Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-08-31
For The Republics
Does Farming Pay.

Does farming pay in the North
west? II not, Why not?
Such questions, asked in earnest,
may start,c some, but, observations
made in several wosvern States dur
period of over two years, confirm
me in the opinion that farming does
not at present pay very well in the
West, aud has not done So for sever
al years, at least. Since the best in
terests OF all classes depend more or
less on the well doing OF the farmers,
would it not he well il more Of our
best farmers, with the aid OF others
vcrsca in agriculture, would let the
public know. through the papers Of
the State, their opinions on the best
methods of filling the soil, raising
stock. sc. 1t is a common remark
that the wheat crop III this portion of
the State will barely pay the cypnns-
cs' incurred in growing it, and in
many instances will not even do that;
and farmers are reluctant in parting
with their grain. hoping for an nd.
vance in prices, as, at present rates.
together with the poor yield, they
cannot afford to raise this cereal.
The same may be said at least in part
of other grains.
The prices of hogs are verv low
and the producers will invariably fall
far short of realizing what they OK
pcctci from this source. and will con.
sequontlv be obliged to DISPOSE Of
their grain as soon rs they can get it
ready for market, at any price they
may be able to obtain for it. To
many farmers the situation is cnrt ain.
" not very encouraging. They arc
told to omit growing wheat and raise
cattle; but it takes capital to get in
to the stock raising business. and
should they eventually succeed. our
western plains lying near the base Of
the Rocky Mountains. from the Rio
Grand to the British possessions will
be swarming with cattle son thons-
and hills where, throughout tho
year with few exceptions. no outlay
is required for feeding. The qnes-
ton is, can our farmers make stock
raising a speciality and compete with
these stock ralsers OF the Far West.
The writer has tried farming for
several years in the West, and,
though he did not realize from it as
he expected, thinks he has learned
something about farming hy expert.
encc. Though to him rather a dear
school, he is not sorry for having
made the trial, and should now like
to learn something more from the ex-
pcriencc of others. But with all due
respect for Horace Greeley, / would
rather listen to good farmer OF
large experience for one hour on any
subject relating to farming than read
all the works that Greeley ever
wrote on the subject.
In no business occupation do men
engage with 50 little preparation as
in farming. Beginning at random,
cultivating the soil without any
knowledge as to its fitness for pro-
ducing certain crops, poor yields and
general failures are too often the re.
suit. Happy the farmer who learns
how to properly till the soil and to
dispose Of his crops so as to secure
the greatest result for his labors, ere
he is so encountered with debt as to
be at the mercy Of the un:ecling
usurer.
! 1t seems to me that farmers should
learn more from each others expe.
rience, should improve each other as
well as those engaged in the profes
slons, and probably the best way for
doing SO would be in forming clubs
or societies and meeting to discuss