The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-02-12

and stock feeder, for he will necessarily have
more or less stock of various kinds to feed and
dispose of during the year. lie must ha'
some knowledge of horse flesh also, for his
Young colts will need watchful masters care; ;
and last, though not by any means the least
item, will be the dairy with all adjuncts Of
the cow,house, the pig-sty, and the poultry
yard, and the orchard This miredhusband-
ry, you will see, extends over large number
of complicated departments, which have all
to be made subordinate TO each other, and
all bring their respective quotas Of revenue to
swell the common stock. Each if properly
managed will add to the aggregate profits of
| the farmer, and, should the season be such
as to prevent one department from doing well
| it frequently happens that some of the others
can be extended TO such an amount as to sup
ply the deficiency. If the wool clip is sold
at low rate, the price of grain may make it
up; if grain rules low, cattle and pork may
be higher. 1t is seldom that all fail the
thrifty farmer who minds his own business.
Now it is this mired husbandry-this high
est and most scientific kind of farming, to
which our state, and particularly this portion
of it, is best adapted. AT least this is the
conclusion at which have arrived in regard
to this county from eursory examination of
its surface, and also from descriptions L have
received from those whose facilities for know
ing have been greater than mine. But there
is another point from which, in considering
the capabilities of the coontry, we must sur
vey its position before we can thoroughly un-
derstand its advantages; and that is, com
mercial locality.
Hillsdale, in common with the counties by
which she is surrounded, he's outlets by rail
road for her surplus produce both TO the cast
and west. These outlets give easy facilities
for the sale of her productions at the HIGHEST
market rates, minus the cost of transporta-
tion to New York or Boston. For these east
ern markets being the great emporiums where
all produce goes for distribution 10 the actual
consumers they are, and must remain, the
regulating scale by which we are guided as to
the value of all articles raised by the western
agriculturist. There is, for instance, no part
of Michigan that can compete with the prai-
ries of Illinois and Iowa in raising cattle in
great numbers, favored as those states are by
the natural rankness Of the wild grasses, the
mild climate and the vast range of as yet un-
appropriated pasture lands, as well as their
fertility in corn; but then the farmers of
Michigan have the advantage of being nearer
that market which all must seek. When the
cattle grower Of Illinois has to pay from SIS
to Sl4 per head, of freight from his prairie
to New York, the farmer who raises stock in
Hillsdale need not have it cost him more
than 50 to $40 per head to get his animals
to the same place. SO with his wheat which
may be laid down in New York from this
county and not average great deal over 2s
cents per. bushel for transportation; but this
cost will be greater to the more western far
mer, and must increase the farther he goes
from the great distributing market
Again, EIilsdale is well situated to become
a centre from which other localities may be
supplied with the better breeds of domestic
animals. The diversified surface of her soil
is calculated to give the stock raised here
good constitution; and as there is prospect
of a constant demand for many years to come,
to supply the west, which is just beginning
to know the necessity of improving its breeds
there is little fear of the market being over
stocked with first rate animals for a long
time.
There is another branch of farming, though
probably one of minor Importance, for which
this locality is admirably adapted; and that
is, the growth of fruit. Need it be said that
the orchards of Hilsdale ought to bring in a
large revenue to their owners? | do not
think it need look eastward. but westward
for market for their produce. 1t is there,
where as yet no orchards have had time to
grow, but where 20 many railroads are almost
daily springng into existence, and opening
new avenues of travel to a rapidly increasing
population, that YOU may look for
a constant demand and steady market for
your best fruit; and this market extends the
length of the Mississippi river from ST. Pauls
to New Orleans. But you need not go so
far from home; our own state has been but
scantily supplied with fruit for the past two
or three years, and for two months past not
barrel of dried apples has been for sale in the
city Of Detroit. So that with our own home
wants to be supplied, and Chicago with her
Unsuitable appetite and the hungry, growing
west stretching still beyond her, there is little
danger that your orchards with all their ad-
vantages of favorable soil and situation, will
bear too abundantly. .3g,s,f
Hillsdale is channellod by running water
in all directions, being the fountain head of
nearly all the important rivers in southern
Michigan, and for elevation, variety of soil,
undulating surface, and agricultural and COM
mercial advantages combined, we doubt
whether she has her equal north or south east
or west.
But have not come here merely to utter
praises of your beautiful county. On the oc-
casion of such meeting as this there are
subjects of higher utility which should claim
our attention. One of these am about to
bring, before you. 1t is one which calls for
investigation from us, and is worthy of all the
light that you and 7, and all of us together
may be able to throw upon it. j 'L"a
Why is it that in year of very full crop
such as that of 1853, the amount Of wheat
grown in this county averaged but fifteen BUSH
els and a third per Gre With the soil, the
climate, and the favorable conditions under
which wheat is usually grown here, the aver
s. $780,. Il. -