The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-11-02
A SUCCESSFUL FARMER.

8900AA--N& A~A--@ANs
We frequently hear farmers say tha
farming does not pay, that there is n
money to be made by tilling the sol
lone may get a good living, say they
put that is all. To meet with a far
mer and his wife who are we'll salts
led with their work and who hav,
made competency for old age in thei
business is quite refreshing. 1t wa
the privilege of the writer to spent
] week recently with such a couple
IN one of our western States. Theil
farm consists of fifty acres. Ths
owners purchased the land some thir
| ty to thirty-three years since, paying
good price-sixty dollars an acre
lfmy memory serves me right. Par
OF it was overgrown with bushes, and
much of it needed understanding the
Buildings were small and inconvenienl
| and no fruit on the place but the
Ind was naturally good, though rur
down when they took hold oft. They
had very little money to begin with
indeed. his wife told me that for the
first few years there were often weeks
at time when they had not dollar
in theirpockets. With good manage.
ment. good farming and much hard
work on the part of both husband and
wife they have paid for the land, un-
derdrained and cleared off the bushes,
planted orchards and much small
fruit, built fences and beautified the
lawn, yemodeled the house. adding to
it and furnishing all in the best
manner.
They built large new barn, in
which all machinery and farming i'm
plements are kept under cover, also
the hog pen and manure pile-a wag-
on house built with the barn shelters
everything on wheels, runners, etc.
Water has been conducted into the
house and barn and telephone was
installed in the dwelling more than
six years ago. Altogether this isone
of the best small farms and honey"
homes the writer is acquainted with.
Besides this farm the owners I say
owners, for the husband gives his
wife as much credit for their success
as he takes himself), own practically
two other farms, bank stock and
other property.
asked friend B. what had been his
best paying branch in farming. He
replied "cows and hogs" He sends
his milk to a cheese factory the six
warmest months of the year, where
Swiss cheese is made; the remainder
of the years milk he gives his wife
and tells her to do as she pleases with
it; she makes butter, sells it and
pockets the money. might add that
the chickens and eggs are also her es-
pecial income. I asked Mr.. B. what
price he was getting for milk this
year. He said, with smile, II don't
know that I will get anything, we
must wait until the others are paid. I"
I found that he was one ofthe owners
sof the factory and after all the expenses
we're met the company divided the re-
naming profits.
have mentioned some of the pleas
ing features of this unique home, but
the crowning glory is that the home
keeper needs never to build fire or
light lamp until summer weather
makes a continual light or FIRE unde-
sirable. A natural gas we'll was dis
covered a short distance from the
buildings few years since and the
gas conducted into the dwelling with
it the house is heated and lighted all
over and the cooking done. A light
is also kept burning in the dooryard,
near the driveway. During cold
weather, these fires and lights burn
night and day and are not extinguish-
ed, even when all the family are alb
sent from home. The gas jets seldom
need attention or globes cleansing, and
by simply turning thumb screw
more or less heat can be had in the
cooking range to suit the work there
in progress. The cook has no cause
to complain of burnt baking, and if a
simmer is needed for a tough pot
roast, which all housekeepers know
will cook tender faster than a boil,
she can keep her heat steadily at that
point. No smoked flatirons trouble
the laundry maid and hot water is
never scarce. The small boy rejoices
to have no wood and cobs to bring in.
We cannot all have oil wells on our
farms, but the next best thing will be
denatured alcohol when that commo-
dity is sold by other than druggists at
druggists prices and our manufacture
ers furnish alcohol burning lamps,
stoves, heaters and other alcohol-using
apparatus similar to those used in
Germany.
fl were asked, TO what do you
attribute Mr.. BIS success in farming
mainly9" I would say, to his good
Judgment and great industry, with
out which believe it to be impossible
for a poor man to succeed financially
in any calling in life. Mr.. B. knew
what was the most profitable crop for
him to raise and when to sell it; he
had the ability to distinguish between
a coed aud poor animal, be it a
cow, horse or hog, though he says
everyone will miss it on COW some
times" He seems to know how to
invest money and what to let alone
doubtful stocks with high-paying div
idends he never touches; he shows
the same good judgment in all minor
matters in business. He has always
reached out a helping hand to his
neighbors and is therefore looked upon
as staff in the neighborhood. He
avoids the butterfly" pursuits of life,
is happy in his possessions and no
doubt would agree with the one who