The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-06

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IT. VI. Crosbie, in MilwaukeeSentiueL


Purpose in Farming.
II. NJ Crosbie, in MilwaukeeSentnel.
Assuming, them that the purpose of farming is
to make money it may be profitable to think
something about methods. Methods would in
elude the kinds of crops to be raised, the manner
of preparing the soil. cultivating, harvesting,
marketing or feeding them. Method would also
have 10 do with the kinds of stock TO be kept and
the management they should receive. Ofcourse,
it will be impossible for me to tender but few
of these points, and that very briefly; but may
make few suggestions which you are asked to
take only for what they worth.
One of the first things to consider under
methods of farming is, what crop or crops shall
ralsek In an early day the farmers of this see
ton, like the farmers in most parts of the West,
said, Wen raise wheat, and wheat it was.
The soil yielded abundanty, prices were fair,
and for awhile, although farmers worked hard
and had few luxul1es, they were, ON the whole,
prosperous. But the times are very much
changed now. Our soil is no longer capable of
yielding such large amounts of wheat. More than
this. our surplus American wheat, which used
to find a ready market abroad at good prices.
with but little competition, is now compelled to
be put into Liverpool or Berlin, 4, eco to 5000
miles distant and compete with wheat raised by
the cheap pauper labor of India and Russia
Let me give you few figures. Only four
years age the United States sent - pel cent. of
the wheat and -four shipped to Great Britain.
This has now diminished to 40 per cent. For
the past four years the figures stand 10 GO, %
and 40 per cent. II was not because Great
Britain used less wheat She used more Her
wheat consumption increased from 136, 100000
to 100 600 600 bushels, an increase of "a 600 900
bushels in four years. While, however, the
United States was decreasing her shippings of
wheat, india and Russia were increasing theirs.
India increased here from 10 600 0e0te % 900. 600
bushels, while Russia went forward from s, eco,
600 to 81. 000, 600 bushels. This was all in the
past four years. Australia is also sending large
cargoeS of wheat annually to Great Britain Ii
c4xrfca he ahqF
his methods and no longer raise very much
wheat against such competition, and at so small
a profit. Right methods will enable him to pro
duee some other commodity which will give him
more margin.
Flax is another crop that is being weighed in
the balances and found wanting. The acreage
of fax has fallen off very materially during the
past four years In Indiana it has decreased
from 1873, 900 acres to 400G acres. The yield for
1883 was for the entire State six and onehalf |
bushels per acre. and as it sold at about 81 per
bUshel the State lost money on her entire
crop.
In Ohio the crop has been reduced 30 per cent. |
in four years. In Illinois, $4,000 acres heve
been reduced to 10000 Even in the newer State
of Kansas the decrease has been u per cent. in
two years.
These figures are very significant. Flax is a
very exhaustive crop. 1t takes fertility out of
land, and yields nothing back. 1t may be a val
liable erep with which to subdue or rough
land but it is not to be of the staple products
and clover, oats, grass and roots are some of the
crops that are going to abide.
Right methods will enable the farmer to pro-
duce abundant crops of the aforementioned
kinds of feed and convert them in the most sue
cesful manner into butter and beef, wool and
mutton, and pork and horses.
The American farmer may not be able to pro
duce wheat so that it can be placed in European
markets to advantage, but in the articles Of hut
ter and cheese and beef he can and does carry ON
a successful competition.
OF butter alone we sent abroad during 1888
q. 250, 600 lbs, valued at $40000 00 Our cheese
exports brought us $l1, 500. oo0 During the past
year shipped to foreign countries y, fOD, ecu
worth of dairy products more than we did in
1882. We frequently hear the cry, "The butter
market L going to be so overstocked that good
prices can not be sustained" Let us see If the
dairy business Is in danger OF being overdone
very soon. In 1850 there were in the United
States g. 500 900 COWS to 30 COO coo of inhabitants
or one cow to every three and a half persons. In
1880 our COWS had just about doubled, but QUE
population had more than doubled, 50 that rel
atively we had not as many cows in proportion
to people as we had thirty years ago Then we
had one COW to every three and half persons
now we have one cow to every four persons.
People are better able to afford butter now than
they were thirty years ago. As they become
better able to buy, they demand better article
The farmer who can supply Ills demand for gilt
edged butter is bound to find a. ready maEket
and good prices.
dairy stock and more jrbdieieus feeding, cleanli
ness and care in everything Poor cows must be
weeded out, and only good profit yielding cows
retained Weigh your milk, test your cream.
Start ON 200 pounds of butter a year from each
cow but don't think of being satisfied till every
cow in the heard is brought up to average 300
pounds There is profit and pleasure in such
dairying, and it is perfectly reasonable to hope
for when we have such foundations TO build with
as Mercedes and Mary Ann of st Lamberts, and
Jerseys Guernseys or Holsteins, either pure
breeds or grades are capable of making on an
average 300 pounds of butter year
The thrifty farmer will also seek to produce a
surplus of horses. The demand is constant for
good horses The demand for both draft horses
and carriage horses exceeds the supply all the
time A pair of draft horses from four to six
years old will bring from s400to $500 in any of our
large cities, while carriage team, well matched
large stylish and speedy, will bring from $500
to 81 600 The market for good horses is just as
reliable as it is for butter or beef If a steer
can be put into market at three years old for $f5
surely colt can be ready to sell at four years
old for 500 and at very much greater profit.
In these few remarks concerning purpose and
methods in farming. have only limited at a
broad field that is open before you all. The
time has come, in these Older settled sections,
where the land is increasing in value, that pur
pose and method must prevail or failure is in
evitable A bystauder Onced asked the painter
Opie, With what do you mix your paints!7
with brains, sir" was the prompt bat signif-
cant reply Good farming less than fine
paints must be mixed with the same essential