The farm offers many opportunities, so many, in fact, that you can not fail to find suitable employment. Remember that the world is clamoring for food and looking to us to supply the increased demand. You may be inclined at times to be discouraged on account of your disability, but a brave determination is half the battle toward success in any line of agricultural work.
It is with a sincere desire to extend sympathetic helpfulness that you are advised to consider the adoption of some line of agriculture, general farming it may be, for your vocational training. Later you may find some specialty in agriculture which is to your liking and suited to your changed condition. You may be hesitating because of your disability. You can “come back” and will, with a convincing pride that will be admired by your old friends and relatives. Come to the country and you will find your place.
PLAN No. 1061. FARM OWNERSHIP POSSIBLE
Federal loans are now available on long time, and since the establishment of Farm Loan Banks by the Government, agriculturists have borrowed for use in farming about $140,000,000 in 18 months. Government farm loans can be secured for improvements and equipment as well as for aiding in buying land.
Much is being planned for your encouragement and to assist you in your determination to overcome your physical handicap on the land which you may aspire to own. Even before the war, with no idea of providing for returning soldiers, California had initiated a scheme for enabling men to acquire ownership of land and develop farms by establishing community settlements under State law and direction. In Virginia, notably, and in some other States, under State incorporation laws, community or group settlements in which the farm owners “carry on” co-operatively are proving attractive and successful. The day of small farms and orchards is at hand, and these mean better homes and living conditions, and an occupation in which the whole family may become interested as co-workers.
In no other field of employment can you find such diversification and opportunity for developing side lines as in the broad field of agriculture. Many of these side lines are specialized branches of farming, such as orcharding, small fruit growing, gardening, beekeeping, and poultry raising. These specialties will be considered in separate monographs, but it may be noted that the general farmer may and usually does, engage more or less extensively in several specialties.
Work Is Varied and Changes With the Seasons
The field of agriculture is large and covers many lines of activity. In the different branches wholly different kinds of work must be done, and the work changes from season to season. In general farming, for example, in the spring comes preparation of the land by clearing, plowing, harrowing, disking, rolling, and planting; through the summer, growing crops must be cultivated and given other attention; and in the late summer and fall comes harvesting, which is begun with the fall-planted winter crops by midsummer harvesting of the small grains and hay.
Live Stock
Handling pure-bred stock requires a variety of interesting work. As profitable general farming nearly always includes live-stock production, more or less work is required in this branch. The horsepower of the place must have attention; barns must be kept in order, feed and fodder prepared and sometimes fed out to cattle and sheep in pasture and much care must be given to hogs if brood sows are kept. Other profitable side lines are followed on almost every farm and are frequently specialized, as with pure breeds of cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, rabbits, and hares.