LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 321 



than are those papers whose only interest in us is to get us to take and pay for 

 their newspaper. The farmer who pursues the mixed system is in greater need 

 of advice and experience of others than is he who makes a particular crop 

 specialty. There is no way of making such knowledge available to the mass 

 of producers that is so effective as through the columns of a good agricultural 

 paper. In my own experience I have had many and valuable helps from that 

 source. My observation has been, too, that those farmers who are the best 

 versed in the condition of agriculture in general are the progressive farmers, 

 have the best stock, best cultivated and most attractive farms, and make the 

 most money. I have no higher ambition than to be a good farmer and own a 

 good farm. I have no higher ambition for my son. The old adage that 

 "Knowledge is power," is, I believe, as true of farmers as of any other class. 



MIXED HUSBANDRY. 



BY A. C. TOWNE. 

 [Read at Hastings Institute.] 



This question has often been discussed, whether it is best for the farmer to 

 follow what is called "mixed husbandry?" That is growing a variety of 

 the various crops and stock, or to raise special crops for which his soil is 

 adapted, or are most profitable for his market. There are good reasons for 

 following either practice, and it is not always easy to decide which is the right 

 system to pursue. I do not deem it pertinent to the question to go back to 

 the ancients to trace their mode of farming, with their vast herds, or crude 

 implements, but rather to the practice in vogue at the present time amongst 

 our most intelligent farmers — of Barry county. 



I assume we are, each of us, farmers from choice, and not because we are 

 not fitted by nature or education to fill any of the various professions, or 

 engage in mercantile, manufacturing, or mechanical pursuits; and that we 

 give our farms the same careful study, and bring to our aid knowledge and 

 science, either gained by our past experience or from agricultural works, the 

 same that all successful persons do to their various callings. The raising the 

 various kinds of grain and stock are so essentially blended together in farm 

 economy, it would seem like destroying one of the old land marks to separate 

 them. 



Michigan, our beautiful peninsular State, is essentially a grain-growing State, 

 and is conceded the best in the Union for its fine quality of wheat ; second to 

 none in its fine horses; third in amount of wool produced; and, perhaps, 

 second to none in its fine flocks of sheep; and second to none in its thorough- 

 bred cattle and hogs. In any mode of farming, either mixed or special, there 

 are two important questions the intelligent farmer will ever keep in mind, 

 to wit: The maintaining of the fertility of his soil, and that mode of farming 

 that will give him the greatest income with the least expense in labor and 

 money. To maintain the two, there are many reasons in favor of mixed hus- 

 bandry, as there can be no general failure, because if one crop fails others are 

 maturing at different seasons that are not likely to fail — like the wheat har- 

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