Oxford Democrat., 1906-02-20
Clark Cites Vital Facts.

yOuuk ulou ouU WOm0u, tuo OOyS aou
girls, that they had better stay upon the
farms, that they can make money there,
and when they find that fact they will
stay there. But first, want to tell you
more of the reasons why eastern farmers,
or others, should stay here, and learn to
make their farms pay. To start with,
one-third of this country is dry, barren
waste, 1,4OO miles wide in the South, 500
miles in the North, and l,700 miles from
South to North, an immense desert, GEN.
tral in which we find the great Death
Valley, so-called, where so many have
perished for want of food and water.
Hundreds of families have sold them
selves out of good house, home and
farm, leaving schools, churches and
everything behind that makes life desir.
able in this Eastern country, and loaded
all their effects into wagon to cross the
plains; little later we find them in a
dug-out, 7x9, made of brush, four feet
above ground, and three feet below,
eking out miserable existence.
A short time since, there was a great
CRY made about the good government
lands, which were to be obtained along
the Colorado river; it was said to be a
fine clean section for irrigation. But
few will tell you the facts about the far
West. There is little or no chance for
the poor man there; the horse has the
first chance, and the labOrer the second
chance in the barn. l only wish you to
get some of these facts in your mind DO
fore you sell out. know what l am
talking about, have often been there,
have travelled over seven hundred thou
sand miles on this continent to learn of
the soil, climate and surroundings, and
| want to tell you for fact that never
saw or found any spot equal to this we'll
watered, good Eastern country. l do
not think you can find any better. l
would advise you not to try. Why not
let ''well enough alone? you have "well
enough" right here. You have a well.
watered country, perfect drainage, good
air, climate correct; 1t will produce the
best health and greatest activity for man
or beast.
Our markets are worldwide. All We
want is to avail ourselves of our oppOr-
tunity. The "get rich quick" theory
won't do, we must be content to DO what
past generations have done. We must
begin at the bottom and build up. As a
rule, those who commence at the top
build down and out. Economy Is
wealth. We must live within our means.
1t is not the amount we get, it is the
amount we save. The hundred thou
sand dollars that the fathers now have
was the work of lifetime. We must
learn to work, not all work and no play,
but work with body and soul, in reason.
That is what will make US happy, and
nothing else will. Life is too short to
do any fooling. l do not suppose the
day of the millennium is at hand yet, or
that all will learn to love work, mental
or physical, or that all will save money.
Many are not built that way, very many
want always to be, not on the move, but
moving from one section to another.
We do not find a great many moving
North, East, West and South. All the
good land is taken in the West, it is held
at high prices, $50 to 500, per acre, or
more, with a market thousand miles
away, while in the East, with market
at our door, and with land not one-tenth
as high, is there any sense 10 saying we
cannot make money here on the farms?
No!
There is no such thing as worn-out
land. Sunshine and air will work won
ders. Now that I know what to do,
can take almost any kind of land, and in
twelve months from the start produce
four to six tons of well-dried hay to the
acre; that is what am here to tell you,
to tell you how to make money on the
farm. have experimental for twenty
years, and more, and know more than
when started. ! would not believe
what am telling you to-day if did not
know it to be true. l do not blame
people for taking my statements with a
grain of doubt; they often refer me to
Ananias, but am here with the facts,
and have come to stay and teach others.
Intense cultivation is the watchword.
invite my friends to come and see the
field and its surroundings, and see for
themselves. Thousands of them have.
Your farms can be made to pay. and
when they do, the boys and girls will
stay on the farms.
There is something in this intense cul-
tivation-in my method. With it many
farmer can start with his first crop,
and commence to make money. Why
not get out of the old rut2 Take small
section of land, give it the higher cul-
tivation and care, and commence max
ing the farm pay. Why not?
A few things better not be done.
Never dig bitches to fill with rocks in a
grass field. Never underdrain your
grass field until you find it necessary.
Never pasture or make q roadbed OF
your grass field, or let animals stand,
stamp or otherwise kill the grass roots.
Timothy or red top seed, sown on An
old field, will not renew the stand. Use
no coarse manure on grass field after
seeding. An old field can be reseeded
| in month, but it is better to take a
year, and get one crop of oats for hay.
Now your grass field close just before
frost, and rake. Fertilize every crop a
little moro than needed for each crop.
Don't undertake to steal anything from
the soil. Bear in mind your grass field
will never winterkill or die as long as 1t
has anything to live for. This Ia all /
care to say in relation to this subject at
present. You may think Of many other
things that you would like to inquire
about. For that reason, If you desire to
ask any questions, am now ready to
give you the fullest information possible
in relation to this subject.-Maine
Farmer.