Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-07-09
ENCOURAGING FOR FARMERS
So Says II Milwaukee Editor of
the Outlook in North
Dakota.
The Reduction Of Wheat Acre.
ages in favor Of Stock APP
prOvingly Noticed.
An Apparent Increase i'll De.
mantl for Farming Lands at
Advanced Prices.

Advanced Prices.
North Dakota Prospects Looking Up.
ward.
The following is an excerpt from two
column letter which appeared in the
Milwaukee Sentinel of June 21st under
the Jamestown date line. It was written
by Mr.. Fred'k. w. Friese, member of
the Sentinel staff, who is interested in
Stutsman county realty and who spent
several weeks here last month:
The outlook for the new gram crop is
the best in five years, and with diversity
ing OF agricultural industry prosperity
seems attainable. During the past three
years farmers have placed considerable
stock on their fields, and, although prices
here are much lower than in the large
markets.. the income derived from this
source already is considerable. Prices
paid here for young and for grass-fed
cattle are $3.50 to $500 per 100 pounds,
and as hay is not scarce and tho nutri-
tious buffalo grass on the prairles in
abundant supply and costing nothing,
farmers find stock raising much more
certain and profitable than wheat.grow-
ing, especially as crop failures have been
frequent and prices too low. Beef cattle
probably will not be as cheap as they
were in the past five years, when the
ranchmen sold a large number of COWS
for slaughtering, on account of the un-
profitable character OF the business un-
der the influence of the encroachment of
settlers on the feeding grounds. The
latter will be reduced steadily, and al
ready here in this part of North Dakota
it is difficult to find extensive fields for
grazing, most of the land available being
occupied. On small scale, however,
every farmer will be able to raise enough
stock to supply himself with money
when his grain crop fails. Some Of the
land devoted to wheat-growlng is beiug
used for raising millet, which yields
from two to four tons of hay per acre,
and is fully as nutritious as the latter
product. Cows aud neat cattle generally
like it and grow fat on it. Horses, how
ever, should not have it, as it develops
kidney disease and kills the animals
though only when it contains the seed.
The cattle business is developing,
dalrying and cheese and butter factories
are everywhere coming into existence.
The chief obstacle to the success of the
dairy factory ls the long distance at
which stock farmers carry on their oper-
atoms, involving the expenditure Of con-
siderable valuable time in carrying milk
to their market. At present sheep
craze has taken possession Of Dakota
farmers. some of whom are investing
somewhat beyond their means in the
hope of retrieving their losses in raid
manner. About 10000 sheep were
brought into this county alone from
Montana last year, and probably as
many more vii! be put here during the
current year. The price paid generally
Is about S3 per head. and farmers figure
on making profit of SO per cent. per
annum on their investment "a nice
scheme on paper. where the losses are
not visible. Sheep require considerable
care at certain times, and lambs are deli
cate and perishable property. Their ad-
vent into existence should be arranged
for with some degree Of certainty, and
not earlier I'm this part of the country
than April 3O-May Is would be much
better. Some of the flocks bought by
farmers brought lambs during the win.
ter, and the result was disastrous to the
farmer, who found his prospective profits
dwindle away into possible loss when
the little creatures died from exposure
to the inclemancy of Dakota winter.
The old animals are not sensitive to cold,
and require only to be sheltered from
wet weather, their fleeces protecting
them from the zero temperature, but
lambs must be kept warm and nursed
carefully during the early period OF their
existence. The increased production Of
magnitude is likely to exert some intlu-
ence on the prices of mutton and wool.
which have ruled at a remuneratiye
range for some time past. The natural
increase from the hocks is rapid, and
when the farmers have been supplied
and begin to market any considerable
number Of sheep the price probably will
feel the effect. Thus it would be we'll for
farmers not to count with too much cer-
tainty on the reaping Of enormous profits
from their investment. Sheep can be
kept in the summer on land which would
not support cattle, and the supply of
water required by them is moderate.
They feed considerably at night after the
dew falls on the grass. which slacks their
thirst. Wolves and dogs are enemies Of
sheep, and in Dakota the former are
worse than the latter, though fortunately
their number is not large. Sheep will
pay fair profit when we'll taken care of,
but will not enrich everybody who at
tempts the business.
The amateur farmers have departed,
and their lands have been turned over
to the holders Of the mortgages, who
enter into possession Of property which is
worth much more than it cost them, and
thov nllrnno n cOnraa thanka IN tha 6oar