Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-10-04


In these days when a great deal Il
being written in all sorts of newspaper
and magazines about the great and grow
ing business of farming it is but natura
that the great farms of the countr,
should come In for large share OF at
ten,ion, and il is therefore but natura
that great many people should become
possessed of the idea that the grea
farms are the great feature of the farm
ing business of the country, and that th'
little farms do not amount to much
Nothing, however, could be fnrtheI
from the truth, for it is the small farm
that counts in the general business OF
farming, the same as it is the innumer
abe small stores that count in the great
business of merchandising in this coun.
try and in all countries.
In the wonderful shack TO the farm
movement of the last few years the prin'
cipsl feature has been the taking up OF
agriculture as side line or psstime by
people of wealth, and while this has per
haps been a benefit TO the general bust
ness of farming By demonstrating wha,
can be accomplished by the application
of better business methods and the ex,
penditure of capital, it may not have
been au unmixed blessing, for it has
been attended with the danger Of giving
some young people an idea that they
would like gentleman farming" but
the kind of farming that accompanies
life on small farm, OF where there is
not enough capital or wealth to live
without working, would be too disagree
able for them.
Now, in the first place, we believe that
any person who contemplates leaving
the farm for any kind OF city life, or
village life, ought to forever Danish from
the mind any idea that city life is any
easier, for one who is to engage in any
kind of legitimate business, than farm
life. 1t may perhaps be true that in
some kinds of city labor the hours are
shorter, and there may be more oppor-
tuuities to wear good clothes in other
lines of city life. But for the average
person it is doubtful il the city has
much TO offer over the country in max
ing labor easier. Man, according to his
degree of prosperity or his position up
or down in his particular Industry,
su uffers from too much work, or the lack
of work TO do, for the most part, aud
fortunate indeed is the man who has
lust enough labor TO perform to make
him happy and contented, with SUIT
6cient income to supply all his needs
and desires.
For the average man, therefore, the
small farm is the only possibility II ne
taking up that kind OF
life work, and we believe that for the
man with proper training and dis
position to correspond, disposition To
work and live on farm, there is no
better opportunity in life for securing a
comfortable living, the opportunity for
the enjoyment Of the good things aud
the LAYING By of a moderate competence.
The small farm does not offer the op'
portunities for the production OF great
income that large farm affords, but at
the same time its profits are just as sure,
aud perhaps even more sure, its expenses
are small and easily kept down below
the income, while it3 anxietles and re-
sponsibilities are less, the same as In
any other business. In these days oil
modern appliances and improved meth
DDS of work a one man farm is not an
impOssibility, while the farmer who has
a son, as most farmers do or should, is
in a position TO operate plant OF con-
siderable sizs, hundred acres or more,
depending of course on the amount and
character of the cultivation OF the soil.
The size of the farm indicates but
II - regard to its income making
possibilities. Twenty-Five acres, gwen
the proper kind of cultivation, are SUIT
ficent to make a man comfortably rich
in a few years. The editor of the Maine
Farmer knows personally two young
men who have made enough to be able
10 retire from hard labor, If they wish,
by growing vegetables for the market
on a small farm on which they were
born. OF course this farm is near
big market, but the method OF cultiva
ton is what counts. The Oldest OF
these Young men is bu, little over forty
now. The editor is acquainted with an
other young man, who on smaller faru
is rapidly gaining considerable com
petence by supplying vegetables for the
markets in a small city. IL was but
few years ago that he lef, city job ant
went to work on this farm in SINAI
way for the sake of his health, for th'
doctors told him that he probably wouic
live only a short time. He thought dii
ferently, and today is in perfect health
A Massachusetts man who had saved
enough money SO that he could pay
down four hundred dollars on farm
that he could buy for $500, took up
farming on that properly few years
ago for the sake of boy who wanted tC
make farming his life work. IL was
small farm of perhaps thirtv acres
Afterward they increased the size OF th'
farm by buying few acre OF adjoining
land, and recently they sold the entire
farm and bought six thousand doiial
place of more acres to go into dairy farm
ing, that being the particular kind o.
farm work that the boy desired to tak'
up.
Instances of the generous successes
enterprisiug, Industrious and resource
full farmers are not lacking, and It is tt
be presumed that there are numerouI
instances of the failure Of farmers.
is doubtful however, if total failure 10 a:
frequent as in many other lines OF busl
uesS.
The question of how small farm on
may operate profitably can be answered
by saying that there is hardly limit
We have even heard of man making
living and putting something in the saw
ings bank from a one-acre farm. w
are tempted to believe it when we rea'
that il has been demonstrated that 1t 1
possible to grow straw berries at the rat
of $4,000 quarts to the scre.-Main
Farmer.