Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-06-28
SOiling Stock.

ANY farmer with ordinary pains can keep
his farm up to moderate standard of
excellence, but, If he permits himself to
rest satisfied with this mediocrity for a
term Of years, it is probable that he will
never rise above it, and before he is aware
OF the actual condition of his land, some
portions of it may fail to yield the accus-
toned amounts of hay and grain.
The soiling of stock offers means of
recuperating farms worthy of more con
sideraticn than it usually receives All
farms that can be moved or plowed can
be worked into the soiling system, and
every practical farmer should consider
land tit for moving or tillage too valuable
to be pastured. The change cannot be
brought about in one or two years, but the
practice once begun can be extended from
acre to acre until the whole farm is
brought up to its highest capacity. Much
prejudice exists against combining stock
during the season of grass growing. 1t is
urged that such confinement is unnatural,
and that exercise is needed to develop
bone, tat and muscle. Nothing but an
actual trial will remove such objections,
and as the trial will cost nothing, it should
recommend itself. Those who follow the
soiling system would sell all their winters
hay as soon as return to the old plan of
pasturing stock.
One OF its chief values is the opportuni-
ty it offers for outstanding the principal
resources of the farm, the solid and LIQUID
manures. 1t is estimated that a COW
makes two cords of manure during the
SIX months OF winter feeding, and she will
surely make as much during the six
months Of soiling and probably more
can be saved on account of the increased
facilities for providing absorbents during
the summer months. Two cords, or with
absorbents three cords per COW, is worth
from sixteen to twenty dollars. One man
can attend to at least twenty-five head,
making $500 worth of manure. The ex-
pense OF man for six months would not
exceed $3.50, leaving balance of $3.50 on
the value OF the operation to the farm.
But, instead of selling part OF the ma
nure to defray the expense of attendance,
the farmer would use the whole of the
manure on his farm and make it pay
profit, so turning what seemed to be a
single advantage into double one In
the end, ii would be found that the extra
advantage had paid profit enough to cover
the whole cost of attendance.
The saving of land is very important
item. With the manure heap doubled
every year, the farmers first thought
would be to provide more land on which
to use the manure. But it would be found
that from a double amount of ma
nure on an acre double crops would
follow without a corresponding increase
of labor. Then, instead of from three to
five acres being needed to keep one COW,
from one to two acres would do it: the
area of tillage would then be increased,
or the moving extended, which is more
profitable in the end, and more stock kept
to consume the hay Fencing, which is
always considered harassing drain on
the profits of farming, would be material
ly lessened. The item OF fencing, the
land covered by the fences and the occa-
sional losses by stock breaking out and
destroying the crops, would amount to
about the cost of attendance, leaving the
whole benefit of the manure to increase
the yield of the farm.
Housing stock, though artificial, we all
know to be a decided benefit during six
months of the year, provided the range of
a yard is allowed for daily exercise. 1t
does not follow that keeping the stock in
the same quarters during the remaining
six months will prove detrimental. 1t is
more probable that gain would result to
the extent of labor saved the animal in
not being obliged to seek its own food.
Feeding hay, straw and stalks docs not
injure the growth, nor the fattening and
milking properties of our stock, nor is
to be supposed that feeding the same in a
fresh, juicy state is disadvantageous, when
by so doing the prime features in natures
economy are utilized to their fullest eX-
tent.-Mt0 Farmer