The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-12-29
why SOUTH DAKOTA
FARMER is REJOICING
Difficulty Encountered by Earl,
Pioneer Has Been Long
Overcome.
ARE ALL PROSPEROUS


Of Keeping Many a Farmer on
His Claim or Farm and Help
ing the Cattle Business.
Aberdeen, S. D., Dec. 2s.-The past
twenty years has seen northern South
Dakota grow from a traclless prairie
into one of the finest farming sections
of the union. The South Dakota pio-
neer had a vast number of things to
contend with. He had a vast deal TO
learn about South Dakota soil and cli-
mate and a great deal to unlearn con-
cerning farming operations which he
had been taught in the section from
whence he came
Hard Lot Of Farmer.
While the South Dakotan was learn
ing those lessons he suffered. Inn
bued as he was at first with the firm
idea that the only way to riches as an
agriculturist was through raising
wheat, it took several crop failures to
teach him that wheat raising should
not be the sole dependence of the South
Dakota farmer. At first he secuted the
idea of rising corn in South Dakota. In
the first place he did not believe that
corn could be successfully grown in the
state; in the second place, he consid-
cred wheat raising so much easier a
method of earning a livelihood that he
Gid not care to devote the time and
hard work necessary to raise a crop of
corn. Those farmers who did attempt
10 raise corn persisted in buying seed
from localities much farther south and
as a consequence the crop did not ma
ture in time to escape the early frosts.
Time and experience, however, have
remedied these matters.
Seed Better AccIimated,
The more progressive farmers discov-
cred that by planting northern grown
seed of quickly maturing varieties it
was possible TO produce corn that
would mature and be in shape to gath
er before frost. With this discovery,
which, strangely enough, was made
1irst in the central and northern parts
of the state. instead of in the southern
section, the area devoted to corn pro-
duction has constantly broadened until
this year the northern counties of the
stale We're dotted with corn fields, and
the farmer who places his dependency
upon Wheat alone no longer exists.
10 Not Ship Corn.
While northern and central South
ton, it is not corn shipping country.
Practically every ear Of corn grown in
South Dakota is fed on the farms and
shipped to the big city markets in the
shape of hogs and cattle.
In this way the farmer realizes every
cent possible out of his corn crop.
For instance j. and S. Geyer, pro-
gressive farmers living near Frederick,
this year raised a 55-acre field Of corn
which they fed to eighty head of steers.
The steers We're weighed in at the time
feeding began and weighed out again
when sold and the Geyers found that
they had received $3.50 per acre for
yxy{11
derive from bunch of hogs which fol-
lowed the steers.
When the fact is considered that the
land upon which the corn was raised
is valued at but little more than $50
an acre, the profit in corn raising in
northern South Dakota is easily seen,
when ordinary care and intelligence is
displayed.
A farmer near Highmore, under SIM
liar circumstances, realized $11.25 per
acre from his corn crop, and many SIM
liar instances are noted.
Creamery Helps Farmers.
Another thing that has tended to
state prosperous is the existence Of the
creamery. In practically every town in
the northern half OF the state cream
cry f1ourishes.
Every farmer has at least q few
COWS, and cream is quite generally sold
10 luel CTc1IIlcIy NI PIlCeS WHICH make
the industry exceedingly profitable to
the farmer.
Checks are issued monthly for the
cream purchased, an devery farmer is
assured of steady monthly income,
regardless of crop conditions.
The creamery industry has proven
the salvation of the farmer in more
than one instance.
Ten years ago, for instance, the par
tial failure of the wheat crop which
occurred last year would have proven
an unmitigated calamity. Last year,
because the South Dakota farmer no
longer carries all his eggs in one basket,
the wheat failure, While discouraging.
did not materially affect the general
prosperity of farmers in this section.
Advantage Of Artesian Wells.
The artesian system, too, has added
millions to the wealth OF the northern
part of the state.
Edmunds county alone has over 200
artesian wells and other counties are
nearly as we'll equipped.
The artesian wells have changed, in
a very large degree, the climate of the
country. From the surplus water
small lakes and brooks have been
formed, which, in many places. have
become the resort of wild fowl and pro-
vide ideal hunting grounds.
But they have performed more inn
pOrtant part IN the development OF the
state. for, since the advent of the ar
tesian well the rainfall has become
much more plentiful and total crop
failure is unknown.
With diversified crops, artesian wells
and the creamery. the farmer of north
ern South Dakota has become inde-
pendent. Hessives in a neat we'll
painted, comfortably arranged farm
house, and his wife enjoys the convent
CT I'm he, S.it of
having running water in the house
thanks, again, to the artesian we'll; he
has large barns. blooded horses and
cattle, and in all particulars is as well
fixed as the farmers in older states
where land is higher priced. That land
is rapidly increasing in value is shown
by the fact that in Mcpherson county
q halt section which sold two years aG0
for $500 was sold again last week Tor
5000.