CHAPTER VI. 



SPECIAL, FARMING. 



N the first place, what do I mean by special farm- 

 ing ? We will take a common meaning of the 

 word special as found in the dictionary, namely, 

 peculiar or uncommon. Special farming, then, 

 we will call peculiar farming, or a kind different 

 from the ordinary. This sort of farming is some- 

 times or, perhaps, generally, called specialty farming. I do not 

 like the term as well as the one at the head of this chapter. Of 

 course, I do not need to say that by special farming I do not 

 mean the growing of one crop only. Any one knows that is not 

 and never can be good farming. We must have a rotation for 

 best results. We must grow crops enough for a good rotation, as 

 a rule. Of course, there may be possible exceptions to this. For 

 example, there are farms where it may be best to grow grass only 

 on bottomland subject to overflow or hillsides that wash badly. 

 But under ordinary conditions on arable lands the rotation of 

 crops is a matter no farmer can afford to overlook. 



By special farming I mean undertaking to do less, so we may 

 be able to do what we undertake thoroughly well. I mean 

 growing what will do best on our soil, largely, making a business 

 of it, rather than frittering away our time raising everything that 

 will grow in our latitude, when some things pay much better than 

 others. I mean buying something you want for your own use, 

 if you will be ahead, by raising something your soil is particu- 

 larly well adapted to, selling and standing the cost of exchange. 

 I mean farming that is business-like and up to the times, and 

 recognizes that father's way, although wise once, may be im- 

 proved on with the different conditions that often exist now. I 

 mean becoming an expert in two or three lines, rather than half- 

 way knowing how to do everything. 



It has been said that the way the great majority of farmers dc 

 in any section is undoubtedly the best way for that section ; the 

 opinion of many men is better than that of one. A mere school- 

 boy should know that this is not sound reasoning. It depends 

 simply on whether the majority are right or not. They may be 

 more apt to be right than one man, but they may also be entirely 

 wrong. Let us illustrate this : Whole communities favored 

 slavery ; was it therefore right ? In some places nearly every one 

 uses intoxicating 'drinks ; is it therefore the best way ? I can take 

 you to towns where nearly every farmer lets his liquid manure 

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