The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-03-29
POINTS ON FARMING.
Geo. Whittet Writes a Letter and
Gives Pointers.

In letter to the Minneapolis Journ-
al Mr.. George Whittet, one of the
prosperous farmers of Redwood coun-
ty, gives his experience as farmer, as
we'll as few pointers for the benefit
OF the profession. He says:
+ The time has come when the farmers of
Redwood county and of all wheat growing
sections of the United States must turn their
attention to something besides raising wheat,
! in order to provide the necessaries of life for
their families, pay their taxes and the ex-
pense of running farms. Now the question
comes up. What can do to better nv con-
dltlon:' would say do not make any sud-
den change: you have your lands YOUR teams
your machinery, every thing you need to
work with, and you had better raise some
wheat. but not all wheat; try and make a
gradual change. Wheat raising is all right
| in its place, but it can hardly be called farm
ing, as it only gives employment for a few
days in the year The farmer should not ex-
pect to have money enough to buy every
thing that he needs in the shape of his living.
| clothing. etc. and pay all his expenses and
only work about one-third of the year What
would you think of a business man closing up
his business six or seven months in the wear?
You would all say that man might as well
| close for good. Now let me have something
to do 365 days in year and have some
| thing to sell every day in the year. That is
right: as we have our daily expense so we
should have our daily income: and let me say
to you, do not try to learn everything that is
| RI he lear cd foy-r NV,
Experiences good teacher, but it is some
! times very costly, and at this age too slow
Whatever you expect to turn your attention
| to on your farm, get some good work on that
| branch of farming. 1t will pay you: and
with little experience you will soon be an
| expert
Brother farmer let me give you picture
of farm house. Let US say an sO-acre farm
in the fall of the year, with the farm work
all done, ready for winter: good. comfort
| able house. with cistern and cellar. the latter
well filled with vegetables and canned fruits,
| gooseberries. currant, Strawberries raspber-
! ries, tomatoes, ground cherries, etc, and
enough of these things to last till the next
spring: and be sure to have few colonies of
| bees in your cellar: your honey popcorn and
| onions in some nice clean room. up stairs.
|
! through the winter. a good chicken house
| with say 100 chickens in it. so you can have
fresh eggs every day in the year four or five
brood sows and good, warm house for them,
20 breeding ewes and good shed to keep
them in nights and stormy days, good com
Portable barn well filled with'hay. Is head of
cattle. enough of them COWS to make you five
pound of butter every day in the year, horses
l on oh RI 6n nd co1f ,i,,or
! up to take the place of horse if you should
lose one, nice. quiet pony for the children
to ride and drive-they will enjoy it-and a
work shop where you can do all your repair
ing, oiling and painting in the winter so you
will be ready for spring, and wind mill to
! do your pumping and water tank your
| stock can go and drink when they are thirsty.
There are other things 1 could mention. such
| as granary, wagon shed, machine shed house
| where you can keep your oils, gasoline kerr
| osene, etc. No doubt the majority of farm
| ers will say that this looks nice on paper but
| no one can ever own such a home and make
it by farming. Now want to say to you it
| is possible, it has been done, it is being DONE
and it will be done again.
| With such farm home as have pictured
| to you, the farmer is the most Independent
| and should be the happiest and most content
| ed being on earth, and such home is only
( possible where a farmer practices diversified
| farming. G, w. WHITTET.
| w. w. Kelly, prosperous South Side
| farmer. also submits to an interview on di-
versitied farming to the Journal represent
| alive at this place. He thinks fencing essen
tial to mixed farming, and has the whole of
his farm of $40 acres inclosed. 1t prevents
disease among cattle as it keeps different
herds from running together. He has sue
ceeded well in growing mutton. He is now
making an experiment with alfalfa and Glow
err and has succeeded in getting good stand.
| He thinks that more attention should be Civ
en- to the growing of corn and clover in this
county