The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-18

| (By w. j. SPILLNAN, 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 q 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 few
orchard trees win supply fruit In
season and permit the careful and
economical housewife to can an
abundance of fruit for the winter.
During the growing season a we'll
planned garden would furnish fresh
vegetables at all times. With proper
care such vegetables as cabbage. po-
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 NAV
obtain advice from state and national
experts on varieties and areas of the
various vegetables and fruits neees-
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 il at the end of the
Year the family on the farm has saved
Iothing, but has lived well it is fully
On par with the average city family.
The city salary looks large, but 1t
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, if 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-
tons.
In good seasons a small area of
fruits or vegetables viii 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 q liy- |
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 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 a very small farm it is hardly |
advisable to raise calves. 1T is adj
yisable, 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 a neighbor. They will consume
the refuse on the place and furnish
large part of the meat required for
the family during the year.
The number of horses required de-
ponds upon the type of farming and
the area of the farm. For an area of
ten acres az less one horse ought to
suffice, even when the marketable
products are delivered to private cus-J
toners in a nearby town
Under some conditions the market
Ing would consume nearly all the time
Of one horse, so that it might be nee
Assary to Keep two. but two horses
ought to suffice for a farm of 20 or 80
acres.
In ordinary farming. where the time
IF the horse is completely occupied in
ield work, one horse to 25 acres is
he usual rule; but in gardening. es- II
oecially where good deal OF time is
ia marketing, it Is some
lines necessary to keep one horse
or each ten acres.
On the very small farm at least an
lcra or berries Is advisable. This may