Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-10-11
Possibilities of the Farm.

fOSSIDtIttICS VI TIC TdTms
Comparatively only a small per cent
of those engaged in farming realize the
possibilities of their farms or in other
words, they do not seem to consider the
fact that their farms, may be made to
produce in very many cases fully double
what they are now doing. | am led to
make this assertion by comparing my
own hay crop now with what cut a
few years ago, and l am confident that
with but comparatively little effort l
can at least double the amonnt now cut
on the same acres. Intense cultivation
and the application of stable manures
with possibly the assistance of some
chemicals will do it; but have never
purchased much commercial fertilizer
and probably never shall, preferring to
buy grain and feed stock and apply
ing the manure thus made to the
soil. am firm believer in intensive
cultivation, feeling sure that farmers as
general thing do not pulverize their
soil as fully as they should, being anx-
ious to get over too many acres.
commenced on this line before ever
learning of the success that Hon. George
his grass culture, believing that it paid
me to harrow very thoroughly when
fitting field for crop. 1t gave ME
great deal of pleasure to become acquaint-
ed with his intense culture and to go over
his fields as did and note the fine rich
appearance of the grass; and also, of the
admirable condition to which he had
brought the soil by much labor. Some
may criticise if they will, but there is
much to commend intensive cultivation
of the soil and the sooner farmers be-
come convinced of the fact the better it
will be for their interests.
To begin with, it is necessary for the
farmer to take pride in his vocation;
this, coupled with ambition and indus
try, will lead to more thorough tilling
of the soil showing ones faith in it. If
a farmer has but little faith in the soil
he cultivates, it may be safely set down
that he will not make much of a success
at farming. Experiments in soil culture
may often prove very interesting besides
profitable and would suggest that each
farmer who reads the New England
Farmer try intense culture for some crop
and study the result. From an expert
ment made this year as we'll as previous
years, l believe that some crops on some
soils can be grown fully as well and very
often in a more satisfactory way without
the use of the common drag plow, using
the double action cutsway harrow or the
cutaway sulky disk plow instead. Old
sod ground can be wholly fitted for
buckwheat in a similar way as Mr..
Clark prepares his land for seeding to
gr~ss. | fitted small piece this spring
in that way, as an experiment, and there
is beautiful growth of buckwheat on it
at this writing.
| know of no reason why cOntentment
should not be found on all of our we'll
cared for farms. 1t is fact that the
farmer is the most independent of men
and he should realize the dignity of his
calling. Strikes affect him in less de-
gree than those engaged in almost any
other business. He, while at work in
the field, is surrounded by the beauties
of nature. as but few other men are.
The song birds sing their sweetest songs
all arolnd him, and what can be more
charming in the early morning or at
eventide, when the family are all gather
ed around the evening lamp with their
books and papers or bits of useful work
where can a more pleasing picture be
found than at a farmers fireside? When
we come to consider the landscapes
about very many of the farm homes in
New England as we'll as in New York it
is perfectly grand, worthy of long trip
to see. and this fact has been discovered
by very large number of city people
who are anxious to secure board during
these farms which adds very materially
to the income of the farm. Not only
this but very many wealthy people have
purchased a farm, fixed it up in fine
shape and stocked it with the best OF
animals much to the advantage of the
farmers in that immediate locality and
the end is not vet. The fact is, it is get
ting to be quite the thing for business
men TO own farm and spend part of
their time on it.
In conversation with very large num-
Der of tr..despeople and manufacturers it
will be fonnd that they will have cher
ished hope of some day owning piece OF
land in the country, where they can
make a pleasant home, away from the
strife Of city life; and the honest and up
to-date farmer now enjoys the respect of
the city people to- much larger degree
than formerly, and is recognized socially
by all sensible people. Why should he
not be, when the prosperity of the coun-
try at all times rests on the products of
the land, presided over by the farmer9
These being the facts as they exist at
the present time then it follows that
nothing should be considered too good
for the farmer to enjoy; aud the farmer
himself should look upon his home farm
as being the center of the universe
around which all else revolves and he
should so work with the highest ideals
as to make it truly one of the most pro-
ductive places on the earth and to the
family the pleasantest.-Cor. in New
Farmer