18 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AKD-STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



this will stand a, better chance of- success than he who looks 

 upon it as an ' occupation tut- r orie step above that of a day- 

 laborer/ 



In many instances the first thing calling for the exercise of 

 thought and judgment is 



The Selection of the Farm. One should not be too 

 hasty in deciding a question of so great importance as this, 

 for it is far better in a majority of cases that the young 

 farmer should make a permanent selection. It is one of the 

 evils of farm life in America that so many of our farmers 

 are ready to sell out at the first good offer, and that so few 

 have lived on their farms long enough to become attached to 

 them. If, then, the farmer is locating for life, it becomes a 

 matter of serious importance that he should study carefully 

 every detail, and act understandingly in the matter. Let us 

 look at some of the considerations which should influence his 

 decision in this important matter. First the farm must be suited 

 to his means. Many farmers, to-day, are tired of their calling, 

 discouraged in their efforts to improve, and failing to farm at 

 a profit, from the fact that they are in debt. It is the bane of 

 farm life. I do not, by any means, say that the farmer should 

 never incur debt in buying a farm, for the majority of young 

 farmers must do this, but it should be only after the most care- 

 ful thought and study. It is often wiser to buy a smaller farm 

 than to run deeply in debt for a larger one. The question of 

 the size of the* farm should be determined by the means of the 

 farmer, the particular branch of farming he intends to follow, 

 and his business capacity. Both large and small farms have 

 their advantages. On a large farm it will pay to invest in more 

 labor-saving machinery, and this can be kept more fully em- 

 ployed. More help can be kept permanently, and this will 

 enable the farmer to concentrate the labor on some particular 

 work in an emergency. On a large farm there is a better op- 

 portunity for rotation of crops and diversified farming, and more 

 stock can be kept, which will, under good management, not only 

 keep the farm more fertile, but also give an equal income with 

 less labor than where most of the soil must be cultivated. On 



