The Republican journal., 1909-11-25
)rcharding Without Capital.

-l1ry OF farmer which 1t SAID was but
Al illustration of the conditions existing
III thousands of farmers all over the
states that is, he is trying to do more
I'm he has time or money to accomplish
g. the result that some things must be
Il undone or all of it not thoroughly at
, led to-" 1t says further, in the issue
November 18th, that the majority of
farmers lack capital and that it is
liter by far to operate fewer acres
a small portion of your farm and do it
we'll and as it ought to be, than to try to
TWO mems work or attempt to make
dollar do what only twice as much
#ald" The original article called forth
3 lumber of replies, and among them the
owing from we'll known resident of
fast, practical farmer and an inter-
ing writer on agricultural topic:
gave the editorial on "Orcharding
thout Capital, - in the Oct 28number of
The Farmer a careful reading and then a
re careful one, to be subsequently fol-
wed by third perusal. | think | have
'ch the spirit and the letter of that ar
we'll understood, and | also think |
We read something between the lines
which may have escaped the notice of the
,-S careful reader.
As a rule, we gain inspiration and en-
gragement from the successes in life,
lile a knowledge of failures tends to
uress and discourage. However, when
,n~ reason for failure is given some good
nay result, as we may be led to avoid
-,rors that others have made. But it
,HOuld not be forgotten that failure is
e fault of the individual and not of the
iustry. With this statement of belief,
I Proceed to brief discussion of the sub
{ under consideration.
presume the pictures which accom-
NY the editors article are fairly repre-
'tative of the mans home. If so, and
ternal looks count for anything, this
scouraged brother has set of build
IS OF which any man might justly feel
I'D. If | read the name upon the barn
ght in the picture, the owner of
ernwood Farm has home that nine
tbs of the men who live in large cities
81 never hope to rent, much less to
n. But here is home fitted with the
fern improvements and supplied with
ming water land it isn't city water
er), and the telephone with a daily
: mail. Add to this good neighbor-
1oi, access to good schools as well as
urch privileges, with the opportunity
attend a good Grange in live farm
town, and we have combination of
aJd things which mean real living that
city business or professional man can
H5in even though his income be two
usand a year. At the outset then, it
8 truthfully be said that any man who
maintain such home and provide
his family is in better position than
&C. would be in New York or Chicago
-h $4,000 per year. This for the man
nself. AS for his wife and children
taeir condition is so much better than it
could possibly be in the city, that no com
l4rlson is possible. So | say, that the
ran who is keeping up that home, even
tH3ugh he is only "making living is
able man and is doing we'll Here let
ne digress to say that any man who had
rather have healthy growing child
ne home than $1,000 in the bank, has
mething in his heart that God never
anted there and he sadly needs to be
born again so he may obtain a right view
j ife.
The owner of the farm under discussion
ms to feel that he is not getting suf-
mt returns on his capital. This may
rue, and then again he may have a
ing idea of what good returns should
t Evidently the conveniences of the
-ne are part of the income as much
Is though they were paid for from a
r. salary. Evident, too, that the farm
nlshes the fruit and vegetables, as
III as milk, cream, and probably butter
.al eggs. Buy all those things in town,
l5Ugh it be a small town like Belfast,
and YOU would speedily find that it took
more than one mans labor and the inter
80 on $4,000 to make a living and keep in
sght of the procession of society, much
.7ss keep pace with it.
Vow for the things read between the
Ines: Here we have a young and thrifty
7wnard set from two to four years and
more than hundred old trees on which
@-ch time and care is bestowed. The
SIZE of this orchard is not given, but the
mpression that it is comparatively large
= received from the reading. Assuming
TIA, it is eight acres, | have more than
thai myself, then the living income is
al- mented by the annual growth and in
ase iii the value of the trees. How
mach is just estimate to place on that?
No not know, but l had rather have the
aa-dal increase on my 500 five hundred)
r-s than 500 deposited annually in
sanF. This is conservative estimate
the annual increase in value of good
wing orchard of that size. Add,
rrefore, to this mans living 500 in
r--ased value of the orchard
he farm has well up towards two
ajr,red acres, with about thirty available
i1r tllage"
thirty acres of tillable land out of two
s4ndred ism enough. The proportion is
too small. That thirty has too heavy
Dad to carry. Either get some returns
from that other ITO acres or let it pass
INTO the hands of some other fellow who
taa, or thinks he can, make it pay taxes
or itself. Some of it is needed for pas
me. Well, say 70 acres for pasture and
the farm wood lot, then comes the ques
ton, what is that other 100 acres doing.
If it is wood and lumber of mark etable
SIZE, che owner has a mine of wealth
hat he can realize from any day he may
wish. If, what is more likely, it is a
Young growth with prospective value
then the yearly growth must be added to
The income. One dollar per acre, or 500
Tor the tract is little enough. Add then
another $l00 to the income above mere
Iylng and we have what in actual fact is
living equal to that obtainable in the
city on $4,000 salary and the equivalent
o. $500 annually in bank. Is this man