The Indiana State sentinel., 1894-06-20

nance by many fold their net profits,
surprise their neighbors, and themselves.
says an Ohio Farmer contributor. 1t is
amusing at times to hear expressions evil
dently emanating from the very heart Of
some ambitious though misguided "tiller
of the SOIL" attributng his inability TO
make money as rapidly as he planned.
directly to the effect Of hard times
brought about by various reasons, most
of which, according TO his version, are
exceedingly absurd, to say the least, in
asmuch they have no special reference
To his individual interests except, per-
haps as a reason for varying his Occu-
patton to suit the times which. if wisely
determined upon, would cause the times
to mellow a little in his interest. Very
briefly let US consider some of the ad
vantages to be derived, the losses to be
avoided, by properly adapting ourselves
to our surroundings. being able TO COM
pete with our competitors.
If We ever become wealthy. except by
Inheritance (or accidenO it must be the
result of net profits. not Of gross earn
Ings. Income must be in excess of neces-
sary expenditures or failure attaches IL
self to our exertions In order to obtain
a satisfactory net profit in our business,
whatever the business may be, we must
be able to produce, if a manufacturer or
farmer, or buy, if merchant or dealer,
he goods we have TO offer at as little
cost TO ourselves, quality considered, $
any Of the thousand competitors with
whom we are surrounded. Failure TO do
this in proportion to its extent, will meas
ure. definitely, the duration Of our exist
ence as a formidable competitor in the
great struggle to which every life is
nh tod vr~f1T off ri rio or h
ject us 10 the incOnveniences of being
poor.
In order that I may be more clearly
understood in making such suggestions,
allow me TO assume the ownership and
control of a medium-siZed Ohio farm,
say OF 160 acres, with a mortgage Of 81,
600, Of which 1 am ever mindful during
the day, the consciousness of which dis
turbs my slumbers and affects my health.
The question is. how shall I raise the
peace Of mind, make pleasing the nature
Of my dreams, and impart such degree
Of faith in myself as is necessary TO my
succesS-fOr without faith We are fail
ures, morally and financially.
As said before. I must be in cOmpeti-
ton with somebody. Who shall it be?
Who can l compete with the most sue
cessfully? Can I make money by raIs-
Ing horses that won't sell? Electricity,
bicycles, and administration, have
knocked them out The supply is far in
excess of the demand 1 desire luxurfes
for myself and family. Will the pro-
duction Of horses and mules at present
prices afford me such2 I will leave the
matter for the decision Of such as have
already a horse dairy of fifteen or
twenty head, whose daily consumption Of
food. without income, would give me the
nightmare,
How about the wool business? This
IS some better but will 12-cent to 1s-cent
wool afford me an opportunity TO pay off
my $4,000 mortgage from the net profit?
Let US look little into the beef bust
ness. 1t is estimated to cost in Ohio
$50 per year to keep a COW. Can I teach
a calf 10 drink "slIim milk" provided
/ have iO or TO feed himself direct from
the COW (Which l admit is less trouble),
and keep him till he is three years Old,
perhaps older, and sell him for $40 10 49,
and pay even the interest on my $1,000
mortgage out of the net profits. when he
has cost twice the amount 1 receive for
him?
Place a Jersey COW and well-bred steer
side by side, fed at the same expense,
and while the steer is laying on two
pounds OF flesh worth cents, the cow
will make you a pound Of butter that
will sell for 20 cents and the skim-millk
pays for the trouble of milking. A three
year-old steer sold in Ohio for less than
$50 is sold at a loss A COW that does
IN a year is Of no value. ] have a brother
In western Nebraska who has one field
Of over 1900 acres nicely fenced and
supplied with running water, who says
he can raise steers for l cent per pound
Shall I compete with him and others
who can raise steers on land worth so
an acre, at 1ne-fifth the cost to me of
producing them on land worth $50 an
acre? 1t would hardly afford me the
necessaries OF life, to say nothing of the
luxuries. A good butter COW will afford
me an income of not less than $50 per
year, which is equivalent to selling a
three-year-old steer for $3.50, or three
times as much, at the same cost to my
self, and 1 receive my money every
month, always have It, in fact, TO apply
where It is most needed.
Just a word in reference TO grain rails
ing in the middle states and what to do
with 1t. What is done with the greater
portion Of grain raised in Ohio? Did you
ever think Of this? II is shipped East
and fed to cows, to make butter from.
Did you ever hear of shipping grain West
to feed steers TO make beef from? Why
not, II II pays as well 10 produce beef
as II does 10 make butter?
Grain should be fed where it is raised
and the product shipped east in compe-
tition with the goods offered by those
who are less favored, whose grain costs
more money, the transportation and
handling of which affords profit TO the
railroads and middlemen, but not to
the producer. You cannot compete with
the far west in the production Of grain
and beef, but you may compete to ad-
vantage with the New England farmer
In the production Of butter and cheese,
which sell today at nearer war time
prices" than anything else you may be
able 10 produce. With good cows and
the use Of ensilage. properly cured, 1
can make income any 16O-acre
farm Of not less than $1,000 per year
and raise all the grain / feed. 1t may
possibly cost me $1,000 a year for ex-
penseS and taxes, leaving net profit Of
$1,000 per year with which to pay off my
mortgage and afford me Iuxuries
Are you satisfied. perfectly, with your
income? II not, why not profit by the
above suggestions-"ge out Of the old
rut" and set an example to your fell
low-men that will make you famous
and well-tO-dO? Did you ever think Of
the actual difference existing in the
value of cows for butter purposes? Gen
orally speaking, a man gets what he is
willing 10 pay for and people are usu-
ally OF a disposition to buy what Is
cheapest-not what Is best. Let US see
which Is most profitable.
Assuming that IL costs $50 per year
each to keep a number of cows and that
each and all are pastured in the same
field, fed In the same barn, exactly the
same amount and kind of food, MIXED by
the same man, the cream SKINNED from
the milk Of each COW and churned sep
arately in the same churn, and sold at
the same price per pound; placing them
on exactly the same basis, each COW be-