The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-07-02


i" " {" " potatoes $4,000
4" g orchard $4,000
= other crops $40, 900
Mr.. Wilson has statistics of several crops
that We have given. The amount Of grass
seed is at least $75, 900; honey, $3.50, 900 ;
vegetable crop, not less than near million
Of dollars; grape crop $250,000 Of sor-
ghom sugar there has been made 10000
lbs, worth at least 150, 900 dollars.
Mr.. Wilson says:
To meet the States share Of the expenses
attendant upon the present war, it behooves
men to economize at every point. Even
with SO large draft for the war Of the
hardy laboring sons of the State, who were
wont to do their share toward producing
what we have, by cultivating fewer acres,
and working well what We have, our pro.
ducts will not be lessened during their alb.
sence, but doubtless increased to a great
extent without making the bdrthen more
heavy. The agricultural credit Of the state
demands q reform in this particular, and
every true patriot should cheerfully apply
al the intelligence and skill he can muster,
to meet the present and any further de-
mands which may be made upon them to
sustain the laws Of their country.
There are three important matters con.
nected with farming in this State, which, il
practiced, would effect nearly all that is
necessary to secure fair remuneration for
the capital invested in and the labor ex-
pended upon the land; LIST, Cultivate no
more land than can be done thoroughly !;
I'd, Raise only sxch produce as can be fed
upon the land, or such as will pay to trans
port to the best market; Sd, Know the ex-
act cost Of every animal and thing raised
on the farm.
admit, that to carry out even one Of
these propositions, throughout the State
would be esteemed great innovation but
can farming, here or elsewhere. be pursued
probably without attending faithfully to
all? Certainly not. What objections then
can there be to their universal adop-
ton! They involve no expense beyond a
few dollars to keep advised of the improve
Inents in agriculture, and for little blank
book to keep the accounts in. There can
be no objection then to adopting them on
the score Of expense. But uiU they be
generally adopted? 1t is feared they will
not. Why? That is easier asked than
answered. The principal reason is, because
they have not been tried. Let any farmer
pursue the practice suggested for but one
year, the result will be so satisfactory that
we doubt whether it would ever be aban-
doned, because they would demonstrate to
their own satisfaction, that all the beef and
pork produced costs as Q general thing dou-
Die what it ought to cost, and that the
crops produced are not so large by 25 per
cent. as they should be for the labor ex-
pended, and that of wheat, especially, the
cost of production averages from Is to 25
per cent. more than it sells for; and that
mixed farming generally yields greater
income than to depend upon few special
tiles. Farmers, generally, they do we'll if
they have small amount laid up at the
close Of the year beyond their expenses,
but there are only few who can tell to
what branch to give the credit for the larg-
est share Of the profits, or whether pro-
portion Of it can be given to all on which
they have expended their means and labor
1t strict account was kept with every el~e.
Of products this would not be the CASE
But if it may be urged that the season and
other circumstances over which he has no
control, may render Improbable one year
that which was profitable the year before.
True, but is not one year alone which
should determine their practice; a series
Of five years may be necessary. What may
be- remunerative one or two years may not
be SO for the other three, and the reverse
1t is the general average which must be ia
ken and no isolated season. For instance,
would it do to abandon the raising of hogs
because the past year gave such poor, and
to some disastrous return? Certainly not;
but it may be prudent not to feed so many
and feed better what they may have. 1t
would do, however to abandon the raising
Of SO much wheat, as series Of years has
proven that, situated so far as we are from
q market for this grain, it does not pay to
produce more than may be needed for home
consumption.
One Of the greatest evils in Iowa hus-
bandry is the small value placed upon little
things. Even small farm of fifty acres
is despised because there is so much land
can be had at such low price to make it
double or treble in size. Go through the
State and inquire into the circumstances Of
small farmers and it will be found that they
are better in nine cases out Of ten, than
those who pretend to cultivate large farms.
Whyg Being compelled, perhaps, to sup
port himself and family on his fifty acres,
he makes good use of what he has, he
does not despise small things. AS he has
not the means to enter into one thing large
~, if any fails, he does not lose much
On the other hand he cannot afford to de-
vote even half of his farm to one crop
His eyes are used to some purpose, by
which he learns the wants of the nearest
market, and he produces that which pays
him best, and is of sure sale at fair pro-
6t. His stock of all kinds is Of the best,
and it will not pay him to keep many
When he goes to town or his place of trad
ing, he does not despise taking bushel Of
potatoes, some onions, cheese or two,
cabbage, or even pumpkins, not needed at
home, and because not needed considered
worthless Whatever he obtains for them
is clear gain. There are many instances of
this class Of farmers, who by thus making
the small things bring them something, too
small as considered by many, have paid for
their little farms which they had pur chased
entirely upon credit, and made themselves
snug homes thereby. Those who ''despise
not the day Of small things" and "plow
deep while sluggards Sleep" always have
plenty to live on and are never behind with
their pecuniary engagements. Taxes are
no special dread to them, as they are al
ways ready to pay them. They know that
the aggregate of taxation is made up of q
few mills here and few mills there few
mills obtained for this and for that esteemed
worthless article, will more than meet them.
~ An editor in the village of Mitchell,
G. w., says: "One little garden patch of
ours Was very prolific last season. The
snaik eat ap the cucumbers, the chickens
eat up the snails, the ncighbors' cats eat up