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E111 Farming. . . . g 0 ©0®6®6©0©6 99©0©O°©¢ farming pay? Yes. And Well, too. For the sake of definitness I can say that in one year, from a. farm of 3600 acres, I have made {1. net profit of $37,000. This tract, of land cost, me but $70,000. It was bought at a time when faith in farm values was low, and when fhe young: 1mm of that region at least, were in a hurry to get away from the farms into the big cities, Where they would have a fair chance to make their fortunes. Now about farming pay? For the sake that in one How can a large system of farms, scattered over three States, be man- aged from an office in a big city? By system. Lack of system is the curse of the average farmer. He may, and generally does, practice all manner of petty and exacting economies, but he will never do things on a, large scale until he sysâ€" tematizes his entire scheme of operaâ€" tion. This means that he puts his economics and his activities on an automatic basis. Once established, they go on with their work in a meâ€" chanical way, leaving the man at the head free to do the thinking for the enterprise in a big wayâ€"if he is cap- able of it, by this quick communication from one central metropolitan oflice is that of having a. means of meeting crop exigencies due to the sudden and radical changes of weather. The man in Chicago. only a block or two distant. from the Auditorium tower, is closer to the source of the weather supply than the man out on the fang. The latter knows only wheh ther it is locally foul or fair for the monmnt: but here there is a chance to chat. with Old Probabilities and Chicago is the centre of the grain and liveâ€"stock trade of this country, and the advantage of being situated right here Where the world's prices are made is great. Of course we have a man who is at the stockyurds all the time. keeping a. close eye on the prices. and buying or selling as our needs and advantage dictate. Whether there is a. good, big future in farmingâ€"enough to satisfy any young man with a healthy ambition to get to the front and have a for- tuneâ€"is well answered by the fact that quite recently three farmers in Central Illinois left, at their death fortunes of more than three million dollars each. This wealth was made in farming. In the same general region I can find scores of farmers who are worth from $100,000 to $500,000. These are the straws which go to Show that farming can be made to pay on a. big as well as a small scale, and that it offers a satisfactory field of opera- tion for the millionaire as well as the thrifty immigrant. One of the most important things in running a. string of farms is the longâ€"distance telephone. It would be almost impossible to do farming on the syndicate plan Without this means of quick communication. Sup- pose there is a. sudden bulge in the market for corn, wheat, hogs, sheep, or cattle. By the telephone I can instantly discuss shipments with the foreman of every one of the farms. This ability to move produce into the market. on quick notice and thus get the benefit of a. high figure means thousands of dollars in additional profits each year to the man who has a. large number of farms under his control. :h ANOTHER END SERVED thus to secure a better guess as to the future condhions of drought or rain, wind or calm. The difference of a day in putting in a. crop someâ€" times determines the success or failâ€" ure of the yield. So as to the time for harvesting. Then this centralization of control in an office in a big market city gives a distinct advantage in secur- ing quick shippingr facilities. When it becomes necessary to get a large amount of produce into the market on short notice, in order to secure the benefit of temporary high prices, Ethings can be accomplished by the 1 large shipper that could not be done Eby the small farmer. He can go, i without the loss of a moment's time, to the general freight agent or other railroad official, and negotiate di- rectly and personally for special faâ€" ;cilities out of reach of the man on the farm. All these things count when the balance is struck. Again, the system I have outlined makes possible large economies in buying. It stands to reason that the man who buys binding twine for the harvesting machines on fifty farms can secure a. lower figure than one purchasing for a single farm. This applies to every kind of supply used in farm operations. One of the biggest problems of farm management is, of course, the distribution of crops. Whenever this question comes up among farmers there is always a great deal of Wise talk about "crop rotation." Sift this down to the bottom and it Will be found, in most cases, that farm- ers understand this term to mean sowing