Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-01
The Progressive Farmer.
From the Cultivator.

FROM tn6 CulClVatOr.
The farm is field of metal labor as
well as of physical toll. It is a field
where activity of thought is as need
full as activity of the hand, and no man
is a good farmer in our day who is not
good thinker. 4 constant toiIer with
the hand to the neglect of thought is
not true farmer of the present age,
but drudge who labors without re-
ward It is one of the great blessings
Of an advanced civilization that mind
is made to guide, direct and relieve the
burdenssof physical toll, and nowhere
is there better illustration Of the BEN
efts which mind can confer to relieve
the labor of the hand than in agricult-
ure. It is only necessary to refer to
the mowingmachine, the reaper,
the binder, the horse rake, the manure
spreader, the threshing-machine, Glow
er-huller, and,,the,perfect chilled plow,
to be convinced of this.
In the days when all labor was done
by physical force. the battle was to
the strong, as well as riches to men of
understanding, but in our day the
battle of the farm is to men of thouhht
rather than to the men of strength.
The time can well be remembered by
many of the present generntion when
the man of the strongest muscle who
could handle the scythe, the sickle or
cradle and the hoe with the greatest
force, and with diligence, was the
best farmer, and was generally the
most successful in accumulating mon
ev; but times have changed, and
mind has gained q victory over
strength. Successful farming can be
awarded only to those who, by the
exercise of thought, make every re-
source available to their interest
There is no such thing as success, at
the present time, IN haphaxard farm
ing, there must be order and system,
care and thoughtfulness, in every de-
partment of farm management, or no
profit will be realized.
At the present time ef general de-
preston in every branch of business,
we can expect only small margin of
profit, and for that profit we must
take advantage Of every means, and
economiIo IN every way. Ii the steer
raised on the farm, of common stock,
will be worth at years $50, cross of
improved stock, with little better
care, of like age would be worth $50.
The dairyman who makes his COM
mon hero pay but $50 a season, will,
by a little care in the selection of COWS
from The best milking stock, and with
better attention. bring them up to $50.
In feeding for pork, when fed in
careless and thoughtless way, a busheI
OF corn will make but six or seven
pounds; but when fed with care the
corn being made into meal and scald-
ed Or properly soaked. bushel will
make ten Or twelve pounds or gain
of one third by economy IN feeding.
In making dairy products, the range
of values are as one to three, or, IN
other words, the best butter sells
quicker, is in better demand. at 80
cents than the poorest at 10 cents or
the ordinary at 20 cents.
The grain-grower who cultivates his
land in an ordinary way has no re-
gard to rotation of crops, and with
but little care for soil fertilization,
will expend from SO TO $12 per acre
for crop of wheat that may yield
from sixteen to twenty bushels, and
at present prices would bring but IS
or 81 for the use of land, with the
loss of fertility. The thoughtful far
mer has learned that, to expand s. or
SIS per acre more in fitting and fertil-
izing, the Iandiwith safety returs thirty
bushels per acre, and proft~of IS OF
SO, and the like rule will apply to
all other grain crops of barley is
grown, the farmer who is not alert
may LET it become overripe before
harvesting, and the gram is stained
and its market value reduced 10 cents
per bushels. If beans are grown, the
farmer who meets with success allow:
] no time 10 pass unimproved in bar