Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-01-04
COUNTING THE COST OF FARMING

AO idA NSSl IL ONGI aiQ AIo III
a position to know pretty well II the oper-
ations Of the past year ave been profit
able. In some sections crops have been
partial failures. in others some crops have
been SO good that prices rule exceedingly
low but, taking the country through.
farmers should have had . prosperous
year. II not what has been the trouble.
One thing worthy Of serious thought Is
whether one 10 wearing out his farm; this
10 quite likely to be the case In the older
states. II the crops have been satisfactory.
have We. In growing them. furnished to
the soil enough fertility to grow tho crop
and still return to the soil the plant food
which It contained before the seed was
sown? II not, We nay consider that just
so much we ave taken from the vitality
OF the soil and that, in consequence. the
next crop will DO correspondingly smaller.
OF course there are some exceptions to
thiC as for example. Assume that by un-
usual cultivation We " released an ex-
c~eptionally amount Of tho potash In the
soil and made It available for plant food:
1t would not be necessary. under such cir
cumstances. to replace that potash In
chemical form. Indeed. We might not
apply any potash at all and yet, the second
year. by still continuing the plan Of cul-
tivatton release enough more potash for
another crop. While old time farmers.
like the writer, thoroughly believe In the
ONA A0AS AZ In HC a III wv =
thing needed for the living OF the family
Qood) and stock before planning to sell
any part OF the 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 a
much better return II 1t grew strawberries,
for example. At this season of rest each
of us should carefully look over the past
and search for the mistakes quite as
earnestly as for the successes.
FEEDING THE IDLE HORSE.
Tho farm horse h has practically,
nothing to do during the months of winter
is a costly proposition to feed II he must
be kept on the regulation ration. 1t Is
really more profitable to find some work
for the animal to do which will enable one
to afford full %rations, as in tho summer.
for then the horse is likely to be in much
better shape to a up the spring work.
OF course II one is located where the horse
can be On pasture more or less during the
winter nlNnths the cost Of wintering the
animal is materially reduced. In colder
sections one Maust rely on the sheltered
yard to give the horse needed exercise and
largely on tho grain one has: do not at
tempt to keep the horse through the win
ter on roughage alone for the plan will
only result In having a rundown animal
In the spring which will be q costly expert
ment. Horses are not fed nearly the guam
tity OF roots they should ave and those
who winter idle animals will find II profit
able to grow roots especially for them to
feed with the grain ration. In che ah-
sence OF roots. oil meal bran or some
similar article which Will keep the digcs-
tive organs in good condition must be y
part Of the daily ration. Ono can get
along very nicely on feeding considerable
roughage and corn II considerable bran or
root crops is also used. Remember too,
hat good grooming and q clean light
stable will do much owa keeping the
animal in good health a;,t help to enable
him to enjoy the roughage.
PIANO BOX POULTRY HOUSES.
New lumber Is very high in price and
likely to be higher so that poultrymen and
farmers are put to all sorts Of make-shifts.
To one who lives near a largo town or city
the problem OF providing lumber for small
structures Ia easily solved for boxes Of
various sizes may be bought for much less
h the original cost OF the lumber in
them. Upright piano boxes are usually
sold at IS each new but any plano dealer
with a surplus Of boxes on hand will be
glad to sell them for much less thar tho
sum named. A practical poultry house
may be built OF four upright plano boxes
in this manner. Tho backs and ends
which come together arc removed together
with two Of the tops. The two remaining
tops are enclosed at the middle end of the
house and at the front and a small door
made in the gable end Of one, which por-
ton OF the house Is used for the storage
Of grain. See figure 4 in the drawing. A