The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-02-10
VERSUS HOGS.

WHEAT VERSUS HOGS.
HOW TO ESCAPE THE RESULTS OF
THE PAST BAD CROPS.
Necessity OF . Diversity in the
Farmers Efforts How Forty
Sever Cent Wheat Can BE Mad to
Yield n Return.
The following article on the raising OF
Northwest, and especially by farmers IN
Northern Minnesota and North Dakota. 1t
treats Of a subject which affects the
permanent prosperity OF this section on ana n,ra Is
a great deal Of time to investigating the
points mentioned. 1t is tcrse but compre-
hensive as Its perusal will show:
The rapid decline in the market value OF
wheat throughout the world Gntl the pres
ent ruinous prices have been reached leads
to inquiry US to the causes that have pro-
duced the result, and whether these causes
are OF a permanent or temporary nature.
A few years ago 1t would have been con-
sidered presumptuous to predict the present
conditions of the wheat markets OF the
world. and yet, many of our most observ-
ing and capable business men are convinced
that the low prices have come to stay, with
exceptions now and then when the crops
Of other countries fail from natural causes.
The price Of wheat, like other
mand, and while the demand has not and
is not likely to decrease, 1t is equally GER
tain that the supply is rapidly Increasing
with the advent of new competitors VINO
possess many advantages over the American
farmer. The United States with Its vast
empire Of productive soil can easily supply
the lI,ead for the balance of the world; but
can it do so with profit? If we cannot ex-
port wheat and leave a margin of profit for
the producer, the sooner we learn the 1act
n change our methods Of agriculture, the
better for all.
petitors are. India, Russia, Australia, and
some of the South American countries, with
their recent advancement in modern meth
DDS of agriculture, and with their lately
improved facilities TOR transporting their
sidered Important factors In the worlds
markets, and he who does not heed this
fact and shape his efforts In husbandry &C.
cernment. In all the countries named the
price of labor is not more than so per cent
Of the American price, while ia India a
days labor costs but a few cents. INDIA
and its recently improved transportation
facilities, can pour its almost unlimited
surplus into the markets of Europe at prices
that defy American competition: With
time to call a halt IN exclusive wheat rails
ing? Have we not other and better re-
sources? Have we not other and more
promising farm products, natural alike to
profit In this hour of wheat bankruptcy!
With wheat at Al cents at the home station,
the price is below the cost of production,
and poverty Of soil and poverty of purse
at sea without a rudder, the more sail we
carry the farther out of our course we go.
The farmers of all of the Northwestern
states, including Southern Minnesota, have
der very much more favorable conditions
than now exist, but with the same financial
results-poverty, mortgages, exhausted soil
GUIDED piI by the experience aa eIl Of their + brothers ais s.
there still remains the advantage Of reach
ing the same ends by the same old route,
but If they will change there will be a
saving of time and Of money.
Experience in other States.
In Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Southern
Minnesota, when the farmers from sheer
exhaustion were driven to abandon exclu-
sive wheat production, their prosperity. be-
gan. The farmer must not abandon wheat
raising entirely, but he must exercise a tri-
fe of the good sense he Is usually supposed
to possess, and diversity according to the
peculiar circumstances, Of his case, raising
80, 60 or perhaps 70 per cent Of his former
acreage, while turning his attention to 9th
er lines-live stock, dairy products and other
things, according to circumstances. There
Is, an irrevocable economic law that. he must
not violate with impunfty and expect na-
ture to reward him; he must not continu-
same soil, without rest or recuperation,
and expect good results. That immediate d.
yersity in farming is urgent Is conceded,
and this naturally raises the inquiry, what
can the farmer in the wheat belt substitute
for wheat? Without: going into the consid-
GRAFTON Of the long . list of. products that
may probably be substituted, we simply
farm that universally commands a better
price. The hog is q staple article that
always commands the market price in cash.
The farmer who is provided with good,
produce two crops Of hogs each year. With
tat merchantable hogs he can turn them
into cash any month in the year. The hog
will consume the waste product Of the farm
Is the farmer'sf friend, q he only requires
reasonable care to trebly recompense him
for every outlay Of time or money. The
usual American opinion is that hogs cannot
be successfully produced outside of the
''corn belt" We say American opinion be-
cause hogs have been raised In Europe and
Canada and other countries without corn
for more than a hundred years, being sue
and peas. Within the past two years many
successful experiments have been had In
Northern Minnesota and North Dakota with
wheat feeding, the hogs so fed commanding
the top of the. market at South st. Paul
and yielding attraction over 80 per cent
Of choice meat which is from s to 9 per
cent greater than results from corn feeding.
Apparently cholera and other fatal hog dis
eases that infest the c0rn.fed hog never
attack the hog fed upon wheat, barley OF
peas.
Hogs raised in. Scotland and fed upon
market. It is time the belief that hogs can
hot be successfully produced on other than
corn Is fully exploded. The farmers of the
wheat belt vi the advantage Of climate
and food with which to make hogs that will
as surely command a premium over the corn
hog as No. ! hard is at q premium over the
spring wheat Of Kansas and Nebraska. !
How to Raise Hogs.
There are a...few common-sense things
that must be observed to make hog raising
profitable. First Of all secure Q we'll bred
hog for breeding. There is as much or
more difference In the quality Of hogs as
l0ng-legged, slab-sided hog is Of no account.
You canno fatten such a hog. Besides he
Ia a. famine breeder-he eats everything
placed before him and squeals for more
Shun this kidd Of an animal. There Is no
money ~ him Tor anybody. For: our eli
able: TO any other, az It grows rapidly, is
besides being q fairly good breeder. With.
fair care 1t ID ready for the market In from
eight to eleven months, weighing from 200
TO 260 pounds and commanding always the
extfeme heat or cold. Therefore, reasonable
provision should be made for shade In dog
days and warm pens in winter. The hog
is not elegant In q Of his tastes, but he