THE COUNTRY HOME [CHAPTER 
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 
[18] 
