The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-12-28
COUNTING THE COST OF FARMING

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The harvest IL over and farmers arc In
n position TO nov pretty well II the oper-
atoms Of the past year have been profit
able. In some sections crops have been
partial failures. In others some crops have
been no good that prices rule exceedingly
low but. taking tho country through.
farmers should have had a prosperous
year. IL not what has been the trouble.
One thing worthy OF serious thought Is
whether one 70 wearing Qll his taIpi Tbs
Is quite likely TO 10 TIE Case In the older
states. II the crops have been satisfactory.
have We, In groMing them. furnished TO
the soil enough fertility 10 grow tho crop
and Still return TO the soil the plant food
which Il contained before the seed was
sownH IL not. we may consider that Just
80 much we have taken from tho vitality
OF tho soil and that. In consequences, the
next crop viii be c~orrespondingly smaller.
OF course there are some exceptions 20
this N for example. Assume that by un-
usual cultivation We nave released an ox-
cCptionally amount OF tho potash tn the
soil and made Il available for plant food:
IL would not DO necessary, under such cir
cumstances, to replace that potash In
chemical form, Indeed. we might not
apply any potash ut all and yet. tho second
year. BY still continuing the plan OF cul-
ovation release enough more potash for
another crop. While old time farmers.
like the writer. thoroughly believe In the
old rule OF making the farm grow every
thing needed for the living OF the family
(foodD and stock before planning to sell
any art OF che crops. condition may
change. this rule slightly. one would not
be Justified In raising hay for one or two
animals when the soil would bring him n
much better return II Il grew Strawberries.
for example. Al this season OF rest each
OF us should carefully look over tho past
and search for the mistakes quite as
earnestly as for the successes.
FEEDING THE IDLE HORSE.
The farm horse who has practically
nothing TO do during the months OF winter
In a costly proposition TO feed n no must
be kept on tho regulation ration. IL ~
really more profitable 20 Ind some work
for tho animal TO do which will enable one
to AFFORD full r~ations. ns In the summer,
for then the horse IL likely TO DO In much
better shape TO take up tho spring work.
OF course " ono Is located where the horse
can be on pasture more or less during tho
winter months the cost OF wintering the
animal IL materially reduced. In colder
sections ono must rely on the sheltered
yard To- give the horse needed exercise and
largely on the grain one has: do not at
tempt TO keep the horse through the win
ter on roughagc alone for the plan will
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In the spring which viii be n costly expert
mcnt. Horses are not fed nearly tho guam
tity OF roots they should have and those
who winter idle animals will find II profit
able 20 grow roots especially for them 10
feed with tho grain ration. In h alb
soncs OF roots, OF meal bran or some
| similar article which Will keep tho dlges-
tive organs In good condition must be n
part OF the daily ration. one can get
along very nicely on feeding considerable
roughaRe and corn II considerable bran or
root crops il also used. Remember too.
that good grooming and a clean light
stable will do much toward keeping the
animal IN good health and help TO enable
him to enjoy the rouEhage.
PIANO BOX POULTRY HOUSES.
New lumber u very high In price and
likely 10 DO higher so that poultrymen and
farmers are put TO all sorts OF make-shlfts
To one who lives near a large town or city
the problem OF providing lumber for small
structures IL easily solved for boxes OF
various sizes may be bought for much less
thar the original cost or the lumber In
them. Upright plano boxes are usually
sold at s. each new but any plano dealer
with u surplus OF boxes on hand will ID
glad TO sell them for much less than ths
sum named. A practical poultry house
may be built OF four upright plano boxes
in this manner. The backs and ends
] which come together are removed togcthci
with two OF the tops. The two remaining
tops are enclosed at the middle end OF tn,
house and at the front and n small door
made In the gable end OF one. which por'
tion OF the house IL used for the storage
OF grain. See figure 4 In tho drawing. A