The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-09

mer, but neither is certain if he leaves the farm and goes to one of the cities. One of the old-time poets speaks of "a little farm well tlied.' and as sam pie of what he means we will copy from The onlooker. a paper published at Foley. Baldwin County. the process followed by a small farmer of that neigh borhood on four acres. as follows: He thoroughly prepared hs ground. | blowing deep. then bedded out eight inches deep. applied 200 pounds of fer tilizer containing 10 per cent phos- listed back two furrows. planted feet apart and 20 inches in rows. kernels to to. the .oIn hiii and two inches deep; When around once with buli-tongue close to the hills, when six inches high once around with turning blow. then hoed this left the furrows twenty inches rom the row and into these he dis an,ut tri6uted d. his . second application of 200 all told 800 pounds to the acre, He then with turning blow threw over the balance. of the balk leaving the ground level. after which he went over the field once a week with a spring tooth cultivator. however, during the last cultivation he sowed two rows of
 
 any additional fertilizer The corn was planted March 22 and laid by June Is perfectly clean.
 At this writing the paper says the corn Is bright and green. and the ears we'll formed and of large size. and with sufficient nutriment to mature. no matter what the weather may he The estimate is that the four acres will yield eighty or 100 bushels of corn to the acre, besides the fodder and peas that will be produced. Of course, crop estimates are not always correct, but weil-informed farmer, after the ears of corn are fully grown. can tell with pretty near certainty what the crop will measure.
 Now, we are not saying or intimating that the methods of preparing, plant ing and cultivating followed by this Baldwin County man should be taken as a model in all cases. or that they will appeal to all farmers. Different soils and conditions may require diff | results. We reprint this statement to show how one man proceeded, and to show what will be the result, unless some unforeseen disaster interferes. Our object in stating this case is to show that 1t is not necessary to cultivate very large farms in order to secure plenty.
 And here is one of the discourage ments that cause SO many. especially the young, to tire of farm life. To work all the year, cultivating, in way, a great farm. and at the close of tho year not have products enough to last until another crop is made: that 1t what discourages so many country dwellers, and that is why so many of them look with longing eyes towards what seems to them the easy life of the city. That Is why many of them abandon the soil and turn their faces cityward where they imagine there's nothing but rest and ease.
 The time has been. and not so long ago. when the life of the farmer in this region was one of hard work and lone Illness. The large plantations caused families to be widely separated. and the constant toll fin cultiyating large farms left little time fer recreation or enjoyment. but that is fast changing, and if the farmers will practice inten- sive farming they can make larger enjoyment. The changes that have taken place, and that are multiplying in all directions. bring the rural dwell- CT into closer contact with the outside world and afford him many sources of satisfaction that were not obtain- able in the old days and under the old systems. The young people can and should have more time and opportun- ity for reading, for study, for rest and for enjoyment. They can get their i letters. newspapers and magazines and should have time to enjoy them. In short, life on the farm can and ought to be something far removed from end less drudgery as many have regarded it in the old days. It is a life that, Mir. Parkinson says, offers everything that a young man can ask for. It of- fers him an assured good living. if he goes at 1t in the right way, and it as- sures him an independence that is above all price. It offers him advant- ages and blessings which not one young man in a thousand can be as- sured of in a city. The farmers who are now coming on should and can be edcuated, well-informed and independ- ent the ideal American citizens and the pride and dependence of the coun- try and the government.
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