The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-02-21

/ take 1t for granted that almost any
good farmer knows something about
the chemical effects Of barnyard fer
tilizers upon the soil but there are a
few of its mechanical effects that L
have noticed, especially on what we
call clay soil. BY reason OF Its coarse
ness it loosens the soil and makes 1t
easier to work. When used as top
dressing 1T shades the ground and pro-
tects 1t from the heats of summer and
the frosts Of winter.
am certain that the keeping OF
stock is the best and most practical
way of keeping up the fertility OF our
farms and causing them not only to
produce good crops but to continue to
grow better at the same time that we
are receiving fair return In hard
cash for the labor we beStOw. In my
own case when 1 first began farming l
farmed In the same manner that every
one else did, namely, raising wheat.
And made money at it, too, for prices
were good in those days. but as time
passed found that the crops began to
grow less. 1t was hard to get a catch
OF clover, the land was hard to work,
and In fact it was plain to be seen that
my farm was fast coming to the same
condition in which you see so many
rented and poorly managed farms. l
then began to increase my stock of all
kinds, and becoming very much inter
ested In certain breed of cattle,
have managed to gradually increase
them to about what 1 can handle fair
ly we'll with the amount OF land and
the facilities at my command.
The worst drawback to the business
of farming at the present time seems
to be the lack Of hired help. Wages
are not only high but help is almost
impossible to be got. Here is where
stock husbandry has the advantage
again as 1t requires much less labor to
care for stock than to raise crops for
market. To the young man just be-
ginning the business Of farming, l
would say keep stock, and again and
again keep all the stock you can, apply
to your soil all the fertilizer you can
obtain from feeding the grain and
coarse fodder you raise on your farm
and my word for it you will some day
see that the most profitable phase of
the live stock industry is in keeping
up the fertility of your soil.
The great cattle ranges of the west
are being taken up by actual settlers.
Our foreign markets are steadily in
creasing. Manufacturing establish
ments are starting up, more wOrkmen
are being employed at better wages
and everything seems to predict for
the future Of the live stock industry
much greater success than in the past.
But the breeder of live stock of any
kind must not expect that success will
come to him without effort on his part.
On the contrary in order to be sue
ceSsful In this as in any other calling
it requires patient persistent effort,
a determination to master all the de-
tails and above all, good sound bust
ness Judgment, and perseverance
enough to overcome the many OF
stacles he is sure to meet. Only
short time ago it seemed to be quite
certain that we were to have sugar
beet factory in this vicinity, land right
here l want to render my tribute of
praise to the business men Of OwosSo
for the splendid effort they made K
secure the same.) But If we are to
have sugar factory at any time in
the future, there is one thing certain,
If we raise beets we must have our
land in the very best Of condition.
Here again is where "the most profit
able phase Of live stock Eusbandry"
comes in. We are assured that the
business Of raising sugar beetS is most
profitable when carried on in connec-
tion with stock raising. AS the refuse
product Of the beet can be successfully
used for the feeding Of stock, it will
be but changing OF the old rhyme