FARMING AS AN OCCUPATION. 101 



done by a machine, — we have outlined a business that de- 

 mands a mind clear and well-informed, a strong arm, and a 

 stout heart. 



Of the other conditions of success I should place first, a 

 steady pertinacity of effort to make things better than they are ; 

 a man should have ever before him an ideal farm, perfect in all 

 its appointments, to which his actual farm should be made to 

 approach as nearly as may be. 



This will keep him out of the ruts, and incline him to prog- 

 ress, in every department of his business. 



One should also keep informed as to the relative value of 

 crops he can raise, for at present great changes are going on in 

 the prices of staple articles of farm produce, and he is wise 

 who takes advantage of the market to grow those crops that 

 will sell to the best advantage. At the time of this writing 

 hay is worth in Salem $38 to $40 per ton, and corn can be 

 bought for from $34 to $36 per ton. It does not require much 

 reflection to see that it is much easier and more profitable to 

 raise and sell hay, and buy corn for use on the farm, than to 

 produce the corn. 



Yet many men raise as much corn as ever, because they are 

 accustomed to do it and dread to make any change. I think, 

 however, that changing or neglecting to change in such mat- 

 ters from established customs must make a great difference in 

 the profits of farming. 



I would not imply that it is good policy for a farmer to sell 

 much English hay ; on the contrary it is undoubtedly the best 

 plan to feed to stock kept on the place all the hay that is pro- 

 duced, and buy the grain in addition. Unfortunately, however, 

 but few of us can do this ; for we depend on the money received 

 for hay to meet expenses. 



Some few men, who can take city horses to board through 

 the winter, combine the best points of both systems, obtaining 

 the manure as a return for the care of the horses, and receiving 

 about as much for boarding them as the hay consumed would 

 bring in market. 



A plan which I tried on a small scale the past winter gives 

 me very good satisfaction, and furnishes a considerable amount 

 of manure. 



Finding in the fall that I should not be able to get horses to 



