Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-05-20
For the Journal.
Iowa Farmers College.
CoNTINUED

TIE EXPERIMENTAL COLLEGE.
These experiments are greatly needed al
this time, by every farmer in the State
Every year we find new farm machinery
much of which is of great assistance to The
farmer, some of the corn planters and some
of them are Of no use some of the grain.
drills are far better than others and so witt
the reapers and mowers, and all our ma
chnery. Now one of our neighbors, who
got one of these poor machines, thinks his
is about as good as any, and two or three
o'her neighbors, buy the same kind upon
his recommendation. If we could see one
of the best Of these machines work by the
side Of the poorer, we should know Mt once
which to buy. 1t is expected that this
Experimental Farm will try all such ma
chinery, and report the best qualities of all,
as well as their defects. In this manner
instead of getting the poorest machines in
every county and neighborhood, they should
get only those that they know to be good:
and serviceable. Thus many hundreds
and in some counties thousands Of dol
lars, wonld be annually saved. From
this source alone, the farmers would derive
benefit enough to support the farm. And
this is valuable also to the mechanics,
for :hey do not want to buy patent, and
make quantity of machines this year
which are to be laid aside the next.
The same reasoning will apply to our farm
stock, Can any farmer tell me which is
the most profitable breed of hogs am not
a stock raiser, but have in my pasturage
(and have had the same kind for two years
a breed of hogs, probably mixed or mon.
grel breed, and which l candidly believe
will make 100 pounds of pork at less than
half the COS. of our common-long nosed ra-
GERS, comprising not less than half the stock
OF the entire State. There are $4,00O,OOC
worth Of pork now raised in this State. BY
improving the breed of hogs, sl,o0o.0oo
more pork could be fattenea on the same
corn. So with our beef cattle and our milcl
cows. And Of all the defects in our farming
(and they are many and grievous) 1t is our
mean COWS. We want the poor ones and
the good ones tested side by side, that we
may have the difference shown to Us in fig
ures from practical source.
Beef Cattle.-Some would recommend
Devons, some Durhams. My friend, who
has bought and sold great many beeves in
this county, says he believes the old fashion.
ed common breeds are the bestyet. l believe
the Durhams are the best for beef. But
who will believe either him or me; you
can try the experiment yourselves and then
you will know. In the first place, you will
not try it; in the second place, if each farme,
in single county should try the raising
and fattening of two animals, it would cost
him more than he would be willing to do in
care and trouble, 1t would cost each farmer
in this State about 123 cents to buy and
open this experimental farm, and l cent a
year to carry it on. believe no farmer Of
liberal mind will complain of the cost of
this Institution, in view of the great benefits
which every one can receive, if they will give
their attention to the reports Of the same. But
those public institutions sometimes squan.
der money. They ought to be watched
carefully. Those which have been started
in other States have not gone into e1trava-
gance.
am happy to inform the farmers of this
county that in several counties an offer of
the land (G40 acres or more) will be mad
on which to open this farm. So that the
first cost Of starting it will be quite light.
It is true that we shall have to have consid-
cradle of an amount to put up the bull ings.
SIIET, FOSTER