Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-04-04

be divided between strawberries.
blackberries and raspberries. so as to
extend the harvesting period as much
as possible and enable the farmer to
supply custom trade through a long
season. The kitchen garden may oc-
cupy from one-fourth TO one-half OF an
acre. and there should be a similar
area devoted 10. mixed tree fruits
In buying the trees advice should
be sought from the state experiment
station and the United States depart.
ment OF agriculture concerning the va
rieties adapted to the locality and the
prices which ought to be paid
The new farmer is the prey OF the
fruit tree agent. and he should never
buy until he has the advice OF disin-
terested specialists The agent who
tries to sell him novelties at $3.50
apiece should be entirely eliminated
These novelties have no place on the
farm OF the beginner, and, besides,
standard trees Of the best sorts can
be bought for very much less
II must be remembered that we are
considering minimum areas necessary
for living for a small family The
area OF land for the field crops will, OF
course, depend upon the type OF farm
ing followed
II ii is decided to make fruit the
market product. not less than ten
acres OF tree fruits should be planted.
Until these come into bearing the liv.
ing may be made from vegetables cul.
tlvated between the rows In add
ton to this area nj least six acres
should be devoted to a rotation OF
corn. wheat and hay--in regions
where this rotation is adapted. In or
der to produce feed for the poultry and
| live stock
The corn and wheat will furnish
grain for the hens. the wheat will fur.
nish straw for bedding and for the
scratching pens for the poultry, while
! the corn and hay will furnish feed for
the horse and the COW.
Half an acre OF land will be reQuir.
ed for the poultry. three-fourths OF an
acre for the garden and kitchen orch
ard, and half an acre for the house
and lot, Counting the area taken by
fences and roadways, this gives us a
minimum area of about is acres.
This also assumes that the fruit
or vegetables which furnish the cash
income are to be supplied to a local
market and not shipped to commission
men.
II would be much safer to start in
with twice this area. devoting land not
needed for other purposes to the pro
duction of ordinary field crops, which
viii assure an abundance OF feed for
the stock and some crops for sale.
II dairying Is decided upon. would
not advise beginning on less than so
acres OF good land, This will permit
the keeping OF IL cows. II tho farm
can supply all the labor needed. IL
good cows will make an excellent iiv-
ing for family.
few men have succeeded on much
smaller areas with dairying. and after
the farmer becomes thoroughly ex.
perienced and gets his land rich IL
cows could be kept on about half the
area above mentioned.
Under present conditions there II
not much profit in dairying where one
buys all the grain fed to the cows; but
on so acres a good manager can raiso
all the grain and roughage needed for
all the live stock kept on the farm
Another excellent type OF farming
for the beginner is hay farming, es.
pecially in those sections where hay
can be sold at more than 9l2 per ton
Il Is possible to keep all the land Of
the farm Inlay. though It is desirable
TO grow a little corn to feed on the
place. In this type Of farming fer
ti1izers must be used literally. as ID
the case also with fruit and vegetable
growing. BY proper fertilization the
land can be made TO produce two and
one-half tons Of hay per acre.
Forty acres OF land devoted TO has
growing will make a family a good
living. The hay should never be left
down more than two years. but II car
be reseeded In late summer without
losing a crop.
On irrigated land smaller areas thar
have given above are possible, and
under high-class management the
same is true in non=irrigated regions
The three types of farming do
scribed above are those which would
advise for the beginner