Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-04-14


course they seem to forget that they
sell at wholesale prices and buy at re-
tail prices They also neglect to take
into consideration the fact that the
wholesale prices they see quoted are
those OF some large city several hum
dred miles distant from the place where
they live. The products of their farms
are much higher there than at home,
while the prices of the articles they
wish to purchase are much lower.
The cost of transportation is added
to their products, and q liberal sum
included for commission, insurance,
and storage. The goods they desire
to buy are in large quantities in "frst
hands," and near the spot where they
were produced. Their transportation,
division, and their subsequent sale
will add very much to their retail
price.
1t would be wise and well for every
Western farmer to calculate before he
commences his spring operations how
nearly he can come to supplying his
family and help with food OF his own
production. If he succeeds in doing
this he will meet about half the ex-
penses of the current year. He will
keep his store bills within reasonable
bounds and will not find it necessary
to raise as much grain or to fatten as
much stock for the market. He will
reduce the number of trips to the near
est town, tor he will be required to
haul less grain and to bring home fewer
groceries and provisions. He will save
much that is ordinarily paid for trans
portatlon, storage, commissions, in
surance, wastage, and the other ex-
penses incident to frequent handling
and selling. He will lose nothing by
short weights and small measures.
teratiOn and other fraudulent prac-
tices. He will be assured of having
genuine and wholesome articles Of food
to eat at the prime cost of produc-
ton. He will not be short of provis-
ions at time when he is short OF
money and when the grocer has long
bill against him. By raising his own
food he will escape grocers' bills and
be enabled to keep out of debt He
will be measurably free from anxiety
at times when the roads are nearly i'm
passable.
1t is comparatively easy for every
family living on farm to be supplied
with meat produced at home, and with
good variety of it. Every farmer
can and should produce his own beef,
pork, and mutton, and every farmer
should know how to properly kill and
dress hogs and sheep. II he does not
know how to do these things properly
he should take an opportunity to
learn. He should also know how to
cut up slaughtered animals, to dry
salt, pickle, smoke, and dry the meat.
The art of making sausage and head
cheese should be understood and pra ;
ticed by some member Of every farm
er's family. The sage, thyme, and
other sweet herbs desired to flavor
them should be raised in the garden.
A smoke house sufficient in size for
curing and storing all the hams, shout
ders, and bacon that will be wanted
for a year is necessity on every farm.
A good cellar, constructed above or
below ground, is also desired for stor-
ing salt meat, butter, eggs. potatoes,
and garden vegetables, and whatever
large fruits are raised on the place.
Some room in the dwelling, or in a.
building chiefly devoted to other pur-
poses, should be devoted to the stor-
age Of beans, peas, herbs, buckwheat,
and other minor farm and garden
products useful for food, and which
must be kept whece they will be dry
and clean.
A well-managed garden can be relied
on to furnish not only many substan-
tial articles of food, but many deli
cacies. Celery, cress, radishes, lettuce,
caulifower, and tomatoes are all
easily raised, and they do as much to-
ward supplying good living as many
costly luxuries for which much money
is spent. Every farmer should en-
deavor to have supply of green peas
and beans OF different varieties during
several months. By planting different
kinds at intervals of few days apart
a succession can be secured with very
little trouble Lima beans when green
rank with table luxuries, and the dried
ones are excellent for cooking in a va
riety of ways. Every farmer should
plant plat Of ground to sweet corn,
which is as easily raised as the field
varieties, while it is much more des1ra-
BILE for the table. By raising cucum-
bers, caulifower, small onions, and
beets every farmer can keep his table
supplied with pickles. By cooking and
drying or putting up pumpkins and
squashes materials for pies can be in
sured during the entire year. Inshort,
farmers, if they will give their attention
to the matter, can supply their tables
not only with the essential articles of
food, but with many luxuries.-Chica-
go Times.