. New Hampshire agriculture : personal and farm sketches. hischildhood, Mr. Walker realized, very soon after assum-ing the management of the farm, that much must bedone to bring it into a satisfactorily productive condi-tion, and that he was ignorant of the proper manner inwhich to go to work to accomplish it. He commencedby adopting the programme of his neighbors, raising alittle of everything and not much of any one thing. Hesoon found this plan unprofitable, and finally arrived atthe conclusion that he must raise something which wouldinsure a substantial financial return. Upon due consid-er
. New Hampshire agriculture : personal and farm sketches. hischildhood, Mr. Walker realized, very soon after assum-ing the management of the farm, that much must bedone to bring it into a satisfactorily productive condi-tion, and that he was ignorant of the proper manner inwhich to go to work to accomplish it. He commencedby adopting the programme of his neighbors, raising alittle of everything and not much of any one thing. Hesoon found this plan unprofitable, and finally arrived atthe conclusion that he must raise something which wouldinsure a substantial financial return. Upon due consid-eration hay production was selected as the special line tobe followed. To bring his farm into proper condition for successfuloperation and comfortable occupancy has required thecutting of some fifteen acres of willow and alder bushes,the drainage of thirt^y acres of bog land, the turning overof every acre of tillage land on the farm, the re-buildingof all the fences, and the modification and repair ofnearly all the buildings ; all of which has been accom-. a 58 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. plished, while in the meantime Mr. Walker has secureda thorough, practical knowledge of his chosen branch ofagriculture. He has raised his average annual hay pro-duct from sixty to one hundred and seventy-five tons, andhas at the same time greatly improved its quality. Hehas entirely abandoned cattle husbandry, his entire stockconsisting of three horses, a pair of oxen, and one cow,stable manure from the city being purchased to sustainthe fertility, while the hay crop is sold at a good price inthe local market. Under his plan of management all histillage land, which includes something over one hundredacres, the balance of over two hundred being pasture andforest, is brought under the plow about once in five years,and an average crop of from a ton and a half to two tonsof hay per acre is secured. No man in New Hampshire has manifested greaterrespect for the cause of agriculture than Mr. Walker, or
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidnewham, booksubjectfarmers
