The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-06

7. B. G. Up. 56) inquiries in regard to the
policy of selling hay at $50 to $40 ton,
and says his opinion is that he better buy
more stock. In answer it may be said
that, as rule, it is always better to feed
than to sell hay, even when feeding does
not realize quite the going price per ton.
Whether it is best to buy COWS and sell
milk at five cents quart must depend on
circumstances. 1t is pretty good COW
that will average ten quarts of milk day
in the winter, and yet this milk only brings
80 cents. Now % pounds of hay day is
not a large allowance for COW, and yet at
$40 ton that will come to 90 cents. 10
give ten quarts of milk, a COW should have
something more than % pounds of hay a
day she should either have more than
% pounds of hay or, what is better,
have some kind of roots, mill-teed
or grain, either of which ought
to be cheaper than hay at the prices given.
Hence it is probable that most cows cannot
be we'll kept at much less than cost of 60
cents each day. Perhaps there may be
an advance on the COW i'll the spring that
will pay for the extra feed but to be pro-
ftable for milk the cow must have either
come in in the fall or be farrow, and such
cows may not be very high in the spring.
As to buying more stock, that must also
depend upon circumstances that q stranger
may not fully understand-say present
prices, future prospects, and other matters
that may affect these questions. One point
seems pretty clear, and that is
that a very large advance must
be realized to pay for feeding the
hay when it is $50 to $45 per ton-a larger
advance than the present prices Of beef and
of dairy products might appear to warrant
unless stock is now extremely low. Still
it may easily be that the advance on the
stock, or the milk at five cents quart,
will pay very good price for the hay,
though not quite up to the market rates.
But II the hay is sold, believe that ON all
grain farms, and OH those that are fire.
Quently plowed, there is remedy or offset
that is not sufficiently kept in mind this
remedy is blowing under clover. With
land that will produce clover, and that
can be plowed as needed, | should have
no hesitation in selling surplus hay when
1t is so high. With as many acres OF clover
plowed under as there are tons of hay sold,
the farm would gain instead Of lose in fer
tllity even with as many acres of clover
plowed under as would be needed TO grow
the hay sold, there could be no loss, and
may be considerable gain. / know many
will say that they will have to lose good
crop of hay in this way but this is not
necessary. One or two crops Of clover may
just as well be taken off before the crop is
plowed under; then the large increase in
the clover roots will make light third or
fourth crop. Clover can be cut twice a
year for two seasons-equal to a heavy
first crop for fertilizing the land. So clover
may be first made profitable crop, and
then plowed under to enrich the land. In
this way there is little lost and much
gained-little plowed under that can be
gathered to advantage, and much gained in
the crops gathered and fertilizers plowed
under.
Now I do not advise farmers TO make Q
practice of selling hay and depend upor
blowing under clover to keep up the land