Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1916 — Belgian Farming. [ARTICLE]

Belgian Farming.

No more striking illustration of what can be done with a small area of land could be had than that presented in the current number of the Country Gentleman, by Andre de Martclerc, a Belgian. “Being reccntly from Belgium,” says the author, modestly, “where I lost everything, I take the liberty to send you the following article on a little 'farm," That article, scarcely a quarter ’column in length, can be profitably read by every man and y.Oman living on a farm,’ large or small, in the Cnited States. An-y-e de Marder's ' little farm measured "72 steps on side, possessing about an acre of land,” Bu’ it was only •poor land.” Its owner, however, knew what to do and how to do it, “I plowed my land,” says he,. “12 inches' deep, both ways, having covered it with six inches o:' manure.” Then he harrowed it ' both ways’’; then he harrowed it again with “the small disc harrow. He was thorough—— always thorough. And nothing went to waste. When “'the fall came,” he even cut the green of the asparagus and fed it to his cow, and the cow “relished it.” And in the autumn.

between the asparagus rows—space on which, throughout the season, he raised a succession of vegetable crops—he sowed winter vetch, inoculated. In Belgium, he explains, it is said that "one acre of winter or spring vetch was equal to 30 tons of manure.” Continuing, he says: The returns from my different crops in my little farm in Belgium amounted to about $2,738 in a year. Expenses, including two men, two horses, two wagons and myself, for the year, amounted to $ 1,000, leaving a profit of about $1,700. r show you herewith what I sold: Asparagus. 1:0,892 plants in the fourth year, 18,703 pounds, at 10 cents a -pouri d, 9,351 fraces or. .;$1,870.00 Radishes, about ... .... 91.00 Green onions, about 104.00 Early peas, about .. ... “ . 61.00 Lettuce, about ........ .70.00 Squash, about . . 32.00 Cucumbers, about . 260.00 Rhubarb, 300 plants, about 250.00

.Total . . ... ... $2,738:00 , I-diave done that for years in Belgium, raising a family of eight, besides taking care of my father-in-law and mother-in-law for more than I S years. The Belgian •farmer’s’’ statement is plain, matter of fact and to the point. There is no theorizing about it. . What he did, moreover, was done on “poor old, worn-out soil" of Belgium. And, evidently, he is surprised that he does not encounter more of the intensive cultivation of the same sort in the Cnited States. But he expresses the opifffbn that the "good I nited States masses who possess so many thousands of acres ol good land win in the near future, as I can see, double and, triple their resources.” And he concludes with this remark: “My only objection is, which is of no value whatsoever, the American farmer by being more careful in his work will reap greater profits, by understanding; thoroughly well ‘rotation of crops,’ which should be of interest to every farmer.” 'the language, perhaps, is a little involved, but the advice is not.