The Lake County star., 1876-07-27
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

YIELD AND CosT.->The problem for
the agriculturist is to get the highest
yield per acre from the smallest cash in
vestment, and the practical mode of solv-
ing this problem makes the whole
difference between the thriftless and
thrifty farmer. Just here arises very
important inquiry. Does the largest
product from an acre necessarily give the
lowest net cost per bushel for the article
raised, and il not, is there any definite
relation between these two factors? The
obvious answer is, that though the largest
yield does not always give the lowest
cost, yet the chances are greatly in its
favor if reasonable care and economy are
used. There is of course limit of out
lay on every crop, beyond which it will
not be profitable; but inside of this
limit 1T is safe to say that, as general
rule, the more bushels or tons you get
from an acre the less each bashel or ton
will cost.
The reason of this is 80 perfectly plain
it seems incredible that our farmers do
not give more attention to the principle
and take advantage of it to increase their
profits. The usual explanation with
most of them is that, capital being
limited, they cannot put more than GER
tain amount of expense in each acre of
ground, even though every additional
dollar should bring back hundred-fold.
This is plausible enough at fret sight,
but it does not meet the case, as may
easily be made to appear. Nor is there,
in fact, any sufficient reason why farmers
should not raise much larger crops, and
at much lower cost than the average OF
the present, or of recent years.
This topic is very prolific and full OF
interest to the husbandry of this country.
The prolific possibilities of the soil, un.
der proper system of treatment, may
we'll challenge the attention of farmers
for it offers the readiest and surest, il
not the only means of rendering their
acres productive and their calling thrifty
How DEEP TO PLow.-Intelligent
practical men, who agree on most Other
subjects, still differ widely on this. II
seems to be an irrepressible question, and
the apparent discrepancies growing out
of il have tendency to bring discredit
on enlightened husbandry.
Why is it that the discussion of this
question has been so long and earnestly
continued with so little real profit9 Tht
answer is: First, because it has in too
many instances degenerated into mere
party question between rival theories
wherein victory is the object rather thar
truth; and secondly, because the parti
sans on both sides have attempted to &C
complish an impossibility. They have
undertaken to set up an invariable rul'
for all cases, as if it were possible to con
vert individual experience into universe
truth, without due regard to the neces
sary conditions.
One man believes and stoutly maintain
that deep blowing gives the best result
while another is equally positive post tina
intelligent men and each appeals to th'
facts of his own experience. The trouble
is they have undertaken to generaliz'
without sufficient range of facts to th'
problem. The consequence is that botl
sides of the question have been proved
and yet neither side is true. 1t is simpl.
one of those problems in which the con
ditions are so. numerous and so valuabl,
that it is impossible to lay down in prac
tice any general rule on the subject, O.
to make one mans experience a saf'
guide for all others.
COBs AND THEIR UsES.-As the corr
cob contains less than one-half per cent
of albuminoids and nearly forty per cent
of crude fiber, it is clearly mistakel
economy to grind it with the. grain fo
feeding purposes. There is just one way
to utilize the cob of Indian corn. It
good for fuel, and the ash is an excellen
manure. Though the total value result
ing from the uses is not very large, i
makes a very perceptible addition to tn,
aggregate value of the yearly crop.
The weight of the cob averages abou
one-fifth the weight of the ear, or one
fourth the weight of the grain, while th'
ash of the cob is very nearly equal Il
three per cent. of its weight. Hence TO
every hundred bushels of cobs that far
mers raise, the cobs are equivalent t,
fourteen hundred pounds of fuel, plu
forty-two pounds of valuable manure.
In a larger view of the case, the annua
corn crop of the country produces, il
addition to the grain and stover, abou
seven million tons of fuel in the cobs
and two hundred and ten thousand ton
Of fertility in the ashes of the cob. l
this twOfold value of the cob is no
realized by the farmer, it is not the faul
of the cob, but the fault of the man.