problem
of how to make the farm pay.-Farm-
ers' Home Journal.