The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-22
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
Changes in Farm Management
Should Be Made Only After
Careful Study.
Prospect that the Raising Of Roots for
Stock Will Receive More Attention
in the West.
Commence This Winter.

some change in their business next
spring. Some propose to give up grain
raising on an extensive scale, and to en-
gage in dairying. general stock raising,
or the breeding of fine animals. Others
are thinking about engaging in the pro-
duction of some crops that have lever
been raised in this vicinity, as hops,
broom-corn, and tobacco: Some are
considering the propriety of preparing
and stocking fish ponds. Others are
thinking OF. constructing a silo, with 4
view of preserving green fodder to feed
to their stock next winter. Some are
considering the profits of poultry-raising
on nm extensive scale, with Il view OF
supplying the market with fowls and
eggs. They have read of the success OF
others in this branch of hnsbandry. ard
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. A
smaller number, perhaps. have thought
that there was a large mount of honey
annually going to waste in the district
where they live, and are thinking that it
would be profitable to keep bees that
would gather and store it. As the price
of nearly everything produced on farms
is quite low and gives promise of remain
ing so. very many farmers are thinking
of making Il new departure in some di-
r~ection, hoping that it will be productive
of greater profits.
It is often advisable to make changes
in the management of Il farm. Farmers
of small means are generally obliged to
keep scrub animals or none. They
have moi the money to purchase inn
ported stock, and they have not suitable
buildings in which to keep costly ami
mails. 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 imple-
mants. They cannot engage in dairying
until they have the means to pay, or
raise, q herd of good cows and to put up
barns that will shelter them. To raise
fine stock requires considerable capital,
as good buildings and improved pastures
arc needed as we'll us expensive animals.
The drainage of low land, the erection
of wihd-mills for raising water. the i'm.
provement of cranberry marshes, the
planting of ornamental hedges, the set.
ting out of orchards, the formation OF
elICllSl ooNSs NhS PiSlti atioh "a rs
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 tt
support. In the great majority of case
the improvements on farms must bs
slowly made. One change for the bette,
must be made this season and another
next, till at length the farm is all tina
the owner desires to have it be.
Farmers often make changes in theil
business very judiciously. They read
paragraph in some paper that Il; farme
has realized a small fortune in a fey
years by raising a certain crop, or b
J keeping 4 certain breed of animals o
fowls. They think that they can d
quite as well by adopting the sam
course. Without knowledge and with
out experience they embark in the ne,
enterprise only to fail. They discove
t when it is quite too late that they AZ
v not suited to the new kind of bushes;
that their places are not adapted to i
t or that the time for engaging in it j
past. The report that a farmer SOM
where realized $500 per acre on 4
onion, celery, or strawberry crop hc
had the effect to turn the heads of man
farmers. They neglect their old stant
ard crops TO plant those with who's
cultivation they are unacquaintcd, III
d for which their is no market near whel
they live. They become financially or
il barrasscd. Their creditors press then
c and they are obliged to part with the
(, places at a sacrifice and to commend
1t life over again in Il new locality. Ever
time that hops or broom corn happier
n to reach a high figure thousands
d ture, often inplaccs where the china
Those who succeed in producing goo
id crops find that the market is oversize
ed, and that prices. Lave fallen belo
the cost'of production.
re No radical change should be made
n the management OF a farm. and no COS
re ly improvement MISREPRESENTATION d1
v elaboration. thought, and study. Gre
RS pains should be taken to acquire all Il
id information relative to the Requirement
of every new crop, and in thinking
i'd introducing it in an untried locality 4
We cost of obtaining seed and the taciliti
III for sending the product to mark
gs should be carefully considered. II
ne statements of those who have seed
he sale should be regarded with conside
ID able suspicion, as they are interest
or parties. The sorghum sugar pool
was inaugurated and has been kept ,
chiefly by those who had seed and II
chinery to dispose of. The present 81
:, culture mania is largely the result
the circulation Of advertisements issu
Ne to parties who have silk worm eggs a
ne mulberry plants for sale. Nurserym
1g who have large stocks to dispose of ha
az been chiefly instrumental in causing t
" European larch and the Russian IN
or berry tree to be introduced into vario
:: parts of the west. Neither of them
We as valuable for the purposes for viii
y they have been recommended as natl
Or trees that can be obtained at one-ter
;ay the cost. The profits of raising certs
oy special crops for which there is neve,
large demand have been greatly ov
,oy estimated to interested parties. All
or accounts of success have been publish,
but the men who have experieno
u, failure have preserved a respectful
OF lcnce. =.
IN, Winter is the best time for consid
40 ing the claims of new crops and
-! gaming n1ormation respecting the
,,ay 1t is also the best time for Learnt
,ar about the comparative value of differ
Ia breeds of animals and fowls. the pro
of bee culture, the construction of
ponds, and the cost 6 undcrdraini,
Ii affords the most leisure for gain
Information about dairying, the c
ter tru elton of silos, and the erection
wind-mills. Most farmers have Ii
=, to do during the winter except to t
the care of their stock and to draw and !
pare fuel. They have time to read