Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-02-18
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EEZI1GAKDEN SEARAYEall
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A CLEAN FARM.

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It is a noticeable fact that but few
farmers seem to care about the ap-
pearance of their farms farther than
is absolutely necessary to make the
crops With some no effort is put
forth to destroy weed unless 1t is
in the track Of the plow. Not fence
or a gate kept in repair farther than
may be necessary to restrain the stock.
A clean farm is not only one that has
a cleared up appearance, but one where
there is destruction Of all weeds
that take life and strength from the
grasses and cultivated crops. A weed
will give back to the land the strength
that it takes from it in growing, but
it does not stop there; it makes
strong effort to propagate itself in the
hundreds of seeds that it scatters. To
a thrifty farmer there is degree Of
pleasure in noting the strong rich
growth of a weed. 1t tells him there
is strength of soil where it grows. that
he can turn to his own use. But there
is no pleasure to him in the full de-
velopment of the weed, for he sees in
it an evidence of carelessncss on his
part. A weedy farm gets bad name
that the owner cannot rid Of as long
as he lets weeds grow, for wecdy
farm generally means a shiftless man.
When a farm is allowed 10 grow up in
1,afh h
er, the expense of cutting, or lack of
interest, the farmer is the loser.
Weeds will, in time, restore life and
strength to worn out lands, but there
is no living profit meantime; they are
too slow Grasses and clovers will
do the work with much more speed
and profit, and a neat pasture adds
much to the appearance Of the farm.
Some men consider full grown rag
weed benefit to the soil, and protec-
tion to the grass and clover in winter.
Does it never occur to them that rag
weed, either dead or green, cannot add
to the attractiveness of the farm?
While l find it almost impossible to
keep down weeds, l do not let them
grow because l attach any value to
them above what 1 could get from the
growth of plants that are useful for
forage and food
A pasture may be enhanced in beau
ty by irregular outline and indulating
surface, but field for cultivation is
more attractive with level surface and
parallel fences. 1t does not add TO the
beauty of a farm to allow the fences
to be overgrown with vines and
bushes 1t is good thing for the
young farmer to cultivate the habit of
keeping things in shape about his
fields and buildings, and it is habit
that develops to his advantage. If
there are stones on the surface of the
land, they should be gathered with
wagons or sleds; what are left may be
put into small piles over the fields,
or in the fence corners, to be removed
some other time. Stones are brought
up with each plowing, but if the farm
er forms the habit of picking them up
as he passes over his fields, the habit
sticks to him like bur. When the
farmer takes his mower seat to cut
heavy piece of. meadow, there is
great satisfaction in knowing that
there is not a stick or stone in the
whole field to check his work. One
Of the hardest corners to keep in or
-der~is the place where refuse lumber
and broken rails are kept. These
pieces accumulate very rapidly, speci-
ally where rail fences are going out
of use. Old boards are often kept
and moved about until they are worn
out with travel and weather. 1t is
much better to gladden. the heart Of
your wife by turning all this stuff
into stove wood while it is solid. This
clearing out adds much TO the neatness
of the premises.-John NJ. Jamison, in
The Epitomist.