The Raymer enterprise., 1913-03-13
by W. J. sPrLLMAN. Chief Of Farm
Management, United States Depart

by W. J. sP1LLMAN. Chief Of Farm
Management United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture)
For the purpose Of this article we
may divide the farm into two areas:
one devoted to producing food for the
family. the other devoted to market
crops or live stock products. We will
consider first that portion Of the farm
devoted to the production Of food for
the family.
On well managed farm the neces.
sary cash outlay for the living is rela.
lively small. There is no rent to
pay, the water Is free. the light Is
cheap. there are no vegetables to buy.
and the meat is supplied largely by
poultry and pigs A COW or two will
supply milk. cream. butter. and cot
tage cheese.
A small patch OF berries and a few
orchard trees will supply fruit in
season and permit the careful and
economical housewife to can an
abundance Of fruit for the winter.
During the growing season q well
planned garden would furnish fresh
vegetables at all times. With proper
care such vegetables as cabbage, 20.
tatoes and turnips may be available
throughout the winter. The United
States department Of agriculture has
Issued valuable bulletins on the kitch.
en- garden. and these bulletins may be
had for the asking.
In addition to this, the beginner may
obtain advice from state and national
experts on varieties and areas of the
various vegetables and fruits neces.
sary to supply the needs of the family.
The cash expenditures include a few
groceries. occasional cuts Of beef or
mutton. clothing, medicine. labor and
the necessary expenditures In main.
tanning the equipment of the farm.
A gross farm income one-third of a
city income permits Of standard Of
living In the country equal to that in
the city. Even II at the end OF the
year the family on the farm has saved
nothing. but has lived well it is fully
on par with the average city family
The city salary looks large, but It
all goes in rent. food. clothing, etc.
But when nearly all the expenses OF
the family are produced on the farm
by Its own labor. II the farm pro.
duces 5000 cash over and above the
expense of maintaining the farm. the
farm family can live quite comfortably
The area necessary to supply the
needs Of the family and to produce
salable products sufficient to buy
what Is necessary depends upon the
type Of farming chosen. on the rich.
ness OF the soil. and on market condi.
tions.
In good seasons a small area of
fruits or vegetables will suffice, but
the prices Of these perishable prod.
ucts fluctuates more or less violently.
Sometimes the markets are glutted
and prices fall below the cost OF pro-
duction. At other times frost ruins
the crop. 1t is therefore unsafe to un.
dertake even the most intensive farm.
ing on areas that will barely suffice,
in favorable seasons, to provide liv.
ing for the family. A minimum equip.
ment would be something like the
following:
Fifty hens, which, II well cared for,
will produce all the poultry products
the family can consume and enough
for sale to pay a large part Of the
grocery bill In this connection farm.
ers' bulletin No. 355 is OF interest. It
gives the detailed management OF
poultry on one OF the most successful
commercial poultry farms OF the
country.
On very small farm 1t is hardly
advisable to raise calves. It is ad.
visable, however. to keep at least one
COW. and not more than one, unless
the family Is large one. 1t is better
policy. on very small farms. to de.
pend on buying the COW. and when
her days OF usefulness are over to
sell her and buy another. not attempt.
Ing to raise the calves.
A couple Of pigs may be bought
from neighbor. They will consume
the refuse on the place and furnish a
large part Of the meat required for
the family during the year.
The number Of horses required de.
pends upon the type Of farming and
the area OF the farm. For an area Of
ten acres or less one horse ought to
suffice, even when the marketable
products are delivered to private Gus.
toners In q nearby town.