a field for oats one year and Wheat the nextâ€"alternating these crops indefinitely year after year. Here is Where the chief mistake is made. They do not make provision for giving their ground a chance for rest and enrichment. They do not plan to return anything to the soil. Every field used for wheat, corn and oats should have a season’s rest once every three or four years. Give each field a. chance to serve as pasture land as frequently as this, and it will pay big returns in rich and heavy yields. Managed on this plan, by a man Who has any knack as a corn raiser, any average Illinois or Nebraska field should . yield from seventyâ€"five to one hundred bushels of corn to the acre. About thirty years ago I began farming on a tract of one hundred acres on the banks of Seneca Lake, in New York. In three years I sav- ed $3,200 from the farm and had a good living besides. It was there that 1 demonstrated the principle of the rotation plan which I have since followed on a larger scale. From that time until the present I have been constantly, buying farms and operating them, and have yet to make the first unprofitable invest- ment. This is Why I have little pa- tience with the man who, under av- erage conditions, declares that there is "nothing in farming.” Men who talk in this strain are those who are satisfied to get a yield of thirty- five bushels of corn or oats to the acre, when they should know that their management is at fault if they fail to produce an average of less than Seventy bushels of either to the acre. This allows for feeding 1500 bushâ€" els of corn out of a crop of 4500 bushels; the corn being figured at thirty cents a bushel, and the yield at seventyâ€"five bushels an acre. The number of Izunbs in this estimate is one hundred. and hogs fifty. Placâ€" ing the farmer’s outlay for expenses at 8700, this leaves him $1500 clear. I believe this to be a. very conserva- tive estimate of What any good farm may be made to pay, for I have genâ€" erally exceeded this figure in the net results of my farming. On'the 3600â€"acre farm to which I have alluded, the allotment followed is this: 1800 acres in com. 900 acres in rye or oats, and the remain- der in pasture. We keep 350 cattle. and sell from $8000 to $10,000 worth of hogs. Each farm has its foreman, whose duty consists in seeing that the cenâ€" tral office is always intelligently in- formed of all local conditions and affairs and that orders are promptâ€" ly and efficiently carried out. All Here is my allotment for a farm of 160 acres: Ten acres for buildâ€" ings, garden patch and a field of mangelâ€"Wurzel beets; sixty acres for pasture; sixty acres for corn; thirty acres for oats. 1n the second year these crops should ,be shifted, pasâ€" ture and grass lands being turned over for cereals. The beets should be fed to sheep and hogs, and as much will be realized from the sale of Wool, lambs and hogs, under this system, as would otherwise be se- cured from the entire product of the farm. The showing made by an intelliâ€" gent following of this plan should be fully as good as this: THE PROPER ALLOTMENT From sale ©9©e®¢©9©9©§©0®6©¢§ BlG PROHIS EUR . . . WENIIHH GENIURY PHRMERS . . . . . . of wool. " lambs hogs corn... oats... d 00 100 500 900 200 the expenses are paid by draft through the local bank. This transâ€" fers ghe detail bookâ€"keeping to the central office and relieves the head farmer of clerical burdens. ' His only care in this particular is to see that he had a. proper voucher for every item of expense and that this voucher is forwarded in the re- gular routine of business. There is no difficulty in getting good foremen and good hands so long as they are given the right kind of u chance to make something for themselves and to live in comfort. The foreman of my largest farm is worth $16,000, and lives in a. degree of comfort that some city men who make almost, that amount every year can't provide from their incomes. First of all, the houses are kept in good repair and especial attention is paid to the kitchens. Everyrhing within human reason that can be done to make the houses convenient for the Wives of the farmers is done. Then each family is furnished with a. certain number of cows. If these yield more butter than is required for the household the farmer is free to sell the surplus. The Wives and children of the men who run these farms are given all the poultry they raise. These privileges are appreci- ated. and go to make the foreman, the hands and the tenants, together with their families. contented with their lot and eager to keep their places. Orchards are planted on these farms, together with small fruits, and there is every encouragement to have large gardens and to keep them in good condition. Men who are