New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-04
THK FARMERS WAN.
n,DusNp FARMING IN WISCONSIN.

I'D OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES PUN
ouAsrN BY THE GRANGE-vIsrr TO A MODEL
p,RN- rNERAL INDIFFERENCE TO TIIR TARIFF
coNTFTERsY
,o,, ~asPEcIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUYEI
0suVos Wis, Sept. 81 came to Oshkosh for
+s,e purpe of meeting Mr. j. Brainerd, the Sccre-
tarv of &c State Grange. and Mr.. Osborn, it's pur-
shasing gent, both representative farmers and
actiyel,ngagod in the organization OF the Farmers
Boyemt Mr.. Brainerd, in company with his
themanages nursery, market, and fruit gar
aen n, Mr.. Osborn is also engaged in the cultiva-
6on trees. Both of them are old settlers
here. although both are but little past
she of life; both have been successful
m tn business, and both have an extensive ac-
auaJsnoe among the farmers throughout the state
Ec;,r is or has been as far as can learn, politi
clio, In nv conversations with these men my aim
x.,hiehy to learn as much possible about the
o,,tiOn of the farmers of this State, socially and
n,aiarily; the causes of their want of prosperity
,ley fail to make farming profitable, and the
,edy which the Grange and the farmers generally
Jose. As have already treated at some length
former letter of the relations of the Wisconsin
mers to the railroads of the State, ] shall now
1fne myself to other topics of discussion.
THE CROPS OF WISCONSIN.
The staple crop Of Wisconsin is wheat, though,
ON MY observation in travelling through the State,
nd without any statistics before me, should Judge
hat other crops constitute a considerable per cent
sre of the total value of its agricultural products
The dairy interest is already large and rapidly
growing one stOck-raising and feeding has been
found profitable by many of the farmers; wool-grow-
ing Is engaged in by some of the best farmers of the
State; / think that pork enough is made to supply
me demand in the lumber regions of the State with
surplus for export, and the hop and tobacco crops
will bring in considerable money. OF corn and po-
tatOes think the surplus is not large. The wheat
crop this year Is the largest since that OF 1850 and
the grain is of excellent quality. The season
was in every way favorable. After the wheat once
began to grow it came forward with unusual rapid
4y, and just wher the farmers began to fear that
the straw would be too stout and their crops lodged
dry weather set ill., and while it checked the growth
of the straw, it ripened the grain finely. The
weather during harvest was never better and the
result has been that the entire crop has been saved
IN good order. The average throughout the State
~ tbnught by the best informed farmers to be about
Il bushels to the acre. about four bushels greater
than for several years past. On some large farms
well cultivated the average for several hundred
neres nearly 2j bushels to the acre. and on single
fields as high as 80 bushels OF course the farmers
who sowed great breadth Of wheat in the Spring
aTe in the best of spirits now.
But the wheat is almost the only crop that is
really gOOu Inc COlu DdS Dt6n tNtiSMucl lsh'5
and not more than one-half or twO-thirds of crop
has been gathered; potatoes have not done well
the diaries of the State promised well early in the
season but the dry weather of the Summer greatly
reduced the amount of milk The manager of one
cheese factory told me that while he received 10000
pounds Of milk DAY during part of May and
June, he was only receiving 1900 pounds now. The
hops and tobacco that have seen look well, but
have no means Of comparing the crops with those
Of former years. 1t will be seen therefore that
the farmers will need all that they get for their
wheat this year.
CARELESS AND IMPROvIDENT FARMING.
At the close of the war, and for year OF two
afterward the farmers of Wisconsin were generally
out of debt and a little "forehanded." The high
prices that they had received for their produce Of
every kind had enabled them to pay off what they
were before owing, to purchase farming machinery
in abundance and to indulge in many little luXuries
which before bad been unknown among them. But
for several years past the wheat crop has not been
very great and prices have often been down; at
the same time the farmers have found it difficult to
uo back to that system of the most rigid economy
which they once practiced, and they have been get
fling gradually deeper and deeper in debt In the pur
chase of agricultural implements and machinery
many of the farmers have been eXtravagant, and IN
the care of them more have been negligent. Go
cut into the country almost any NucIe' sdlu MI
Brainard to me- and you will see the plOw the
harrow, and the cultiyatOr standing out in the
weather where they were last nsed and in hundreds
If instances the reaper and mower will lie where
the last grain or hay was cut. They may have been
new this wear and cost as much the owner viii
yet for q great many acres Of wheat Next year
they will be rusty and the third or fourth year unfit
for use while good farmers who house their ma
elinery make it last eight years. 1t is the
object of the Grange to teach its members to make
the most Of what they have, well as TO help them
to purchase cheaply."
A great many Wisconsin farmers, hike those of
other States fail because they never know on which
crops they are making a profit, and on which they
are losing money L suppose asked at least dozen
farmers in this State how much bushel or acre
IL cost to raise wheat before found who could
give me an intelligent answer. Some thought that
rs cents bushel would pay, while Others thought
there was no money in wheat at less than 81
bushel Mr. Stillson, whose farm of $50 acres adj
Soins this city. and who has been one of In most
successful farmers in the State, keeps careful ac
count of every cent that is expended In the pro-
siuction of each Of his crops, and how much be
receives for it. He told that TO pay all expenses
and per cent interest the value of the land
takes about $15 an If the crop is 10 bushels at
81 bushel the farmer makes nothing. This year.
counting the average crop at is bushels per acre,
and the price at the farm at 81. the average profit
will be So an acre. Ordinary years, when the
average crop is only about IA bushels. unless the
price is more than ST. there is no profit and part
of the interest on the investment is lost. The ma
iority of the farmers know nothing about this, but
80 on year after year raising crops that don't pay
while there Others that would bring them good
profit.
FARMKRs UNABLE TO FIX THEIR PRICES.