The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-02-05

COMMENCE THIS wINTER.
Many farmers contemplate making
some change in their business next
spring. Some propose 10 give M grain
raising on an cXtrnsiv scale, and TO
engage in dairying. general stock-rais.
ing, or the breeding OF fine animals.
Others are thinking about engaging in
the production of some crops that have
never been raised in this vicinity, as
hops. broom-corn. and tobacco. Some
are considering the propriety of prcpar-
ing and stocking fish ponds. Others
are thinking of constructing silo. with
view of preserving green fodder to
feed to their stock next winter. Some
are considering the profits of poultry
raising on an extensive scale, with q
view of supplying the market with
fowls and eggs. They have read of the
success of others in this branch of hus-
bandry. and from their statements have
about come to the conclusion that it
pays better TO feed grain to fowls than
TO pigs, cattle, or sheep, or to send it to
market. 4 smaller number, perhaps.
have thought that there was large
amount of honey annually going to
waste in the district where they live, and
are thinking that il would be profitable
to keep bees that would gather and
store it. As the price OF nearly every
thing produced on farms is quite low
and gives promise of remaining so,
very many farmers are thinking of max
ing a new departure in some direction,
hA,,;,,r chat - ,,rill h.. ,,rn.luntix,n q
greater profits.
1t Is often advisable to make changes
in the management of farm. Farmers
of small means are generally Obliged to
keep "scrub" animals or none. They
have not the money To purchase imported
stock, and they have not suitable build
ings in which TO keep costly animals.
They are generally Obliged to raise grain
to sell in order to procure money to pay
for their land, to erect buildings and
fences, and buy implements. They can
not engage in dairying until they have
the means to pay, or raise. herd OF
shelter them. To raise fine stock re-
quires considerable capital, as good
buildings and improved pastures are
needed as we'll az expensive animals.
The drainage OF low land. the erection
of wind-mills for raising water, the inn
provement of cranberry marshes, the
planting of ornamental hedges, the set
ting ont of orchards, the formation OF
shelter belts, the preparation of lawns,
and the making and stocking of fish
ponds can not ordinarily be undertaken
BY farmers who have moved upon tracts
of raw prairie and who have families to
support. In the great MA iority of cases
the improvements on farms must be
slowly made. One change for the better
must be made this season and another
next. till at length the farm is I'LL that
the owner desires to have il be.
No radical change should be made in
the management of Il farm, and no
costly improvement undertaken without
due dcliberatiun. thought, and study.
Great pains should bc taken TO acquire
all the information relative To the re-
quircments Of every new crop. and in
thinking of introducing il i'll an untried
locality the cost OF obtaining seed and
the facilities for sending the product to
market should be carefully considered.
for sale should be regarded with consid-
cradle suspicion, rs they are interested
parties. The sorghum sugar pools"
was inauguratcd and has been kept up
chiefly by those who had seed and ma
chinery TO dispose of. The present silk
culture mania is largely the result of the
circulation OF adv,rtIs m2nts issued by
parties who have siik-worn eggs and
mulberry plants for sale. Nurserymen
who had large stocks 10 dispose OF have
been chiefly instrumental in causing the
European larch and the Russian null
berry tree TO be introduced into various
parts of the west. Neither Of them is
as valuable for The purposes for which
they have been recommended as native
trees that can be obtained at one tenth
the cost. The profits of raising certain
special crops for which there is never a
large demand have been greatly over
estimated 10 Interested parties. All the
accounts of success have been publish
ed, but the men who have experienced
failure have preserved Il respectful 81
lence.
Winter is the best time for considering
the claims of new crops and for gain.
ing information respecting them. IL is
also the best time for learning about the
comparative value OF different breeds OF
animals and fowls, the profits of bee
culture. The construction of fish ponds,
and the cost of undertaking. 1t af-
fords the most leisure for gaining infor.
nation about dairyin@, the construction
of silos, and the erection of wind-mills.
Most farmers have little to do during
the winter except to take care Of their
stock and To draw and prepare fuel.
They have time 10 read and study.
There are now reliable publications on
almost every branch of farming. horti-
culture, stock-raising. and dairying. A
farmer who is considering the propriety
of engaging in new undertaking will
show wisdom by reading what has been
written on the subject. Learning any.
thing by personal experience is gener-
ally expensive. II costs time as well as
money. A saving of both may gener-
ally be effected by reading the exper-
fence of others. If man is undecided
about any new branch OF business after
reading what has been printed respect
ing it, he will generally find it to his
advantage 10 visit those who are or who
have been engaged in it. A journey
will cost something. but it will be less
expensive than IN experiment that will
often and in failure
sHoEING FARMERS HORSES.
Tho thn,r,: inol .i.aya thot rom nyar