well fed, having a tempting variety of the delicacies of the season, will thrive and work well where a plain and monotonous bill of fare would produce grumbling, discontent and a. constant change of help. There is not a farm in the whole system, that hasn’t in its equipâ€" ment an extensionâ€"top buggy. and some have more than one, according to the number of young men em- ployed. The horses which are driv- en behind these carriages are equal to the ones owned by the sons of neighboring farmers who work their places instead of being in the emâ€" ploy of a “Chicago capitalist.” Here is another instance in which small expense and little thoughtfulness work large results in loyalty and contentment. Quite as important to the welfare of the employees and the tenants of the farms as orchards, gardens, dairies, poultry and top buggies, are good district schools‘ If there is not a “little red schoolhouse” on or very near a farm that comes into my possession I see to it that the authâ€" orities are offered a gift of ample ground on which to build one. On one occasion, after repeatedly pressâ€" ing. an offer of this kind, my foreman was asked: "Why is that capitalist boss of yours so anxious to build a. brick schoolhouse? It Will simply in- crease his own taxes, and he will get no benefit from the improvement, having no children here to attend school." As the foreman was a bright Irishâ€" man he had a. ready answer: “131+ Cause he thinks more of your chilâ€" dren and their chances in life than you do yourself!" . . The schoolhouse was put up on the strength of that argument, and is now Well filled and helping to make good, intelligent citizens of thachil; dren who live in that region. There isn't a. more important building on any farm than the little red schoolâ€" house! Better get along with one less barn or corn-crib than leave this bit of architecture out of the landâ€" scape. The district school is the salvation of this country. It gives the chil- dren of the common people a chance for a good education, and that counâ€" try which takes care of this class will keep at the front among the na- tions. French scientists have been mak- ing experhnents in regard to the eb fect of certain perfumes upon the voice. llany of the niost successful teachers in singing liave cautioned their pupils stringently against the use of perhunes or the proxinnty of odorous flowers. Mme. Richard goes so far as to forbid her pupfls the use of any perhunes at an, and if one of them is detected Wearing a bunch of violets the lesson is post- poned. The perfume of the violet has been found by the use of the laryngoscope to be parficulafly in- jurious. producing in sensflflve sub- jects a turnefaction of the vocal cords. Never put, off till tomorrow cook- ing the fish that you bought yester- day. Distance lends enchantment to the View; but, not, when you see the last. train leaving, and you are thirty miles from home. Count not your cheques before they are cashed, especially if they are forged ones. Papaâ€"Didn't I tell you, Willie, if I caught, you playing with Tommy Jink again I would whip you? Willieâ€"Yes. sir. Papaâ€"Then why were you playing with him? Willieâ€"Well, I got lonesomer than I thought; a. lickin’ would hurt, so I just went over and played with him, that’s Why. PERFUMES AND THE VOICE OF TWO EVILS THE LESSER HOW TO GET WORKERS LEST YOU FORGET FOILING THE UNITED STATES NICARAGUA CANAL SCHEME. The people of the United States] “By our route," he said, "we shall are most pertinacious in their efi‘orts save PVCI‘ :1 thousand miles in the 'carrymg of passengers or cargo from to bulld “p the Nlcmagua‘ canal' ithe Gulf of Mexico to the west coast. With 01‘ Without the Consent 0f Eng‘ In other words, our route will be‘ land. They will probably get their the shortest by four days. We shall' canal, and with it a. fine property be prepared to put cargo from a. from the strategic point of view, but vessel on the east coast alongside a. their blissful idea of combining struâ€" vessel on the West coast within tegy with money profits is likely to twelve hours at a cost not exceeding be exploded. For British enterprise $5 a. ton. is taking care that Whatever money " Each of the two canal schemes there is to be made in that part of will cost not far from $200,000,000. the World shall fall into British To get a fair return of 4 per cent. pockets. on that amount would mean a net The world has heard a great deal about the Panama and Nicaragua canal schemes, but little about, a third undertaking which is being quietly pushed forward by an Eng- lish firm interested in the develop- ment of Mexico. There are now three competitors in the race to connect the Atlantic and the Pacific. The Panama. project is hampered by various