Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-03-01

ing, which is one OF the things essential to
successful farming
Farmers everywhere should organize
themselves into clubs and discuss farm
subjects and exchange ideas thus broad
ening their minds and giving them more
for "outhusiasm il the genius
of success and truth, and accompanies no
victories without IT,
One Of the most important subjects
which ,hodld occupy the attention OF
farmers is how 10 lessen The cost of pro-
duciion. How can We grow larger and
better crops without increasing their cost?
How can we make fair income or "A mere
living? Nothing will lessen the cost Of
production more than thorough draining,
tile draining where possible, but tins
should be done in the best possible man
ner Too much care can not be
taken in laying tile drains to have the
grade accurate especially in the low and
level land we have in most parts Of our
county If the grade is not true. but
some tiles lower than others they will
soon fill with sediment thus making the
capacity of the tile less, or entirely stop
ping it. Thorough, accurate work in put
ting in tile is what pays as well as with
anything else Aay one having tile 10 lay
will do well to read what +. b Terry
says in oar Farming on tile draining,
or w j. Chamherlain's book on the same
subject, and then profit by their expert
ence. To lessen the cost Of production
by raising large crops, we must have our
ground rich How to keep up and in
crease The fertility Of our soil is a problem
for every farmer. Glover properly han
died will probably do more toward solv
ing that problem than any one thing. Do
we all know or realize the immense value
clover is to us? Do we know what it is
worth TO US in dollars and cents? If not
study and find out and then act accord
ingly More might be said Of clover; but
this is theme by itself, and expect will
be ably discussed this afternoon.
Hand in hand with clover is
applying and saving Of manure.
This is one of the many wastes
on many farms. Are we making
and carefully saving and applying manure
to our farmsI If not, little thought car
be put on this subject. How many are oblig
ed or do throw their manure out against the
side of the barn TO heat and burn and &c
leach away during wet weather, thus los
ing half Of its value How many are say
ing the liquid manure from all their ami
mails? Chemists tell rs that the liquid
manure contains nearly as much plant
food as the solid, yet | am certain many
farmers are letting most of this waste
through cracks in the floor, or through
holes made for the purpose Of getting il
out of the way. If we wish to attain any
thing of success these leaks must be stop
ped, and to do so will require thought and
labor
Thorough tillage is another grand essen
tial toward lessening the cost of produc.
ton. Far better is it TO thoroughly work
less ground and secure large crops. than
TO run over lot of ground and not get
half a crop. Thorough tillage at the
proper time, not only renders much more
plant food available and insures better re.
suits TO the immediate crop, but also will
be of much value TO the succeeding crops
Much more might be said IN regard to
lessening the cost of production. but tile
clover manure, aud tllage are d grand
four horse team, and if properly managed
will surely lead to success.
However we cannot leave this subject
without saying word in regard TO feed
ing. Do we understand enough about
the principles Of feeding2 Are we feed
ing our stock so as TO get the most posi-
BILE gain out of our feed? OF are we feed
ing whatever is handest, without any
thought as to whether all the feed will b,
utilized by the ANIMALS A penny saved
is penny earned and many might b,
saved right in this line, had we thorough
knowledge of foods and feeding and prac
ticed it,
There are so many places for leaks and
wastes that will take away the profits o
farming, that we will have to be on on
guard constantly to avoid them. Don
sayiwe can not stop them. The farmer
who are making anything of fair ncom
have practically stopped them; so can yo1
and |, but it will require thought am
work to do so. Were our workshops ant
factories run on such unbusiness like ant
unsystematized methods as the majority o
our farms, they would surely 90 under
but everything that can be is utilized, an,
the would be wastes and leaks are turnet
into source of income, thus giving then
success instead Of failure. SO it should b
on our farms, we must carefully waite
the little things and make them sourc
Of profit, rather than that Of loss.