The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-01-31
Diversified FARMING.
VEsrA. MINI, JAN. 26, '95.
FIRST PAPER.

said recently IN our papers on dlversl-
fed farming,and as most of the advice
has come from men farming in an edit
or's office,perhaps it would not be amiss
for some of those who actually farm
the soil to give their experience, so
that those who are turning from ex-
elusive wheat farming to something
else, may not go it altogether blind.
In the first place it should be under.
stood that it takes more capital for di-
versified farming than to raise wheat
alone, for in this climate it is abso-
lutely necessary to have good shelter
for all animals, whether hogs, sheep,
cattle or poultry, and lumber costs
money. 1t also takes money to buy
cows, hogs, ETC., and although these
may be cheap, lumber is high and the
almighty dollar, with which we must
purchase these things, is the highest
of all and the hardest to get.
The writer has had nearly 80 years
in diversified farming in
the United States, in six of which
dairying was prominent feature. He
can, therefore, speak from experience,
that best of all teachers. Taking the
dairy as subject to commence on, it
may be remarked that there are six
things necessary to success in this
branch of farming, viz: Good land,
good buildings, good COWS, good feed,
good labor and a good market. So far
as land is concerned I believe Red
wood county will compare favorably
with many other localities, but on ac-
count of our dry climate, more care
will be necessary to have crops to piece
out the pastures in late summer than
in a moister climate. As to buildings,
they need not be too elaborate or ex-
pensive but must be warm, we'll ven
tilated and convenient, or you might
as we'll put your feed in bottomless
pit as the pit of a cows stomach, for
if COW has to suffer with cold and
drink ice water you will look in vain
for profit in the operation. It is said
that for every sigh human being
heaves, a nail is driven in his coffin,
and per contra, every hearty laugh
pulls one out, so every comfort given
a dairy COW adds to the profits, and
every discomfort takes SO much off.
A very good shelter may be made out
of common lumber and poles. For a
building 26x 32x1 18 feet high, IA poles
% feet long for frame, with scantling
for girts, joists and rafters, l8 feet of
common lumber and battens for roof
and sides and some tarred felt to keep
out the wind, very good building can
be made both cheap and durable, and
in this building can be kept IA cows
with all the necessary feed and stall
or two for COWS coming in. In this
plan COWS would stand face to face
with a six feet alley for feeding and
ST feet behind for drop and clearing
stable. If any one would wish to build
after the above plan he can get all
particulars by applying to the writer.
For inside arrangement nothing is
cheaper, safer, cleaner and handler
than to stand your COWS on a raised
platform, fastened in the old fashioned
stanchions, but much has been writ
ten against their comfort for the cat
tie. In my own case used stanchions
with great satisfaction, and in per-
manent building for cows l should
use them again, and I thinkI have
seen most of the COW fastenings in
use. Their cleanliness, in my estima-
ton, offsets all the arguments brought
against them. To have good butter you
must have clean cows, and to have
clean cows you must have a clean
place for them to lie down in.
Our next step is the cow ,and most
important one it is. As the old lady
said to her daughter when instructing
her in the duties of married life, ::'you
must first catch the husband" so for
our dairy business,we must have COWS
and not female steers, and as man
with good judgment always looks out
y. S. Govt Report