The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-02-13

eu almost exclusively 10 the prOduC-
tion of small grains for many years,
if not for all the time. The soil aud
climate are well adapted TO the pro-
duction of the small grains, and are
not we'll adapted to the profitable pro-
ductions of other commercial crops.
1t seems also certain that the first set
tiers in all the western territories will
be compelled to devote most of their
attention for many years to the pro-
duction of grain. They are in need
of money to pay for their land, to
erect buildings, and to make other im-
provement. They have not sufficient
capital to enable them to raise cattle
and horses for the market. They lack
means to obtain start, and they can
not wait till young animals mature
before they can realize on them.
They must have money for current
expenses. They must produce the
things that can be turned into
money in the shortest time. These
are the different kinds of grain.
Farmers whose places are improved
and who have considerable capital
will find other departments of hus-
bandry more profitable than grain
production. In districts where the
climate admits of growing corn, they
will find it to their advantage to de-
vote their farms to the production of
beef, pork, and mutton. In the sec
tions north of the line where corn pro-
duction is profitable, the raising o:
draft animals appears to be the most
promising industry in which they can
No nfbar fAAI l., 60,
horses than grass and oats, and none
others are as good. These crops are
very easily raised in the northwest.
Their production is sure and inexpen-
sive. The demand for horses in this
country is almost always good The
price of work horses varies less in diff
terent parts of the country than the
prices of other things produced on
farms. A bushel of wheat may sell in
Kansas for only half what it viii bring
in Rhode Island; a bullock that can be
bought for $50 in Wyoming may sell
for $50 in New York; but pair of
work horses will command about tho
same price in Dakota, Ohio, and
Maine. Horses are high in all the far |
western states and territories because
so many are wanted for preparing the
land for crops and for the purposes of
They will continue to
be high till the country is well settled
and the farmers have means to engage
in horse-breeding. If it is necessary
to remove horses several hundred miles
in order to obtain high price for
them, they are very easily transported.
1t is not necessary to put them on
board cars and boats and to pay |
freight on them. They are intended for
travel, and can be driven long dis
5ances without injury and with very
title inconvenience. Much has been
written in favor of putting corn and
)ther kinds of feed into the form of
beef and pork, so as to avoid trans
charges. The argument in
ovor of putting them into horsefiesh
s stronger yet. A pair of horses that
epresent $400 worth of grass and
rain will transport themselves to any
market that is regarded as the best
Raising mules to supply the south
rn market has never received the at :
ention it deserves in the northwest. '
Jules are not fashionable in the north {
owever economical they may be. On
his account most stock-breeders neg {
ect to raise them. Raising mules to [
ell in the gulf states has long been '
rofitable industry in Kentucky and Mis-
ouri, and with very little doubt would I
e profitable in most portions of the I
crthwest. Mules will endure as 1
luch cold as horses and will thrive i
nder greater exposure. They are as ?
ssy transported to cars and boats as
orses are. The boats running on the n
river can transport mules il
} Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa to p
ew Orleans vely cheaply. Farmers S
cated north of the ''corn belt" where il
rass, oats, buckwheat, and flax are s
le crops mo easily produced, would, p
ith little doubt, find mule raising b
'ofitable. The only great item of ex- O
,nse attending this branch of stock g.
Using in the northwes. is that of pro- C,
ction during the winter. Mules, ri
'wever, require less protection than sc
" animals that are raised by north tt
n farmers. If farmers further soIth VI
e better situated for raising mules in as
e matter of climate, the farmers in I'll
e north can produce food much al
eaper. The money saved in food ST
II pay for the extra cost of buildings. pi
Chicago Times. m