Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1877 — Large or Small Farms. [ARTICLE]

Large or Small Farms.

Theeg are very many advocates of both large and small farms, but, like many other things, the assertions of interested parties most be taken with a few grains of allowance, and due regard must be had to the governing circumstances which control the individual who hovers over the uncertainty of a decision. ‘‘Ten Acres Enough,” and “ My Farm of Four Acres,” small works purporting to give the details., of the authors’ successful experiences on tie sized places named, had very large sales and quite a host of the readers, especially citizens, at oncj jumped to the conclusion that they saw a way to solve the problem of gaining a good living, and with something beside to lay by for a rainy day, and forthwith started farming on a*small scale, only to be utterly disappointed, in a majority of cases, in the course of a year or two. Farming, whether'on a large or small scale, is a business which requires considerable knowledge, some means to start on, and an ability and willingness to work hard and constantly, especially ou a small farm. If the farm

is a large one, and there has been sufficient means invested to Insure success, most of the owner’s time is required ia directing the labors of others, but it in essentia' to know what should be done, and when and tiow to do it, which can only be learned by experience. A small farm is the best when you intend to devote the most of It to raising vegetables and small fruits; at least, in starting, it is licet to commence on a few acres—and it should, invariably, be near the city, or in close proximity to some large town, for the nearer you are to the consumer the better chance you stand of obtaining the highest prices, other things being duly considered. As your experience enlarges, the size of the farm can be extended proportionately. If raising stock is the desire of the would-be farm purchaser, then we would advise such persons to make a trip into the country during the height of the growing season, say during the latter end of June or early in July, and then select a good-sized farm on which the crops grow finely and the animals show undoubted evidence of good living. Do not purchase a larger farm than you can properly carry on, for we have known some men who paid nearly or quite all of their means for large grain and stock farms, and were then so pressed for means to successfully carry on farming that success was beyond the reach of even an experienced farmer in the same predicament. Very much depends upon the man, however, whether large or small farms will prove most profitable, just the same as some military men are tai better as Division Commanders than they would be as Uommander-in-Chief. Some men can manage a large farm and realize more profit than they could on a small one, while others would make a small farm pay handsome returns and yet be “at sea*.’ on a large one. Success in any branch of business, or in managing large or small business concerns, depends in a great measure upon each man’s capacity tor managing, experience being only secondary to it. If the aoility is wanting, success will never be attained on a farm, whether large or small. — I).Z. Evant, Jr., in Practical Farmer.