Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-05-31
The Mistakes of Farmers.

For the Milwaukee Sentinel, by Hiram Smiths
vice -presdent of the Wisconsin Dairymeu'
Association.
One of the facts of to-day is that
sharp competition exists IN every de-
partment of human activities-in agri-
culture, in mining, in manufactures, IN
commerce, printing and railroads-and
in many or all of the professions those
only succeed VINO work in harmony
with sound principles of philosophy,
scientific knowledge, unremitting care,
economy, industry and gumption. And
such are the unalterable conditions of
success in these several industries that
they tolerate no Ignorance and there is
no forgiveness" for omission. Losses
are always charged up and always
paid. The sharp competition to Wis
consin farming, especially IN the lines
of dairying, and the production of beef
and pork, three of the most important
productions, consists in the cheap land
and cheap corn in Iowa, and the cheap
land and immense quantities of cheap
bran in Minnesota. Thel efore, if the
farmers of Wisconsin would escape
falling below other sections of the
country in agricultural importance,
they must dispel their ignorance and
correct tb cir mistakes. That gross ig-
nolanee exists and expensive mistakes
are made, needs only to be mentioned
to be appreciated.
1t ia as great mistake for farmer to
throw out under the caves of his barn
the manure and refuse TO waste and
decay and then buy fertilizers, as it
would be for the owner of a steam saw
mill to throw out MS sawdust and
refuse to waste and decay and then buy
coal to run his machinery. Better util-
ize both as they accumulate, by con-
veying one to the land aud the other to
the fire.
1t is as great mistake for a farmer
to starve his steer for two years and
make beef of him the third year, as it
would be for the manufacturer of leath-
er to keep his hides in weak liquor two
years, and make it into leather the
third. In beth cases there is two years
of unproductive capital. Better crowd
the feed and the tan into one year.
1t is as great a mistake for dairy
farmer not 10 provide all the good food
that his new milk COW can uigest as it
would be for the superintendent of
chair factory to let his steam run down
so that half of his machines would re-
main idle and bali Of his @orkmen
stand unproftably employed. Again,
invested capital makes adequate re-
turns.
1t is as great mistake for farmers
to continue to sell grain, hay or cheese
off the farm, without procuring fertil-
izers of some kind from the outide as
il would be for the owner of a water
power to continue to draw recklassly
from has pond, out of proportion to his
inlets. In both cases the end must
come.
Perhaps there is no greater mistake
made among the dairymen of the north.
west than to suppose that they can CON
tinue to deliver milk to the cheese aud
butter factories, and at the same time
keep up the fertility Of Their farms
from the manure from their cows, fed
only on the productions of the farm
This Injustice to the soil viii be rsveng-
ed.
There are certain minerals existing
In milk that are extracted from the
soil, and are not returned in the manure.
but are shipped of N the cheese. These
can be supplied 10y the purchase OF
commercial fertilizers, and exist largely