West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-11-18
A LIVING FROM TWENTY ACRES.

a reader OF these notes, n young man
living In Brooklyn. who evidently Is
engaged In some city work, writes I'm.
curing IL one having had no agricul.
fural experience could make n living
with potatoes, wheat, oats and apples
as crops and with n cow and horse as
live stock equipment from twenty
acres the tract lying along the Sus.
quehanna river in Wyoming county.
Pa, near Tunkhannock. The giving of
helpful advice In case of this kind
As not a simple matter, for so much
depends upon the land, OF which no
account Is given, and even more upon
the man. who frankly states that he
has had no experience In farm work
But, assuming that the land Is fertile
and that the owner not only has the
physical strength, but the determine
zion and brains, to do the work which
would be necessary In the manage
fment OF such a tract, we would say
that he could make living on twenty
hcres, and good living. besides being
independent economically and engaged
I'm work that would promote his gen.
eral health. Inasmuch as many other
soung men are casting about for a
change OF occupation which will give
fhem Independence and a competence
In later years, few suggestions along
the lines indicated by this young mans
query may be Of interest to other read
ers. The making OF n living from
small tract OF land implies an intensive
type OF agriculture, the raising OF
crops which require more care and
give larger returns than the usual field
crops, such as corn and small grain.
Such crops would include potatoes, on
Ions, celery. raspberries, strawberries,
etc., for which there is usually good
demand In local as we'll as more dis
tant markets.
Where possible the vegetable crops
which will stand shipment should be
raised I'm carload lots so as to give the
advantage OF carload rates I'm ship
inent. In approaching this new work
we would advise our friend to visit
and II possible work for a season on
farm or the type which he has in mind
to develop his own into. If he cannot
do this, he should take advantage of
every occasion which offers to ac-
quaint himself by reading agricultural
Hterature and talking with those who
have had experience with the prob
lems which he will have before him.
Perhaps conditions would suggest the
wisdom OF growing clover in rotation
with wheat and potatoes and n manur-
ing OF the soil with commercial or
barnynrd fertilizers IL the place is run
down. We would advise our inquirer
to look into the matter of keeping poul-
try In connection with growing vegeta-
bles and small fruits, but the price of
poultry products and the cost of feed
would determine whether this would
be wise move. A most encouraging
feature Of this movement toward the
land is that some OF the most conspicu-
GUS successes along horticultural rs
well as agricultural lines are being
made by those who have had little or
no experience in this field OF endeavor,
but who have had grit and determine
tion, an open mind and q willingness
to take advantage OF and to adopt the
latest and most approved methods in
doing the work in hand. or all hope
less types under the sun-and there are
thousands In the class-the most so are
those who have had so much expert
ence that they are dead set in their
ways and view with contempt any
thing that savors OF the new"