The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-02-21
Adopt System of Cropping That
Will Bring in the Coin.
Railroad Earnings Are Likely to
Show Cut for a Year.
Skunks Are Money Producers;
What's Done in Maine.
Especial to The Free Press.1

st. Paul, Feb. l9.-When it is re-
membered that 10000 head of cattle
find their way from the northwest in
to Iowa and Illinois every year to be
fed and sold at profit in Chicago,
and that about 10000 worth of dead
carcasses are shipped into Minnesota
alone, it is evident that the north
west is losing large sum of money
annually to the cattle feeders of Hi
nois and Iowa. Attention is being di
rected to this condition of things
in st. Paul and the question is being
asked, how can the intelligent farmer
work his land, and what system of
cropping can he adopt in order to
keep it in a high state of fertility
so that he can raise enough grain to
fatten the cattle which are raised
in the northwest and so put into
his pockets the profits which are find
ing their way into the pockets of
the southern cattle feeders. That this
desirable condition of things can be
brought about has been demonstrated
by the Agricultural College of Mime
sofa. If only the rank and file of
farmers can be prevailed upon to
adopt the most modern methods not
only would they become richer but
the northwest would add about
$6,OO0,O00 a year to it's income.
Regarding Railroad Earnings.
T. T ho 10
of st. Paul, believes that there will be
a decrease in railroad earnings this
coming summer, but he is of opinion
that this decrease will not affect the
parts of the country reports are COM
ing in that industrial conditions are
improving, and it is certain that in
the northwest the farmers will plant
as much wheat this year as ever. The
Great Northern railway reports a
large increase in its gross earnings for
January. The comparison is made with
the corresponding month of last year,
when the road was severely handi-
ped by the severity of the weather.
Milking the Ant.
Secretary Wilson of the United
States department of agriculture has
the reputation of being an industrious
Investigator of schemes. Some years
ago he discovered that by grating
honey bees on to tightening bugs he
could keep up a constant supply of
honey day and night. Few apiarias
took this statement seriously, but
now the same authority asserts that
certain kinds of bees have method
of milking certain kinds of ants.
''There is nothing sensational about
bee milking an ant, when you think
of it." said an apiarist in st. Paul,
s'the bees and ants, for all we know,
are just as much surprised when they
see human being milking a goat or
cow" The subject is certainly an
interesting one, and apiarists will
probably think of Solomon's advice:
Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider
her ways, and be wise.
Skunks as Money Producers.
Furs are not likely to depreciate
in value, and skunk has always been
more or less popular. The statement
that skunk farm has been estab-
lished in some locality has always
been received with derision on account
of the odium with which skunk
is held when alive. But there is quite
difference between skunk alive
and a skunk dead and stripped of its
pretty fur. Why the raising of skunks
should not be carried on scientifically
has not been demonstrated, and as the
business promises large amount OF
profit number of young men resid-
inc in Duluth have decided to operate
skunk farm in the neighborhood
of Beaver bay. The state of Maine
derives revenue of from $l25,OOO to
$4,000 a year from the skunk in
dustry. Fully $4,000 gallons of skunk
oil are raised every year in that state
and there is steady demand for 1t
on account of the curative properties,
it is said to have for rheumatism.
An average skunk produces one quart
of oil, and the fur or skin always
commands a good price. Skunks are
always as prolific as guinea pigs, and
can live on as little as any known
animal except the goat.