Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-01-13

the crops. We consider the ma
nure-heap a gold mine to every
farmer. So be sure, a large amount
o dirt and labor must be employed
with it in order to secure the prec-
ious metal; so the 1rishman replied
! when he was asked as to his success
in gold-mining;-"Thcre is plenty
of gold, but so much dirt with it, it
is hard to gather it."
Not only should all the manure be
employed, but system of farming
should be followed that would sup
ply abundantly this indispensable
article. Very many farmers fail by
following system of farming that
exhausts the soil; everything is
taken from and nothing returned to
it. Thus we see that those who en-
gage in mixed husbandry by raising
variety Of stock and produce, and
consume the latter on the farm, are
most successful.
Many farmers raise one kind of
produce to the exclusion Of nearly
everything else, and finding a low
price for it, they have nothing else
to fall back ON, to equalize profits.
This is the situation Of many who
have raised broom-corn extensively
the past season. A proper rotation
of crops is necessary to the success
of every farmer. If this is not
strictly observed, the crops will de-
teriorate, and the soil become inn
poverished. Different soils require
different rotations, but all soils
should be employed literally in pro-
ducing grass for both hay and pas
ture. 1t is necessary to raise stock
to practice successful rotation of
crops. AS stock raising is the most
successful branch of american agri-
cultural industry, and by far the
most profitable, every farmer should
engage in it to some extent, at least.
1t is selfevident that every one
should not raise stock to the entire
exclusion Of selling grain, for the
business would soon be overdone.
y large proportion OF our farmers
make little or no progress in agri
culture, which may generally be
traced to lack of energy, want of
interest, or mere shiftiessncss.
Their machinery and all farm i'm
plemcnts are left out, at all times,
to all kinds of weather; their stock
generally Of the poorest breeds
is kept in close pens or poor pastures
during the Summer, and fed in the
Winter on straw and what they can
pick up, and sheltered by the warm
side Of a skeleton fence; their grain
is hurried off to market, regardless
Of the price, or exposed to the
weather at home until it is so dam
aged that it brings poor price,
and stock will scarcely eat it; they
take or read no agricultural papers;
in fact everything is conducted in a
manner that brings discredit and
poverty to the owner.
We believe that there is bright
er day dawning; that a powerful
influence is being exerted that will |
bring about a reformation in due
time. Farmers are being awakened |
to 4 sense of their duties, and begin |
to look around with renewed inter
est, and take hold with increased |
energy. 1t is scarcely necessary to
add, that this promising state Of af-
fairs is being brought about through
the powerful influence of our agri-
cultural papers, chief among which
is the Western Rtr0f. They are
searching out nearly every farmer,
and pointing out the way to success
and long prosperity, that he cannot
fail to see and follow therein. There
are those who will not yet heed in
structions-as there are in every
branch of indu try-bnt continue
in the even tenor of their slothful
career.
Our agricultural press is cheap
and inestimablc source of education
to every farmer; 1t is an agricul
tural college on every farm where
its papers are studied and instruc-
lions followed. The success of the
farmer is due in great measure to
the influence of the agricultural pa
pers; and the admirable success Of
many Of our agricultural journals
is due to the hearty support OF the
farmer-the success OF one IS the
success of the other. Then, broth
err farmer and Mr.. Editor, let us
each continue to labor for the bcne-
lit of the other, and all will be
with success.
J. G. BROWN.