The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-28

nBureS oil Illinois STOCK rillSlnB MS lOl
} lows The first large farmer that
found is S. H. Elliott. He came to Ed
gar county, about the year 1850, ant
made cash payment OF $500 on 5Ot
acres in the edge of the timber; thu
balance he was to pay in one and two
years. The price per acre was thel
about $40. He planted corn, fed it tc
the hogs, and sold pork. This was the
simple but effective system that he fol
lowed for 10 years, 1t enabled him t.
meet his payments, to fence and ditcl
his place, to build good house and
large out-houses. Then in 1865 ht
changed his stock and became interest
ed in mules. Now he feeds $50 OF these
animals. When mule is weaned he
will give $50 for 80 inches in height. HC
does not buy mules that are less thar
80 inches at weaning, for these he car
feed and care for till they are 16 hands
high, and then they are worth from $l2c
to Sl75 each. 1t takes about eighteen
months and some $40 worth Of hay and
oats to produce this growth. That Is tc
say, spend $50 for your mule colt and so
for his keeping, and you have in Is
months time IN article worth $50,
Feeding rs he now does 100, and in q
way to clear 800 on each animal, / did
not think it worth the while to ask how
he likes prairie farming He has no
idea Of selling but If he had, it would
be OF no use TO offer him less than $50
an acre. II he were to sell it would be
because he could take that $4,000 and
go to the western margin OF this great
prairie and farm on 5000 acres rs he
now farms on 500. A mile and n hall
beyond Elliott lives John Arthur. He
came in 1852, give sl2 mn acre, sold
hogs and cattle and bought land till he
now owns 1900 acres. He brought
about $1,000 into the county, and is now
worth S150,000, and that increase was
nearly all realized between 1852 and
1869. His eight years, industry and
management have increased his invest
ment hirtyJoM
Mr.. Hunter came here 80 years ago,
and had Just dollar and half in his
pocket. He entered 100 acres and SOW
ed it with Winter wheat. When he sold
that wheat he did not buy fine saddle-
horse nor pair OF red-topped boots,
but land. Some OF the time prices were
absolutely sickening-wheat so, hogs
cent and quarter, corn 10; but he kept
right on, selling at those figures and buy
ing land Then he went more into
stock, giving say, $40 in the Fall for a
Spring calf, feeding it two Winters and
one Summer, and selling at $50 and s35.
Now he owns 1000 acres, worth $50 an
acre, and is worth one quarter of mil
lion.
Beef is corn.fed in rough way that
will be amended as the importance OF
cooked food becomes known. Now,
such suggestions are flung aside without
examination and n curt-'It won't pay"
The fattening steers are yarded and
straw sheds protect them from snow and
wind. Large square troughs are built
through the middle of the pen. A wag-
on, loaded with ears, is driven slowly
along close beside the trough and two
men shovel corn into it rs fast rs they
can. The ration is in rough way n
peck or 81 ears at feed, two feeds n
day, and Just rs much hay rs they can
eat. A great deal OF this corn passes
out whole in their dung. So gang of
hogs is yarded with the steers, and they
show commendable industry and humil-
ity Of taste in getting fat on this ordure.
Nine.tenths OF the corn-fed beef OF Illi-
nois is made in this way, and more than
half of the pork. Come, prairie farmers,
let us cipher little and find out whether
there is sense in the Eastern doctrine of
cooking for animals. You say your
steer runs through with 60 ears in day
and all the dry hny he wants. You have
corn and hay in great abundance you
throw 80 hundred OF hay Il day before
100 steers. II you should steam fifteen
pounds Of hay, mixed with the corn-meal
from 80 ears, ground and cooked, you
could feed two bullocks Just as high rs
you fed one bullock now and fat twice rs
many for the knife rs you are now fat
tening. You can get steady man by
the year for SIS and board. What bet
ter work can he do in the four Winter
months than to make one pound go as
far rs two go now2 Your steaming mp
paratus may cost you 500. Your coal
bill Sl00 more. Now add up:
Hire man and his board four months. ........,sl2O
Cost OF coal. lUu
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