Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-01-19
vs.. WHEAT.
Facts and Figures that Show that But
ter is the Most Profitable.
A Dairyman's Experience in Feeding
Cornstalks to his Cattle.

The entire Palouse country is now en-
gagged. in one accord, in seeking for some
money-produciug agent other than
wheat For years wheat has been the
one crop. With good prices and the
large yield with which the country has
heretofore been blessed it has been prof
liable enough OF ITSELF but 1898 has dem
oustrated that the farmer must not put
his sole reliance in that cereal. As a
crop it is sure enough, but there is no
way oi,controlling the price, or OF har-
vesting dry wheat in continued lain
storm.
The two industries, now most largely
discussed which it is hoped may solve
the problem, and give the farmer 2
source OF revenue aside from the wheat
crop, are the beet sugar factory and
creamery. a large "beet sugar conven-
ton" was held last Saturday at Fair
field, and another will be held at ColIaX
the first Of February, and now let the
farmers congregate at Pullman and dis
cuss the butter-making project. The adj
mirable location of this city for the es-
tablishment OF a creamery has been set
forth in the HERALD at different times,
nor is it questioned by anyone.
At the reTent farmers institute held
at Coltax, Mr.. Harris, a dairyman OF
that place, gave the following figures
which speak for themselves. His herd
of COWS numbers something over thirty.
He put in 81 acres OF corn, and at pres
ent he is feeding cornstalks With this re-
suit
Flowing, at 81 % per acre........$ 71.25
one MAJ 36 days planting, and
cultivating four times, at $l.50. 54.OO
Harvesting and putting into iced
ing frames, at $I.00 per acre. 800
Rent on land at 10 per cent ..... lIl.OO
Average cost per acre about $500.
One acre OF tbs feed is consumed by
his COWS in two days, and during that
period they turned out 60 pounds OF but
ter, valued at 20 cents per pound, which
is practically twice what 1t cost to pro-
duce it. The skim milk, fed to hogs, is
good wages for care OF making the butter
and caring for the stock. In the words
OF Prof. Lake, to whom we are indebted
lor the above figures, "Do you wants any
thing better than that?'
Corn. Mr.. Harris considers the farm
ers salvation in this section. That is,
corn as fodder.
These figures 90 a long way toward
showing the advisability OF establishing
a creamery, such an institution does
not require SO much capital as would a
beet sugar factory, paper mill or fruit
canncry. For the farmer it is a contin-
uous source OF income, in this being
much at variance with the wheat Gro 8,
which furnishes but one pay day in the
wear. The COW would certainly pay
much better in summer, on fresh feed,
than in winter on dry cornstalks. There
are great possibilities in a creamery To-
Gated here. For its product there al
wavs is a market in he cities.
The business men should first consult
toeatler Oh this subject, name date for
a "areanery convention" ask the citi-
zpIs of the surrou ding towns and coun-
trv. who have taken an active interest,
to Bp present, and us set the project
firmly on loot. There should be dele
gates appointed from every township in
Whitman county for it is matter that
will interest and benefit all. a market
for mill; means as much as market for
wheat. With a creamery in successful
operation, the question of diversified
FARMING" will in a large measure be
solved. Wheat will not be the main
stay of the country, and financial pam
les will not have SO many terrors Tor
the farmer, Conditions OF weather Will
certainly mean less to him. Ponder this
in YOUR minds, and when you have en-
Y, lyed an idea on the subject that you
think will interest your friends, write 1T
ont and send it to he HERALD for publ
cation, and in this way haston the day
when the "Pa!orse Cooperative Cream
erv" will be filling your now well nigh