The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-02
To Feed the Corn, or Not Feed it; That
Is the Question.


The partial failure of the corn crop for
two successive years over large portion
of the great ''corn belt" and the largely
increased price in consequence, has deter
mined many farmers who usually have
been in the habit of feeding a large por-
ton of their crop at home, to change
their system of disposing of their surplus
to marketing directly instead of feeding
at home, under the belief, it is to be as
sumed, that the direct market affords the
better returns. Acting on this belief,
and with the supposition that the high
prices which corn has commanded pre-
cluded its home use beyond actual neces-
sity in any profitable way, large pro-
portion of farmers have so far disposed
of their stock of swine as to have on
hand only complement for home use,
while many have not hoof on their
premises even for such use.
The condition of the'markets since the
close of the last packing season, and
which still continues, shows such calcu-
lations to be erroneous, and that the best
net returns during the past year for
corn have been received by those who
have fed to cattle and hogs instead of
marketing direct. There is scarce q
doubt but the same relative conditions
will prevail duringa year to come. The
shortage in number of hogs to market
the present fall and approaching winter,
will prove, when the years packing is
complete, to be the greatest during many
years past, while the shoats, to be held
over for another seasons feeding and
the increase of the race, will scarcely
approximate one-fourth of that of aver
age years.
1t is a significant fact that nearly the
entire supply of pork meats and lard for
commercial purposes, other than local,
comes from the portion of the country in
which the visible supply of corn is the
lightest, and in which the stock has suf-
fered the greatest depletion. With this
view of the case which mustb be conceded,
there cannot be doubt but that high
prices must rule during the packing sea-
son already opened, and that which is to
follow a year hence, and the farmer who
has the nerve to cast the golden grains
before a bunch of thrifty shoats, instead
of hauling the same to market, will be
handsomely rewarded in the outcome.
And we have not shadow of doubt
but they who feed that class of young
steers which most certainly respond to
generous treatment, will be likewise re-
warded with prices for the same, fully
equal to those which prevailed during
the early part of the present season.
Another feature of the case: it is be-
lieved by many producers, and in some
instances not without show of color, that
transportation companies bear severely
upon the shipment of their grains
towards the great market centers, in
fixing an unnecessarily high rate of car
riage for their services. Be this as it
NAV, the fact must be apparent that,
while the wants of the civilized world for
meat foods must be supplied, it can be
most prolitably done from the parts of
the country most remote from the great
central markets; and the commodities
most highly concentrated, and OF great
est value, will best bear the expense of
long shipments, all other points OF com
parison being equal. B'"'i@gto" .Ha'oe-
| Eye. f-.t.-.. .-