Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-03-08
Fluctuations in Farming.

There is floating population
among our farmers, in their changes
OH the farms as well. A few years
ago pork was in high demand; hogs
were then the rush. Pork as well
as beef is down now. Wool was a
drug. Now it is at the highest
point every one is looking out,
though as yet generally for sheep.
Soon this industry will go with the
rest. The dairy, especially cheese,
is at low ebb. Already there is a
change to something more lucrative.
The more easily moved will drop
into butter, to escape from it almost
as soon as they adopted it. Cows
will be at low figure. And so
the change goes on from one to the
other, and almost always for the
worse. The farmer who is estab-
lishcd in all the branches and per-
sistently carries them on, receives
the benefit of them all, including
what the tluctuating farmer is aim
ing at, but which he seldom
reaches, as the change again takes
place before he fully realizes the
benefit; but he is sure to get all
there is of the least profitable. This
an account Of his hating and
changing, which experience has
proved is not for the best, while the
true, steady farmer, carrying all is
sure to reap all, the good with the
poor, the poor losing but little with
him, and the good making good
harvest. He always every year has
some of this good harvest. He has
been growing hops. as we hayc
known him, for twenty years, and
has realized small fortune by the
good years that have occurred, as
they will.
There arc those who, during all
the long period Of depression in the
wool market, have realized good
profits by keeping sheep. Not SC
much that the mutton and lambs
were of account, as that the whole
thing was judiciously managed
good sheep, well kept, realizing the
best prices for wool, mutton and
lambs.-and the yield so large 10y
good trcatmcnt as not only to Sc
cure against loss, but to make it an
object to keep sheep, which paid as
well in this case as the average de
partments of the farm, to say moth
ing of the superior improvement OF
the land.-Now the harvest of this
industry is being realized, as with
the hop. The true dairyman estab
lished in his business, looks with
little concern upon the present con
dition of this branch. He has moi
lost any, and can even bear to bt
reduced-not all can bear this: bu
the interest carried OH in its bes1
condition, is not suffering III actua
loss, from the depression; this is
the case in 4 comparative sense
with other interests.
He knows well enough that the
good time is coming, must come
and then he will share the full benc
fit which is not realized by the fluc
tuating, Many were discouraged
some hopelessly, and embarked il
other enterprise, or branches OF
farming. And wheat is the great
the necessary staple, least liable te
over production. When will PEG
pie learn to sec things. Now, al
the good farmers arc on the side Of
the steady ones, and the poor OIL
the side of the fluc,uating. Or, W.
might say, there some exceptions
These are the shrewd managers
spectators OH the farm, having /:
prcmonition of what is going to
happcn,'' from 4 close study Of
the past. They forecast and act
some are ready to act on the spun
of the moment. But it requires
more tact than the ordinary farmer
has to succeed here. And then Tho
systematic, perscvcring farmer, car
rying all the parts, thoroughly and
constantly, is the better Of the two
with very rare exceptions. 1t is
clear what is for the interest of the
farmers. And now is the time
when it bchoovcs him to he steady
Prairie Farmer.