The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-03-13

are growing and the clover blowing, the
cultivator is kept busy in the corn and
potat oes, or the plow. the harrow or
the roller in making ready the turniP-
field: while through the dewy morning
hours, as we'll as the evening twilight.
the care of cows and calves, sheep and
lambs, pigs and poultry. occupies the
pleased attention. And 80 throughout
the year every day brings its duties.
even stern winter yielding its more
, moderate labor of caring for stock, and
using to the best advantage those
stores laid up in the busy sumner aud
autumn.
On tho contrary with special crop
part Of the year requires an extra
amount OF labor not always easily OBJ
tainable, and involving extra expense.
part is partially unoccupied. bringing
enforced idleness.
In system Of mixed husbandry too
there are the advantages resulting from
combination and reciprocal assistance.
One crop helps another. The thorough
cultivation and high manuripg needed
for good crop of turnips or mangolds
make excellent preparation for oats
and barley. TO be followed. perhaps,
by wheat and clover, while the roots
themselves, fed judiciously, enable the
husbandman TO carry more stock. and
consequently to make more manure.
The. clover, raising from the sub-soil or
gathering from the atmosphere the ele-
ments of crop-food. fills the soil with
organic matter in the shape of roots.
rendering il more permeable and leav-
ing il IN excellent condition for the
corn or wheat. The various ingred-
tents of the soil are more evenly taxed,
aud none so completely exhausted as
by special crops. Every part OF farm
production. too finds a useful place.
The clover, the cornstalks, the straw,
the turnip and beet-tops, the refuse
apples and potatoes, have all an appro-
pirate use. So too the swine CLEAN the
stubble-felds or reyel among the Glow
er-heads, the dainty kline eat from the
abundant grasses, while the omniyor-
Gus sheep snbdue the Wild bushes md
briars, and help to clean as we'll as fer
tilize the soil
1t is benefit too that the receipts
from the farm are derived from such a
variety OF crops that they are spread
over the entire season, so that the
farmers income is like the constant
flow perennial spring rather than the
overflow of n freshet, to be followed by
heightened drought. This great va
riety Of crops too prevents the farmer
from feeling so keenly the AUCTIONS in
value, for while one is low in price an
other may be high, and so a nearly
constant average be maintained, as in
the compensating pendulum the differ
ent degrees OF expansion OF diverse
metals preserves uniform length.
This consideration too tends 10
maintain in the farmer q spirit OF cheer
ful confidence, for he who pursues
system OF mixed husbandry is really
self-insured, and feels not the load Of
anxiety OF him who trusts all to sim
gle venture.
might also take an esthetic view OF
the subject and claim benefit In the
enhanced beauty Of the country arising
from the pleasing variety of its produc-
tions, but will forbear taxing your pa
tience further.
FEEDING STOCK. BY L. RAINIER OF JRF-
PERSON.
Ladies aud GentlemeD-Through the
courtesy Of your committee have been
allowed few moments to make few
suggestions in relation to feeding
stock. I would have gladly excused
myself from the task, and with pleasure
listened to Others who have made the
subject a study, and by extensive ex-
perince and practice reduced the mat
ter to a science. 1 shall, however, re-
spond cbeerfully to the pressing invi-
tation of the committed, and place be-
fore this association my experience in
connection with the subject, though
very briefly, asa matter of necessity.
The committee, in placing the subject
OF my remarks before you, have laid 1t
out in its widest sense, but it is only
reasonable TO suppose that they intend
ed il TO mean stock Of all ages, and
whereby they should become the most
profitable TO the raiser.
There are four very essential points
in making feeding profitable. aud it is
quite proper that they should be enum-
Grated il this. Firstly, good stock.
In this connection / believe IL TO be a
matter OF but little if any dispute that
the practice of feeding poor, rough
native stock, or any stock of frail con-
stitution. at the present prices, beef
taken in consideration with the prices
of supplies necessary in making IT, it
is one which is of little or no profit to
the raiser; therefore l urge careful
selection Of stock, choosing only such
as show points for laying ON most flesh
with least feed. With these suggss.
tions In relation 10 the selection OF
stock, pass 20 the next essential point,
which is proper food, and for fattening
ut proper age, my experience satisfies
me very thoroughly that with most
classes Of stock, fattening at an early
age is unsatisfactory and Improbable.
Again the practice of buying what is
generally termed old oxen or old cattle
OF any description whatever for the
purpose of feeding. for the butcher, j
consider TO be mere waste of material
\ and one which can in no wise he made
profitable. As regards proper food for
fatteniDg purposes many men OF large
experience differ very materially. Per
haps 10 wonld be more proper to state
that the difference in opinion is not so
much ms regards the kind Of food TO be
used for snch purpose as the way aud
manner OF using, or preparing for use.
While some men whose opinions are
every way worthy of the highest regard
and consideration aver that corn-meal
and hay are the only proper food to be
used, / believe that unhusked dent
corn may be used with as much or even
more profit than meal, when hogs can
follow such stock. When corn-meal is
fed, ve mnst take into consideration
the expense attending its preparation,
before balancing our account of profits,
which expense, find from experience,
10 be no uncomfortable amount, and
one which goes long way in infiucnc-
ing me against the entire use corn-meal.
The next thing ia successfully feed.
ing stock is an abandsnt supply of
fresh, pure water The practice OF
forcing stock TO some stagnant pool
for their necessary supply oil water
must be IS injurious To the brute crea-
ton as to mankind, though its effects
may not be as readily perceived. Every
successful feeder viii attend 10 this
comfort and necessity of stock as
carefully as prpviding proper amount
Of food; and would prefer short
supply OF food rather than n short sup
ply Of water. Last but not least In
our management of slock comes prop
er attention aud SHELTER. No man can
really afford 10 allow stock the broad
canopy Of heaven for cover, or lum-
ber or rsil-pile to protect from the cold
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