The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-03-30
SUCCESSFUL FARMING
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES or DA-
IxOTA FAR5lERS.
Diversity in Farming Found TO be
the Most Successful MethOd-Farm-
1nG IL n Profession that Requires
Brain rs Well as Muscle.


In March, 1887, settled on the north
west quarter of section 26 11S-77, Pot
ter County, South Dakota, with a team
0f old horses, wagon, plow, drag. feed
and seed enough to put in sixty acres
of wheat and about $125OO in cash.
I had family consisting of a WIFE lit
tie girl an grown up son. Tie son has
been away three years out Of seven.
No hands have been employed except
IN harvest
The soil here is black loan, slightly
yellow when first broken; the subsol is
O6 a nature well adapted for the retcn-
tion OF moisture and is full of lime.
The land is nearly free from stone and
gravel beds and is solid mat of bunch
grass roots which makes the breaking
very hard. 1t takes four good horses to
break two acres per day with six
teen inch plow while the ground is in
good condition Every acre broken is
worth $500 It is well known that the
tougher the sod the better and harder
the quality Of wheat it will raise
The first year, 1891 l had in 60 acres
OF wheat; 'SS. % acres Of wheat; SO
16O acres Of wheat: 90, $50 acres of
wheat and 40 Of tlax;'91. 40 acres Of
wheat and 20 Of flax: 90. 80 acres Of
wheat and 25 of flax Each year
have had in from 15 to Al acres Of oats
and barley for feed. Have never had a
good crop in the seven years, but have
always made little profit Have made
money cutting with my header for
neighborS and in 80 did about $4,000
worth Of work on the f. c. & S. G. Ry,
near me, which gave my farming
much needed lift.
have bought but two horses and sold
two. Now have five high grade and
three common work horses, and four
high grade two year old colts. I raise
none but the best grade and find that
it pays Many farmers have made the
mistake Of buying horses on time. in
stead Of raising them. My mares work
side by side with geldings while raising
their colts.
The second year here my son worked
three months 1T $1,000 per month for a
twO-year aid heifer without the calf
The next year | bought another one
During 1880 l , we milked three cows.
Made the mistake of selling the calves
Last year ! had six milch cows Sold
enough butter to furnish the table well
from them In justice to the cows
should add, that in November 80, lost
my house and all supplies by fire, and
In July '93, my garden by hail, thus
necessitatng the purchase of everything
eaten by Us for over year. Butter
making qualities is my test in the rur
chase of a cow, although size is not al
together lost sight Of. ! have learned
that large cows are just as liable to be
good mixers as small ones. and should
their calves be steers, are much more
profitable on that score. OF my nine
milch cows eight are at least fifty
pounds heavier than the average cows
OF the neighborhood. the ninth is a
high grade Jersey. | have in the past
fed my cows nothing but wild hay or
cat straw, but shall feed chopped feed
herea fter rs it will pay every time
when fed to good cows. Good warm
quarters and plenty of pure water di-
rect from the well find to be indispen-
sable for both cattle and horses. We
feed our calves fresh milk until they
are three or four weeks old. and after
that skinned milk slightly warmed
Tin wnter) They are as large at
twelve months Of age as many that
have run with the cows and represent
q great deal more of profit. | have
learned that COWS should come fresh
about Scptember 1st Butter is nearly
ALWAYS 20 cents during the fall and -
during the winter months At this sea
son the cows require more or less care
anyway. and | believe the profit to be
much larger than at any other season.
ANYWAY the men folks have more time
10 milk and look after them then than
during the spring and summer months.
n few spring cows are handy to have
over the period the others arc dry. !
never began to get ahead until | began
paying my grocery bills with butter
and eggs: since then l have found It
much better shedding.
The hen is the farmers friend IN need
and a friend indeed. My five dozen
hens are worth probably IL or l6 dol
IArs and the best horse on the farm
415OOO vet the hens net me more pro-
1T than two or three horses. Our 1aml-
~ have not been out OF eggs Tor years
Except for short time last year when
Ill our chickens were roasted allve.
From nine hens last spring we raised
Ave dozen pullets and probably as
many cockerels, which we have eaten,
hesides about three dozen killed in a
hail storm. Dakota is the :poultry-
mans paradise. No disease. no stag
{ nant water, or other deadly enemies.
Warm, we'll lighted quarters and plenty
of whole wheat and good fresh water
will make hens lay at all seasons OF
the year. The refuse from the table
and some sour milk can be probably
fed them. We shall devote consider
able time to this industry from this on.
Gardening has been followed with us
with various degrees OF success. We
have expended from $6 to $40 for seeds