Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-12-11

Farming does not mean simply stir
ring the soil, sowing the seed and har-
vesting the crops, but from the begin
ming of the year to its end there should
be constant production in every pos
sible manner While the crops are
growing the future food is beiu~ pre-
pared, but as soon as it is harvested it
should be made sill more serviceable
by being converted into some higher
priced product. While an acre of land
may produce fifty bushels of corn on its
part, yet that corn may nearly all find
its way back to the soil that produced
it, only that portion being sold that will
repay the cost and labor of converting it
into beef, mutton, pork, wool, milk,
muscle or whatever it may contribute
The farmer who can so manage as to Sc
cure the largest crops, and return to his
soil the larger portion by disposing of
that which is more readily salable in
some other shape, will gradually become
wealthy, though the actual receipts may
be spparel uy nall.
Farming is continuous operation
1t is the changing of products from one
kind to another according to tie de-
mand for each. In estimating the value
of bushel of corn produced on the farm,
and fed to stock, it must be regarded as
cheaper to the farmer than to any other
person, since he does not have to trans
port it to market; and when charging it
to his animals as food he should deduct
from the market cost the expense which
he would otherwise incur for bagging,
handling, hauling and freight. The
true value of the corn Is that which it
produces. The rule of charging interest
for the corn as crop, and also on the
beef or milk derived from it, often causes
the accounts to appear unfavorable. 1t
is the final disposition OF the crop that
regulates IT'S value. If 1t disappears
from the farm in the carcass of steer it
stands in the same position as if the steer
grsw upon the land instead of the corn,
;he corn being only component part of
he steer in the shape OF marketable beef.
Re the crop be fed to the COW, and the
milk sold off the farm, the crop is simply
,ent away in the milk cans In place OF
bags, and, instead of being compelled to
,en tine entire crop in order to realize
,ertain sum, the change of form by con-
7ersion into same other product results
n the securing IF an equal sum from
,nly portion Of the crop. Hence the
armer should aim to sell as little as pos
ible off the farm. That is, he should I
to secure the largest sum pos I
'ible With the smallest amount of pro-
luct by converting all crops into those
hat are less bulky and command the !
higher prices. But the farming bust
less requires system. 1t calls for the I
lse of all kinds of suitable machinery ,
nd stock. As no manufacturer OF cot
ON goods can afford to weave his goods &
Nth hand looms, neither can the farmer ,
1pect to make farming profitable unless |
70 takes advantage OF all opportunities t
pen to him. If his crops are to be fed |
n tie farm and rendered serviceable in 4
reducing something else through the ,
gency of stock, such stock must be per- f
.ctly adapted to the purposes designed.
he largest possible increase at the least
ost and n the shortest period ct time
hould be the rule, and upon this de-
ends the turning point between profit !
nd loss.