The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-26
FARM NOTES.
From the Farmers Tribune.)


Most farmers will find it more profitable
to keep mares than geldings to work on
the farm. The mare will do practically the
same amount of farm work, and besides
will raise a foal that at present low prices
will pay something of profit on it's keep,
and in many cases a handsome profit, too,
especially If the mare is a we'll bred one
and judiciousy mated. These hard times
for horse breeders won't last always, and
the prudent man will 'stay right there at
time when people generally are ''tumbling
over each other" to get out Of the business.
To make the poultry house wind tight and
comfortable every way, and not neglecting
other things, will be a profitable use of
time. Now that Oil stoves and Oil are
cheap, uses for some of these may be found
in the chicken house, and even in the pig
pens. Fuel of some kind must be burned
to make warmth, and fuel used outside of
an animal is far cheaper than feed burned
inside Of it. Either one or the other must
be used.
Fodder is going to be scarce this winter
in many sections, and the present is good
time to get rid of the poor cows. There
are thousands of good men in the country
who would have had more cash in their
pockets last spring If they had got rid of
half of their cows for what they would
bring in the fall before. Don't think you
are the richer for owning and wintering q
poor cow, or that you can sell her next
spring for enough to make up for what she
has taken out of you. What grand move
ahead the dairy business would take in q
good solid profit if every dairyman would
get a Babcock test and proceed to know
what sort Of cows he was doing business
with. Don't know" costs vastly more
than to know.
An experienced poultry raiser says that
no better use can be made of wheat chaff
than to use it as a litter in the poultry
houses, in which the hen can scratch and
exercise. If gill of millet seed be scat
tered in the chaff the hens will work and
hunt for the small seeds industriously I'M
til every one is found, and as the seeds are
very small the hens will be more ear
nest and diligent the seeds also being some
what of a luxury. The chaff will also as
sist in keeping the floor dry, thus adding
70 the warmth and comfort Of the poultry
house during periods of cold or damp wealth
er.
No farm yet was ever made to do it's
best. We have not learned to economically
gather and utilize all its products. We
cream the fields, but we do not condense
all the stubble into meat or milk, nor put
into other valuable shape. The average
farmer needs many sermon yet preached
for his salvation. His chance for COM
potency is great, whether he thinks so or
not.
To get money from the farm does not
capacity. All depends on what Is sold.
Hay, grain, straw, potatoes. these deplete
the soil if sold. Flesh, fleeces and dairy
products do SO in fractional way only,
and feeding to produce them steadily raises
the standard of prcductiveness.
One can better utilize the by-products
with stock of varied tastes and require
ments. Diversification in this line is as
good as in crops. A farm will be able tc
carry more stock and produce more oil
marketable value if you have different
classes of animals than is confined wholly
to one sort.
The Medalia Messenger says that the CO.
operative creamery at that place during the
past year, made 225,O75 pounds of butter
which sold at $45,S28.21. OF this sum $37 457 81
was paid to farmers for milk, $7,472 for ex.
penses, and the balance, sS9S22 paid
per cent dividend to the stockholders
Give the boy an animal now and then 70,
his own. and teach him to care for it in !.
way which will make it Of the most vaaue