THE COUNTRY HOME [chafier 



intensive farming. This means so cultivating a 

 few acres as to get more out of them than the old- 

 fashioned farmer used to get from ten times as 

 many acres. Probably ten acres to twenty will be 

 all that any one of us can comprehend and put to 

 the best use. Five acres is the wiser limit for one 

 who has spent most of his life in factories, or in 

 mercantile work. There are some exceptions, where 

 heredity speaks out strongly, and one has an in- 

 stinct for land improvement. 



The second point to be careful about, is not to 

 go too far from the city. It is not yet possible to 

 restore the old-time independence of country life. 

 Cities will pour out a big multitude into the free 

 fields; yet cities will remain. They will be our 

 markets for a century to come. We need the non- 

 producing crowds to buy our potatoes and apples 

 and garden stuff; so do not locate too far from the 

 market. 



The third point to consider is the lay of the land. 

 Generally avoid facing northwest winds. Locate 

 where you will be shielded to the windward with 

 either hills, or forests, or both. In some parts of 

 the country it will be easy to take advantage of the 

 protective influence of a natural wood belt ; yet you 



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