The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-23
AGRICULTURAL
DAKOTA FARMING.

A Pioneer Teels How 1t Is Done and
How 1t Ought to BE DOne-Dfver-
sity of Crops and stock the Way
to Better Results.
That there is some silver lining behind
the cloud that drouth and cheap wheat
has thrown over South Dakota farming
is evident from a communication in the
Northwestern Agriculturalists. The writer
says:
Although South Dakota has suffered
greatly from drouth the past season, stlll
have all confidence in our state, and do
not know of any place where farmer OF
moderate means could go to better. ms
prospects for the future.
Cnder the present condition of things 1t
seems If we have right to complain
little of the hard times, yet, when we look
back and see how it was with our fathers
when they settled in Michigan, Wisconsin
and other heavily timbered states. how
they came from the East and built their
little log huts in the woods, and went to
work to clear the land and they would
seem to be happy If they could clear from
one to five acres the first year.
They would take an AK and strike the
blade into the ground among the stumps
and roots ard drop in few kernels OF
corn thus planting an acre or two, ana
raise corn to fatten their pigs.
If they worked day for neiehbor they
got a bushel of wheat 30 cents. Ihelr
furniture home made and little OF II,
still they were happy, for they had piece
of land and il was home. me most OF
these men lived out their days on Their
farms, and by being careful ana econom-
cal, grew up with the country, and at the
end of % years all they had was their
land and stock around them
Farmers. how is ii with us of South Da-
kota? We came here from five 10 n1teen
years ago; some with money ana many
without, but all looked upon this bcautlul
state with about the same eyes
Some came to make home, but more
came to make fortune, and they said to
themselves as they looked over this beau
tifuI prairie: IF | can only turn over TINS
sod and SOW it in wheat, | can make more
money in five years than father has made
in lifetime. The experiment was tried
and it failed. The seasons changed, the
price of wheat went down and thousands
became discouraged.
Now, farmers, let US learn from this; we
have object lesson before us. we see,
where we look over Dakota, some who
diversified their farming an did not make
wheat the ONLY crop. Such men find
have made better homes and accumulated
more property here in Dakota in eight or
ten years than their fathers did in life
time in the timbered land of the East.
From this let us learn. Let raise a
variety of crops and let the main crop be
stock of whatever kind fancy.
The buffalo and antelope formerly ranged
over this country in wild herds. This alone
shows that Dakota is a natural stock coun-
try
Farmers, let us all keep more stock. Get
few head of whatever kind of stock You
fancy and grow it. Get the best, and when
] say the best l do not mean pampered
stock at fancy prices, but l mean get well
bred stock, then give it good care and
plenty of feed, and you will find that you
have something that will make YOU a good
1t,.;,a - bnI1t h1r 1
My fancy is sheep and horses. A few
good sheep with good care will soon in
crease to a large flock, and although wool
is on the free list it will still pay to keep
them, and, according to all indications, it
will soon pay better than it does at present
| believe our state is destined to be one
of the leading states Of the Union.
In keeping stock, especially sheep, oul
grass, cur climate, facilities to get tc
market, the usefulness of the sheep a
weed destroyer. compacting the soil and
manuring it. all tend to make sheep raising
one of the leading industries of the North
west, and especially South Dakota.
My opinion is that any man who starts
now with 30 100 good feeding ewes, and
makes it point to care for them and
breed them properly, can, in a few years
have a flock around him that will support
his family and himself very nicely, with
but little labor aside from caring for his
flock.
The trouble with us is here: We have too
much room. We look over the beautiful
lay of land around us and it is almost inn
possible to resist the temptation to cult
vate all we can see. We must get over this
inclinatio and hold ourselves in check
Cultivate fewer acres and do it better
Raise little of everything on the farm and
keep more stock.
We cannot change in a moment, but We
can grow to it slowly and surely, and wher
we have done this / believe there will bt
less grumblng and fault-tindng and more
pleasant, happy homes.
Let us make up our minds we are build
ing home for ourselves and our children
after us, and let us strive to make it as
beautiful and attractive as our means vii
admit, and, above all. let us be conten
with our lot and all will so we'll