MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



works into a foamy ripeness, by a law of its 

 own necessity. 



I wish with all my heart that it were true; 

 but it is not. For successful farming, there 

 must be a well digested plan of operations, 

 and the faithful execution of that plan. It 

 is possible, indeed, to secure the services of an 

 intelligent manager, upon whom shall devolve 

 all the details of the business, and who shall 

 shape all the agricultural operations, by the 

 rules of his own experience; but however ex- 

 tended this experience may have been, the re- 

 sult will be, in nine cases out of ten, most un- 

 satisfactory to one who wishes to have a clear 

 and intimate knowledge of the capabilities of 

 his land; and very disagreeably unsatisfactory 

 to one who has entertained the pleasing illu- 

 sion that farm lands should not only be capa- 

 ble of paying their own way, but of making 

 respectable return upon the capital invested. 

 Your accomplished farm manager — usually of 

 British birth and schooling, but of a later 

 American finish, — is apt to entertain the con- 

 viction that an employer who gives over farm 

 land to his control, regards such farm land 

 only as a pleasant parade ground for fine cat- 

 tle and luxuriant crops, which are to be placed 

 on show without much regard to cost. And if 



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