causes, and Niâ€" caragua is more or less in the air. But, What, may be described as the English scheme is Well on the way towards fulfilment. and will, it is anticipated, be ready for work years before either of the canals. The scheme consists of the buildâ€" ing. or rather the rebuilding, of a. railway across the'narrowest part of Mexico, from Santa Crux to Can- acoalcos. At both termini great harbors will be constructed. The town of Saline. Crux Will be remov- ed to make room for a. harbor capâ€" able of affording anchorage for the largest vessels. The whole underâ€" taking is being carried out by Messrs. S. Pearson, of Victoria, St., London. Some 2,000 men are at present employed on the Work under the personal direction of Sir Weetâ€" man Pearson, Bart. The idea. is to render the Nicaraâ€" gua and Panama Canal schemes practically useless. Indeed, if it were not for the fact that the Unit- ed States Wishes to secure safe and speedy sea communication with her new colonies, the Nicaragua project would now probably be abandoned. sing, states that the greenfinch is the earliest riser. It pipes. for what purpose cheery Nature knoWs, as early as halfâ€"past one in the morn- ing. The blackcap begins at half- past two. It is nearly four o’clock and the sun is well above the hori- zon before “the first real songster" appearsâ€"our good friend the black- bird. It is heard half an hour beâ€" fore the thrush, "and the chirp of the robin begins about the same length of time before that of the Wren." The hOUS"'3pfll‘r0W and the tomtit, take the last stage of the list. Mr. J. Meldrum, the foreign repre- sentative of Messrs. Pearson, who has just returned to London from Mexico, explained to a. representaâ€" tive of the press the advantages claimed for the new scheme over the two canals An English ornithologist, who has apparently given studious nights and mornings to the question of the hours in the summer at which the commonest song-birds Wake up and sing, states that the greenfinch is the earliest riser. It pipes. for what purpose cheery Nature knoWs, as early as halfâ€"past one in the morn- ing. The blackcap begins at half- BIRDLAND’S EARLY RISERS "1ach of the two canal schemes will cost not far from $200,000,000. To get a fair return of 4 per cent. on that amount would mean a net revenue of $8,000,000 and gross re- venue of probably over $15,000,000. To obtain that return a. charge of: about $7.50 a ton would have to be: made. All told, our scheme will not. cost. more than $25,000,000; thereâ€" fore We shall be able to carry cargo at a. much cheaper rate than either canal." The existing railway is more or less of a temporary nature, and Sir \Veetman Pearson has leased the line from the Mexican Government for fifty years. The new line will be‘ strong enough to bear the heaviest traffic. Although the “road” is only 192 miles long, it crosses 920 bridges, all of which have been or will be rebuilt. This work. together with the building of the harbours, will be completed in less than three years time. It is characteristic of Japan’s new- born enterprise that immediately her merchaan heard of the scheme they arranged to put on a. line of steam- ers from Japan to Salina. Crux. Messrs. Pearson’s concession includes permission to start a special line of steamers in connection with the ruilr way. Nearly the Whole of the land on both sides of the railway has been bought up. “The scheme itself," said Mr. Me!- drum, "is essentially a. British one. The machinery, the bridges, and the locomotives are, with a. few excep- tions, coming from this qountry." Strangely ignorant ‘though the average Englishman is of the re- sources and possibilities of Mexico. the country is developing rupi'lly. In the opening up of Mexico Messrs. Pearson have lent a. very pruct'cui hand. for they have executed Work to the value of $20,000,000, exclus- ive of the picsent great scheme. Cupid's darts make many Mrs. Love laughs at locksmiths; but the bulldog or a barbed Wire fence is an- other matter. Man was made to mourn, and W0. man to see that he does so. Circumstances alter cases _and cases alter circumstances, remarked théfizuvyer, as he smilingly made out his bill of costs. Speech is silver. silence is golden. as the cabman said when the old lady gave him a. five-dollar gold piece instead of a quarter. 1 It is more blessed to give than to receive, remarked the unfortunate youth, when his mother insisted up- on his taking caster-oil. SAYS THE CABMAN, SEZ HE FOR THOSE IN LOVE the abortive Panama Nicaragua Canal, and This last, is partly the British railway built, and may comâ€" pletely ruin the Am- crican scheme to make the Nicaragua Canal a paying property well as a strategic un- dertaking Danal, the proposed Bird’s-eye View Of