Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-03-20
Farming and DaIIying.
SOUTHEASTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN
WISCONSIN DIFFERENCES.

SOUTHEASTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN
WISCONSIN DIFFERENCES.
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, March "A, 1890.
Eds IribmRe.'-Let us compare
the difference in the extreme south.
eastern part of our state and your
vicinity. In this section land is
worth from $50 to 800 per acre; in
yours from $50 to $40 OF about the
same quality. Our markets are
nearly Chicago prices for produce,
with small transportation expense
deducted. can take load of
produce TO your market and ex-
change for as much family neces.
saries as | can here; so the differ
ence there and here IN the price Of
an article is immaterial.
One acre of your land will pas.
ture more than this, and we cannot
raise small grain with you in lbs and
acres. We can produce more con
and hay per acre, | think, but frost
causes great deal more risk on the
corn. II was all frozen last fall.
The land here is mostly owned in
large tracts and managed by an
overseer and hired labor, and still
returns a far profit. But small
percentage OF the farmers in your
vicinity make as much on capital
invested as these foremen receive
per year. The business here is
principally dairying for butter--no
cheese. Corn is the main crop (rais-
ing about so per cent, more than
you do), planted in drills, all cut,
and nearly all put IN silo, the bal
ance stacked aud cut with feed
cutter; very little waste and very
little huskiug. How much is your
fodder worth after husking and
freezing? Il is almost worthless.
So you see we have realized as much
(and better feed) from an acre Of
fodder as you do from two acres
average yield of hay.
Stock is turned out only long
enough to drink, and not for hours
at a tune To shiyer. a great many
are watered in the barn, in troughs.
If not the water is heated in a tank.
1t costs us about one ID of milk per
COW to use water at freezing point
instead of lukewarm. What will it
cost to warm ice water with animal
heat while standing out doors?
Wood is cheaper. Then again your
farmers claim it does not pay to
feed for winter dairy. 1t costs us
just about i've cents per day per
COW more To feed our milch COWS
than our dry cows. The difference
in markets tor summer and winter
is two-ffths, and oue-tourth less
wages. It's great deal easier 70
obtain good mixers, and the cows
produce just as much butter.
Now your land is fully ten dollars
cheaper per acre, making less IN
terest to pay, and if farmed the
same as TINS viii produce equally as
much. Your farmers hire very little
compared with these. Then if these
can pay SIS to $50 per month, aud
81 900 to 81 200 for oupt., and board
all besides, why cans / your farmers
farm like these and save this labor
bill and double their prohts2 How
many IN your section can tell you
how many bs their steers have
gained per month; or how many lbs
Of milk and butter their cows pro-
duce per head per year, and how
much ii has cost TO make them the
same?
II your general purpose dairy
men will figure All cost as we must,
and figure all products from the
churn, be will hud he il getting
nothing for his labor; and the same
rule viii apply to the steer from the
"general purpose" COW. (This much
from experienced Again, the good,
warm barn is a large part Of the
battle, and II you can iurnlsh actaal
figures to the contrary | am willing
to learn at any time.
Let any Of your subscribers give
their cost Of feeding for butter in
their way, turning the cattle out 70
make them tough, aud | Will give
the same here SUBSCRIBER