The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-04-15
FROM MAPLE GROVE.


Just to give cur brother Granger to I'M
derstand that farmers are not ali so
fortunately circumstanced as to be able
to run farm on such q generallzed ex-
tensive scale as some whose means are
sufficiently ample to justify them in SO
doing. It is quite evident he did not
read my article with very critical eye,
but rather in a superficial, careless man
ner. which accounts for his subsequent
erroneous criticism. The only sugges-
ton ventured to imply viii be SUBJ
stantiated by the majority of experience
ed, clear headed farmers In this, as well
as other communities, s'that it would be
far more convenient, as well as profit
able, for farmers to make a speciality OF
one OF the other commodity destined
for the market Let them devote their
time and labor to the cultivation of crops
considerably variegated, which Is alone
necessary to effectually compete with
the uncertainty of our climate and the
huctuation of prices, or to stock raising
exclusively, by converting the crop INTO
pork, beef, butter, cheese, etc., which is
at present apparently the most propl-
t1ous to farmers, since wheat, the staple
production, fails to give the requisite
remuneration for the time and labor ex-
pended in preparing it for the market.
Now to briefly delineate the subject
of mixed husbandry referred to above,
/ will add that those who live near large
markets and who have their regular
customers for whatever special product
they may produce, and who have es-
tablished reputation therefor which
commands the best customers and the
best prices, may safely and profitably
adhere to specialities. But those who
are remote from markets and have no
such established reputation, and whose
profits on their products are not uni
formly large in consequence, are not
safe ia risking all the work of year,
SL1u GuS CdJiLdI uCCCSodl1lJ A1FOiTOeA, Ah ."
single crop or product.
The statement of "Granger's" that
one farmer in fifty cannot be found IN
this county who does not seed down
more than ten acres every year, is the
most erroneous, and unreliable assertion
ever made, and shows his knowledge
concerning the average farmer amounts
to bagatelle. [ can assure him that
when he travels through the various
sections of this county rs frequently as
L have the past ten years, his figures
will dwindle into insignifcance, and
turn to vice versa. The farmers I had
reference to, were those who are COM
limited in acreage, and it
would be absolutely absurd not to dis
criminate between the advanced wel-to-
do and the less advanced farmer.
Farmers in general are not SO devoid
of reason not to know that 'the more
stock they keep the more manure they
make" In this case farmers should
consider their ways and means before
themselves with too
many animals, simply in order to in
creas the supply of manure. An Illus
tration of this came undsr my observa-
ton where farmer kept large number
of old and young animals; after selling
his grain he depended exclusively on
his coarse fodder and small portion of
hay. The effect of this indiscretion was
after about ten weeks his feed became
exhausted which compelled him to ex-
pend good share of his grain money
in buying food the remainder of the
winter.
ern New York have been noted for
raising the best cattle, sheep and horses,
and become wealthy in consequence, it
does not follow, by any means, that
they adhered to the method laid down
by Granger. No sock raiser can
ever become successful in b. business
who does not regard quality paramount
to quality. Straw mixei with one
third hay does not contain sufficient
nutrment to keep most animals from
retarding, and tho animal thus stitned
deteriorates in quality. Farmers well
know that one good cow well kept is
worth two poorly kept stunted creatures.
So then you who desire to make money
by raising stock or any other commodity
do not be deluded by any egotistic
statement on the part of any individuals
who profess experience, especially when
that experience tends to quantity rather
than quality.
"Grander's" idea of the wastage oc-
casioned ut the time of threshing viii be
considered rather wasted by the majority
of farmers throughout the county.