The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-04-05
FiFTY-ACRE FARMS.
How They Can BE Made to Pay r
Amount Of Profits.


Amount III Profits.
The live stock of the 50-acre farm
may be pair of good breeding mares
and three colts, one colt to be raised
and one to be sold each year; lG cows,
ycarlings and calves, 5 calves to be
raised each year; 5 breeding sows may
be kept. and 10 filters of pigs sold each
year, or the same value obtained by
fattening 10 pigs to the weight Of $50
pounds each. In this section pasturagc
can always be hired at reasonable
rate. as some farms can only be used
for that purpose. The two oldest colts
and five yearlings can be SO pasturel
for &35 the season. For mixed farm
ing. dairy of Holstcin grades of
good butter family is, l think, the
best.
What can be sold from this farm
under the rotation and management
above stated?
Butter from 10 cows, $50 each Ssn
Four acres OF potatoes, 500 per acre .... 30
Seycnty-five pigs, .. from to 10 weeks old
average u. 20 each. .................:... 1871
Three-year-old colt ....................... l4U
Fave neHcrS OF COWS sou inspiring, s32.... lU
Total amount OF sales. 1857
As there are plenty of large farmers
and others who do not raise their own
pigs. horses or cows, a ready market
may be always had for such stock. The
grain raised will be sufficient for the
team and colts. and perhaps more than
they require, rs the team labor Of this
farm will be light Grains for hogs and
cows can be bought. The ten acres of
pasture above described will go far to-
ward keeping the sixteen cows. but it
will he necessary 10 cut two or three
acres of clover, and perhaps an acre of
peas and oats, and some of the corn
for part soiling during the summer.
Forty tons of hay can be stored for
winter use. which, with corn fodder
once day. will be found ample for the
stock named. If the farm is not suit
able for potatoes, the whole field may
be sown to corn and more cows kept,
and the sales will be about the same.
But one OF your correspondents says
that the grass seeding may fail. True,
but such thing has not happened in
my experience in II or Is years. and is
not likely to occur on a wcll-tillcd and
well-manured farm. Another says that
abortion among his cows ruined his ex-
pectations. My dairy was formerly 60
cows, and with 80 years experience
with this trouble. can recall but one
I'm IN sn1.
turn the COW because of failure to breed.
Some of my Holstcin grades have met
with this accident, but their disposition
to give milk is SO great that the locs
resulting is comparatively light.
The farm expenses will be about rs
follows:
nlrea ne,p ,s 700
Understandings, grinding and insurance 20
Grass and clover seed md seed corn. ..... 30
Total farm expenses .......... S5ss
Amount OF sales NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. l,5sG
Dui0nCCs ........ ........ slsUs
Eggs, chickens, milk, butter, meat
and potatoes. honey. berries and gar
den products for the family can all be
had from this small farm. If the pro-
prietor is not able to do hard labor. u
few swarms of bees and a half acre de-
voted to small fruits. will provide
means for the payment of an extra
hand.
What can be saved from the net
thousand produced by the farm de-
ponds altogether on the condition, hab-
its and expenses of the family. 1t is
safe to say that a young man with
small family. can. with good manage
ment. save 10 per cent. or cost of farm
and stock at 800 per acre. In the
above statement there is nothing
strained-no large yields, no high
prices. no special farming 1t simply
provides for keeping the farm and
farmer at work, and the success here
described, such rs it il, is within reach
Of MI. &C $. Rice, !" Country Gtit,e-
HialA