Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-17
AFTER WHEAT. WHATl

home use, will produce changes i'm our
methods of farming. We cannot al
ways compete with the cheap lands and
labor of Russia and India in wheat
growing. The average crop of Michi.
gan will hardly pay for the labor and
seed. When wheat is raised hereafter
it must produce n larger yield per acre
This result cannot be deprecated pro-
vided we can produce or grow some
other product that Will pay as well or
better than wheat has done. The
wheat we have been sending abroad
has raken away II large amount of fer.
tility from our soils, for no grain raised
takes so much v2lxable material from
the soil as wheat, and we can scarcely
grow anything else that will not be less
Objectionable in this respect.
Fortunately the American farmer
eau readily adapt himself to existing
circumstances which his.brotber farmer
in Great Britain. and other Eur.pean
countries cannot as readily do. In
those countries th9 land is rented 70
the farmers under express provision as
to kind and rotation of crops. So
much in grain and SO much in grass
and roots The farmers cannot change
the kind or amount of these crops
without the consent of the landlord.
and this is difficult to obtain. The
English farmer must, therefore, con
tinue to raise certain crops for some
time after they cease 70 be profitable :;
! but in the United States where the far
mer owns the land he cultivatee he
can readily change his crops according
as they are profitable or better adapt II
10 the soil of his farm. Although the
best crops Of wheat still pay, the av-
erage crop does not. The opening up
/ of new wheat farms in the west where
wheat can he grown and sent to mark
1T at much less cost than on the high
priced farms OF the east will, in the
[
mand, colnpel our farmers to change
their rotation and abandon a portion
Of their Wheat fields for crops which
Wili Civ" greater return per acre. 49,
Fortunately we are ready for Tie
change. The great increase in tile pop
uatiou Of oar cities, an increase which
will continue as long as our manufac-
turing interests are properly projected,
makes it possible for the farmer TO find
without much difficulty crops that will
pay. Michigan is we'll adapted to the
raising of fine stock for breeding pur-
poses The flocks and L.rtls OF the
far west are constantly rcquirinSa n very
large number of improved animals To
improve their quality. There has been
II good mrrkct for sheep an cattle for
some years, and there is likely to be
for soOe tinle to come
Raising heavy horses is and viii lie
profitable, as the demand is increasing
annually. We can still raise beef and
mutton and pork at profit and yet
not send away with them 80 large a
portion of the fertility Of our soils as
with grain. Customers for the best
quality of butter and cheese are wait.
ing in great numbers for a supply OF
these, and substitutes and adultera
| +i,,a will not 1r; ,,a tba,n ont ~, Iou-a,
the price. There is a demand for any
quantity Of small fruits at profitable
prices, and they are more sure than tn,
, wheat crop.
These crops may require more labol
than the old crops, but that is an al
vantage provided the labor pays, be
cause there are then more who eat anC
more must be raised to feed them. In
stead of being able TO SOW the crop anC
: then sit down and wait till the harvest
$ these other productions will requir'
{ daily and continuous labor which i
also desirable provided it is paid Ii
stock raising and dairying the winte
can be made TO bring an income, a
well as the summer.
1t is for the interest of the farIne
that the towns and cities near hin
grow as large and fast as possible. an,
he need have no Jealousy il the popu
ation comes to far outnumber that o
the country It will only make "A bet
ter market for his poultry, milk am
butter; for small fruits and veg tab {
which he may grow in place of whea
and with less danger of injuring l.
soil
The wise farmer viii recognize IN
changes that are coming and produc
the crops that pay the best II Il
still raises SOME wheat he will gc, fh
same number Of bushels from we
acres and will feed is stock 80 as I
get them off to market ut an Garlic
nge, yet Of the ane weigh, and d
bette prices. - Detroit Post and rrl
une
1 IN, B4y C.f I4su. IIH..