Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-17
DIZZY FARMTNG.

The proceedings of the Northwestern
Dairymen's association, which have beer
reported in full in the GLOBE, should
awaken a renewed interest among agricul-
turists in the subject of dairy farming
and will no doubt have such tendency.
1t has been notorious for years that the
farmers of Minnesota have carried the
cultivation of wheat to an unwarrantable
extent, and are now suffering the conse-
quences. The crop in the southern tier OF
counties has, for the last half dozen years
scarcely paid for the trouble of gathering
it, and in other sections that have been a
considerable time under cultivation the
yield is decreasing yearly both IN quality
and quantity, and before many years have
passed the farmers will find that it does
not pay to raise wheat to the exclusion OF
other crops. Those in the southern part
of the state are already abandoning the &C.
real to great extent, and turning their at
tention to hog raising, and find their
profits largely increased in consequence
But hog raising cannot be made profitable
in northern Minnesota on account of the
difficulty of raising corn for fattening
purposes, and the tillers of the soil will
therefore be compelled to look to some
other branch for future profit.
Dairy farming presents field that is
not likely to be overcrowded for many
years to come. There is always a demand
for good butter and cheese These articles
are, in fact, as staple as bread, and
always meet with ready sale at
good prices. The labor involved
in conducting a good dairy farm is NO
greater than that of conducting a wheat
farm, and there is far less danger of fail
ure of the product. The COWS can be
maintained during the summer with
scarcely any cost, and during the winter.
though the cost and care is greater, they
do not cease to be productive. There is
no loss in this branch of farming. Cows
that are not profitable in the dairy can be
fattened and sent to the butcher, while the
refuse from the stables is invaluable as a
fertilizer.
Many farmers complain that they have
nothing with which to occupy their time
in winter. A good stock of dairy COWS
would enable them to keep out of mischief
by reason of having nothing to do. They
have to be kept warm and clean,
we'll fed and cared for, and in return will
pay good profit on the cost of their main
to lance in rich, sweet butter and cheese.
The wild grasses that grow in abundance
all over our prairies and hillsides furnish
all the food the cattle require in summer,
and few acres devoted to the cultivation
of clover and timothy will furnish all the
hay required for the maintenance of a
good-sized herd in summer.
For many years wheat will continue to
be the chief product of the state, and if
the land is properly cared for and not ex-
hausted by two constant succession of
the same crop on the same field, it will
continue to be profitable. But land will
wear out unless there is rotation of
crops or complete rest. Land
used for pasturage for two or three years
regains its former fertility, and can then
be used for wheat for several years longer,
and by changing the crops frequently it
will never become exhausted. But even if
diversified farming is carried on a dairy
can conducted with profit, and the sub
ject is certainly worthy of the earnest con-
sideration of all farmers.
The papers read and addresses delivered
before the convention at Mankota this
week contain many valuable suggestions
on this subject, which should be considered
by every farmer in the state. The GLOBE
is the only paper in the country that has
reported these papers and addresses, and
consequently its files will be invaluable.
In view of the importance of the question
no apology is required for devoting so
much space to the reports.
The estate of the late Marshall Jewell
viii pro babIy exceed S5OO.OOO.