314 HOW TO GET A FAKM, 



into chasms, grappled with the opposing rocks, 

 avoided avalanches, and when the goal was reached, 

 felt that but for the toil that strengthened them as 

 they strove, it could never have been attained.&quot; 



The question whether it is better to have a small, 

 well-cultivated farm, or a large one poorly culti 

 vated, or not cultivated at all, and whether men 

 with small holdings are not usually most successful, 

 has often been discussed. It would be out of place 

 to reopen the debate here. But as the subject of 

 small farms is now before us, I quote from the 

 Country Gentleman the following remarks of Mr. O. 

 S. Leavitt, of Detroit, as bearing on the question 



&quot; The general broad proposition, without qualification, 

 that small farms are preferable to large ones, is a fallacy. 

 A great deal of nonsense has been written and spoken in 

 favor of it, and, in my judgment, no one error of opinion 

 is more wide-spread or more injurious. The real argu 

 ments, pro and con, lie within a very narrow compass. All 

 will admit that it requires a great deal of science, knowl 

 edge, industry, tact, and agricultural skill, to conduct even 

 a farm of 20 acres in the best manner, or in an excellent 

 manner. Very few farmers can do it. The cases are rare, in 

 deed, where a small farm or a large one either, is well managed. 

 I am not writing to flatter the farmers ; I would rather tell 

 the truth. Are all the small farms well managed ? Far from 

 it. Probably more large farms, in proportion, are well 

 managed than small ones. If a farmer is to do all his work 

 &quot;himself, he of course should have a small farm ; but it is ab 

 surd to say that a man who thoroughly understands farming, 

 say one farmer out of a hundred, should do this. A good 

 farmer would greatly benefit the public, as well as himself, 



