Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-07-04
FROM DAKOTA.



WHEAT GnowtNG--Irs METHODS, COST AND
PRoF1rs-GooD VS.. POOR MANAGEMENT.
GRAND FoRKs, Oak, June 90 1884.
The Red River valley seems to have been
fitted by nature for vast permanent wheat
field. The conditions of climate and soil ex.
ist for producing tho best grade OF wheat in
the world, together with large average crops.
II is n l-estabished fact that the quality of
wheat improves as the northern limit of it's
successful cultivation is approached We
have in the Red River valley the rare coinci-
donoo Of the most perfect and powerful wheat
producing soil ever known and climatic con-
ditions exactly adapted to the production of
tho finest quality of grain. Possibly larger
crops arc raised in some of the small valleys
in Oregon and Washington Territory, but the
wheat IL of inferior quality and doesn't bring
as high price. The wheat grown here is
very ninty in texture and rich in gluten, and
the samo quantity of ii will make more and
better flour than Puy other wheat known 1t
is graded as mo. l Hard" and commands
the highest price of any grain in tho market.
The grain is sown in April and May, and in
August is ready for reaping All the farm
work is done by machinery. The plowman
rides upon sulky plow the seed is sown
with drill or broadcastng seeder the reap
ing machines bind the sheaves as they move
over the ground; and the threshing is done in
tho fields with machines driven by portable
steam engines that burn the straw for fuel.
The grain ia hauled at once TO elevators at the
nearest railway station, and all the machinery
is left standing in the fields until needed the
next season. Except on the big "bonanza'
farms owned and operated by capitalists, it is
rare to find any sheds for implements, or, in
decd, any farm buildings, save bare little
box of a dwelling, and a stable of boards, sod
and straw to shelter the horse and COW from
tho winter billiards. The red barns Of the
bonanza farm make a great show on tho va
cant prairie but they are very little larger than
those of thrifty Vermont farmers who till but
q hundred acres.
Farming il too often done here in waste
full and extravagant manner. Poor men, who
never were and never will bo capable of man
aging any kind of business, come here take
up government land, and attempt to farm it.
Where 80 much machinery is used, and whore
an additional cost of four or five cents a bush
el makes great difference in the profit Of a
crop, considerable executive ability is needed
to make a successful farmer. or course un-
favorable weather will injuro crops in any case,
but il 10 much less curious TO welltilled fields
than to those that have beon poorly cultivated.
Our average yield might be greatly increased
were the farming as thoroughly done as it is
in New England. A Dakota farmer can do
nothing that will pay better than the compar-
atively small amount Of extra labor necessary
to properly prepare the ground for seed. The
right kind of work in preparing tho ground
and putting in the seed will almost insure from
20 to 100 por cont larger crops. In farming
it is especially true that "whatever is worth
doing at all is worth doing we'll"
Tho cost of producing wheat in Dakota va
ries FROM 30 to GO cents bushel, in proper
ton Ak the farmer is endowed with skill and
means. The average yield per aero asshown
by statistics is not good criterion Of the pro-
ductive capacity Of tho soil, because small
yields are 80 often due to poor tillage. Below
is given a careful estimate of the cost and
proceeds per aero Of a crop from q lCO-acro
farm 5oeH tllod.
OF CRoP PER ACNE.
Breaking $500, Backsetting f2OO, Total, $500