The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-03-18
Intensive Farming
BY +. ROBINSON.

Gods Word is replete with stories of
Zion farmers, and rich and full are the
promises to the farmer who obeys God.
The story of the first man is the story
of farmer, and God Himself planted
his farm No doubt many wish today,
that God would plant farm for them,
but the chances are that they would not
take care of it if He did however, while
God may not plant the farm, He has
provided the seed and trees, and given
instructions what to plant and how to
go about it. He has also promised to
cooperate with the farmer in producing
what they call bumper crops.'
No farmer can get along without Gods
cooperation, and when the farmer goes
to the full extent with God, the Heaven
ly Father will go to the full extent with
him. But it means patience and per-
sistence. These spell success.
In Leviticus 26: 3-5, God says: eff We
walk in my statutes, and keep my COM
mandments, and do them; then I will
give you rain in due season, and the land
shall yield her increase, and the trees
of the field shall yield their fruit. And
your threshing shall reach unto the
vintage, and the vintage shall reach I'M
to the sowing time: and We shall eat
your bread to the full, and dwell in your
land safety"
| Another beautiful promise is found in
Deuteronomy 18th Chapter. Every Zion
| farmer should often read it. Also NAL
achi 1872, which should be committed
to memory by every Zion man.
It is as necessary for Zion farmers to
make their work matter of prayer, as
it is for an Elder or the General Over
seer. A sick farm can be healed through
prayer and good nursing, as we'll as a
sick person. Zion City is very good
illustration of what prayer and good
management will do for sick city. It
takes faith in God, coupled with work.
Gods Word says: "Prove me now here
with, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will
not open you the windows of heaven,
and pour you out blessing, that there
shall not be room enough to receive it"
Malachi $40.
| lions acreages are a great asset to
Zion City, and as the years go by they
will be of far greater value than now,
especially if we are thrown on our own
resources through national railroad
strike, or other catastrophe, which might
cut off our outside supply. There will
be an increasing supply of the delicious
and wholesome products of Zion land,
especially as the fruit trees come into
bearing
1t will not be long, as lions standard
is maintained, before lions products
will be sought for by many in the sur
rounding towns and cities, if good
quality of produce can be supplied, de-
livered in neat and attractive manner.
There is no question about the market;
the difficulty is to get regular supply
and proper means of transportation.
IulS IIICdlS OISdulZdClOI.
Having given considerable time to the
study of intensive farming some years
ago, | thought few ideas acquired at
that time, and strengthened by observa-
ton since, might be of some use to those
contemplating farming.
There are a good many who have
taken up from one to five acre tracts of
land in Zion City. Of course the de-
sire is to get as much off the land as
possible. Some no doubt have had but
very little experience in farming, and
do not know just what to go in for, or
how to go about it. So I want to give a
suggestion or two.
AS a general thing, upon an acre of
ground a portion of it is set apart for
fruit, both tree and bush. I want to
speak here of a combination which for
several reasons believe would be very
profitable on an acre or two, if properly
attended to. This combination is fruit,
bees, and chickens.
The first thing to consider then, is
what kind Of fruit to plant. This is
quite study, and it is well to remember
that some kinds of fruit will not grow
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