Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-06-16
Cooperation Among Farmers.

corporation Among Farmers.
hn old settler states that there is much
Tess cooperation among farmers than
IN 5he days When population was sparse
and nearly all the people were poor.
linen cooperation vas a necessity, and
nus practice tended to make people
friendly and social. The custom of
changing work was general when there
was any Job to be performed. If a
building was to be erected of logs o. the
frame OF one that was to be covered
with boards was to be raised. all the
neighbors turned out and had an enioy-
bic time. There were ..bces', for
..'shuckingg" corn IS we'll as for raising
buildings. Generally the occasion ended
with merry-making. Ordinarily there
was a dinner or supper, at which the
wives and daughters of the settlers were
present. In order to break prairie. q
number of pairs of oxen or horses were
required, and it became necessary to
double up teams. All the grain was
cut by hand with the aid of the cradle
or sickle. Companies would be formed
to cut the grain growing on a large
number of farms in the order of ifs
maturity. Farmers "changed work.
IN order to have q sufficient number of
men to build good stacks of hay and
grain. The milk produced on several
farms was brought to the several houses
in successor in order to render the
process of making cheese easier and to
make it practical to make quite large
cheese. 1t vas the custom when n
farmer killed a steer to let three of his
neighbors each have a quarter and re-
celve a like amount when they slaugh-
tered ar animal. Joining teams in order
to haul heavy loads to market was a
very common practice. Many farmers
united in sending their grain and other
products to market. Often they united
in making purchases.
Various causes have unitedto prevent
farmers from resorting to cooperation
to the extent they formerly did. MANY
of them have become quite wealthy and
like to show their independence by de-
clining to change work with their
neighbors. They keep hired help, and
during hurrying times employ extra la
borers. 1t is not as necessary as it for
merly was "to double up teams'' for
doing any kind of farm work. There
is little native sod on the prairies to be
broken. The little that remains is not
as tough as that which was turned many
years ago. AS the grass has been kept
short by moving and feeding the roots
are not as well protected and do not
become so long or stout. Plows have
been greatly improved, so that they
move through the ground more easily.
Nearly every farmer keeps a sufficient
number of draft animals to have q
breaking team of his own. Railroads
have multiplied SO fast that there is now
a depot within a few miles of nearly
every farm. The earth roads have also
been improved. There is accordingly
less heavy teaming to be done. Farm
buildings are no longer made of logs in
most parts Of the country. In the con-
struction of frame buildings light ma
terials have taken the place Of those
that are heavy. A large number ofmen
are not required to raise the sides of a
building. In fact, most farm buildings
are erected by contract in many parts
of the country. The horse-reaper and
self-binder enable one man to do
the work in the grain field that once
required twenty men to perform. Nearly
all the work Of cutting and curing grass
is now done by machinery. There is a
machine for performing almost every
kind OF heavy work. AS a consequence,
it is not necessary to get together con
siderable number of people for any OPP
Grafton required on farms. In fact, the
necessity for cooperation for doing most
kinds Of work does not exist.
There are many ways, however, by
which farmers may gain much by re-
sorting to cooperation. Much can be
gained by combining in the purchase Of
supplies for the farm, fuel and provis-
ions. In many cases there is a great
advantage in uniting in the selling of
wool, live cattle, grain and other farm
products. Farmers may be great gain
ers by uniting in the purchase of imple-
ments and machines that are required
on most farms but a few days in each
year. The value of the use of these
machines may be several dollars a day;
still it may not be profitable for a small
farmer to own one, as he would have
work for it but a short time in each
year. Among the machines that could
do service on several farms are ditchers,
tile-layers, seed-drills, potato-planters
and rollers. An association of farmers
living in the same neighborhood could
purchase these, arrange to have them
kept at some central place, and let out
to the several parties belonging to the
association in accordance with some
rules that may be adopted. In some
cases they might be let to outside par
ties at a certain sum per day or hour.
The money received for letting out the
implements could be expended in max
ing repairs or in the. purchase of new
machines. A machine for chopping fod-
der for converting into ensilage is need
ed in places where the silo is introduced,
and one will answer for at least twenty
farmers. A small steam engine is more
economical than a horse power for run
ming it. This, like the cutter, can be
owned by an association, and can be
used for saving wood as well as for
chopping fodder. Farmers can co-ope-
rate to excellent advantage in forming
and stocking fish ponds, storing ice,
procuring and setting out trees on the
sides of the road, and in the construc-
+;on Of drains thot will honaft Savara1