The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-05-29
SUPPLIES FOB The FAMILY.
The Difference in the Methods of Obtaining
Them Now and Generation Ago.

-
Them Now and Generation Ago.
A generation ago nearly every farmer
in the country endeavored to produce
nearly every article of food that was re-
quired for mis- family ard help. He pur-
chased at the grocery little except tea,
coffee, pepper, salt and spices. He
raised all the varieties of grain required
to make bread, pastry and pudding,
took them to custom mill, where they
We're converted into flour. meal, grits,
hominy, bran and shorts, which were
carried home and consumed. The gar
den was made to produce all the vege-
tables wanted for immediate use, and
an abundance foI preservation. Every
family made its own pickles, preserves
| and lellies. Butter and cheese were
made IN every farmers house With
very rare exceptions families made
their own soap, candles and vinegar
All the meat consumed by the family
was raised on the farm, cured in the
house and preserved in the cellar or
garrett. In the fall or early part of the
winter supply of smoked and dried
meats was prepared sufficient to last a
year. Every farmer raised fruit, con-
siderable portion of which was dried or
/ preserved for use during the winter.
The first Object of every farmer was to
supply his fs,nily with food produced
on the place he occupied. He was re-
garded was very unthrifty if he did not
| DO this.
During the past few years matters
have changed greatly in this respect.
In many parts of the country farmers
are as dependent on the grocer and
| butcher for food as mechanics and
traders in large city are. They raise
cattle, hogs and sometimes sheep, but
the practice is to sell them ION the hoof "
They procure the meat they consume
from the butcher, paying at least twice
as much for it as they get for that they
| sell. Raising large fields of grain, they
buy their flour, meal and other bread
stuffs. They are, if they have the means
to do it, liberal purchasers of dried,
canned and preserved fruits and pickles.
Some buy the garden vegetables they
use, but the larger number go without
4 oiAOLis WIN nave SOOu
employ it for their disadvantage. They
obtain most that they purchase on cred
it. In the fall they dispose of nearly
all the grain and stock they have raised
to obtain money to meet their obliga-
tions. They then commence to run up
new bills for supplies for their families.
A generation ago there was greater
necessity for producing ali or nearly al
the articles of food required for a fami-
~ than there is at present. There was
a poor market for many of the pro iucts
of the farm. Especially was this the
case with those that were heavy or
bulky. The means of transportation
were very poor in most parts of the
country. Farmers living near the
ocean, a large lake. or navigable
river enjoyed great advantages over
those living IN the interior of the coun-
try. There was no way of transporting
heavy articles economically, except by
boats. AS farmers remote from water
communication could not dispose of
| their products for cash, there was very
| little money in circulation. Most OF
the local trade was carried on without
| olS VI luOuCy. AIblCICS
brought from a distance commanded a
high price on account of the great cost
of transportation. The farmer accord
| ingly found it to his advantage to pro-
duce what was required to supply the
wants of his family. If he DIES red to
| live well, and at the same time to live
cheaply, he and all the members of his
| family raised large number of arti-
Giles OF food, and took great pains in
| preserving them for future use. The
curing of meat, the drying of fruit, the
making of pickles and preserves re-
ceived great attention in every we'll
regulated farm house. A farmer was
not dependent on the grocer and butch
er for food.
Farmers of the present age are in a
much better condition to purchase ar
ticles of food than those who lived a
| generation ago Railroads have produced
a cash market for all their products in
almost every town. 1t IS no longer
necessary to have farm located near
navigable water in order to have an
accessible market for what is raised on
farm. Farmers now sell their prod
| ucts for cash, as manufacturers do
| Money is in circulation in every part
of the country where crops, eggs, but
ter, cheese, wool and domesticate d
animals are produced. 1t is policy for
a farmer to be trader as we'll as q
producer 1t is obvious, however, that
most farmers are doing more trading
than is beneficial to them. They sell
too many things and they buy too
many. Their greatest mistake is in
buying back, in different form, the
articles they dispose of. The difference
between the price they receive and that
they pay is generally very large, and
that is invariably against them. An ar
ticle is not sold from farm, taken to a
city, disposed of several times, and
then brought back without having its
price greatly increased, if not doubled
This sort of trade, which has increased
wonderfully during the past few years,
has been highly beneficial to transport
tation companies, packers and traders,
but ruinous to farmers. A return, in
a somewhat modified form, to the prac-
tees that prevailed before railroads
revolutionized farming and trade, would
result in great benefit to farmers. s.
Chicago Times.
BALkY HORSES.