River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06
THIRD ATTEMPT.
LAST ATTEMPT,
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What Next on the FARM


The close of harvest, so far as the small
grains are concerned, by no means ends
the farm work for the year. 1t does,
however, give breathing spell after the
hurry, in which farmers may proftably
ask themselves, "What next?" This is
really the beginning of the new agricul-
tural year, for on the amount of wheat
and winter grains sown next month, will
depend the farming operations of 1873.
Through most of the country east of the
Pacific Slope, there has been good
wheat crop. The European war assures
good prices, and there is strong tempta-
ton to SOW more wheat than for several
years past; everywhere we hear of prepa-
rations to this end. The danger is, that
much of this increased acreage will be
poorly prepared, and that the resultant
crop will be made at loss. The lack of
money to make farm Improvements, is
responsible for the greater part of the
failure in agricultural progress. To lose
money on crop, especially so important
a crop as wheat, means business depres-
sion and the stagnation of industry for
the whole country. 1t means the fritter-
ing away of advantages won by the hard
and successful toll of the past year-ad-
vantages which, properly used, might
place the business of the country on the
high road to returning prosperity. We
have a direct personal interest in this
matter. If we can help make the coun-
try prosperous, the RardL Nelc- Yorker
will have an increase of a good many
thousands in its list of subscribers and a
proportionate amount of other business.
We shall thus be enabled both to get and
do more good than would be possible
were farmers suffering from hard times,
as they have been for several years past.
There is little doubt that in most sec
tions farmers will make some money this
year. 1t is important to almost every
body, as well as to themselves, that they
should use this money wisely-that is, in
the way to make it produce as much
more as possible. Thus it may be made
the entering wedge to open way to bet
ter times. With full view of the re-
sponsibilities in this mattar, we advise:
Do not sow the largely-increased acre
age of wheat that you had nearly con-
cluded to do. 1t may be well enough to
sow little more than the average, for
farmers are hopeful about wheat, and
well provided too much is not attempted.
! The European war will also probably Gre
ate an increased export demand, at fair
prices, for another year. We ought to De
ready to meet this demand. 1t is better
to do this by increasing the yield than
by doubling the acres. 1t is not the
gross sales of grain and other products
which help the farmers purse. 1t is the
profit that he makes above the cost of
production. Farmers have done too much
work which gave no profit within the last
/ five or six years. 1t is this which makes
the country poor to-day.
There has not been money enough
made the last year to warrant speculative
movements of any kind. 1t is not safe to
put our little spare cash into any one en-
terprise If it fails we are as badly off
as before, and must founder about in the
slough of hard times tillProvidence sends
another good season, with good crops and
prices to help us out.
Try to do little in the way of i'm
provement in as MANY directions. and at
as slight an expense as possible During
the past few years, we have all seen
chances where trifling outlay in money
would have surely brought largely in
creased crops. We have refrained be-
cause the trifling amount of money could
not be easily spared. Now that you have
the cash, use it where it will bring the
speediest return. Perhaps it is a short
underdrain that is needed to relieve sur
plus water from an otherwise rich field.
Do it at once; but leave your poorer land,
or that which demands a heavy outlay,
till you find that there are not other uses
which will pay better return. Try the
commercial fertilizers-sparingly at first,
till you find those adapted to your soil.
When you get fertilizer that will repay
twice its cost in the first crop, you may
use it as freely as if some one made you
a present of it. You get one hundred per
cent. over and above the cost, within
twelve months after purchasing.
Improve the breeds of your cattle,
sheep, and hogs. You may at least en-
ploy thoroughbred males if you have to
hire their use. In a few years your
ffocks will be half bloods, and except for
breeding, nearly as valuable as thorough
breds. The spare money that farmers
demand for thoroughbred rams, bulls,and
bears, and We believe it will do so.
Above all, make your homes beautiful
and pleasant, the centers of all that can
please the eye and crafty refined taste.
/ Fill your grounds with flowers and fruits
/ The life is more than meat and the body
more than raiment. As we can live only
once, we owe TO ourselves to get as much
rational enjoyment from life as possible.
Some spare money spent thus, will surely
be probably used. 1t is not any mans
or woman's right-saying nothing of duty
to live for money getting. We like to
see people making money because they
can do SO much with it; more now, when
everything is so cheap, than ever before.
If YOU have so little money that you can
only spare enough to buy peach or
pear tree or grape vine, buy those. They
will grow while YOU are sleeping, and
will ere you know ii, repay ny-fold
the trifiing cost, which is required, during
the growing season, to render them
healthy and fruitful.