Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-12-23
Live Stock Upon
the Dry Farm.
BY Professor r. w. Clark, Mon
tana Agricultural College.
j. J. j. + !. J. J. !. ]. !. J. j. J. j.

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Dry farming as carried on at the
present time is a cold business propo.
sition. A visit to the average dry farm
reveals a lonesome. somewhat gloomy
situation; there are many things lack
ing that are necessary to make this
home desirable, pleasant place to
live. The wife. the mistress of the
home. feels this more than anyone
else. II she We're raised where fruits.
vegetables and live stock were grown,
the lack Of them to her now is keeply
telt No farm can be truly home
without live stock. Milk. cream, but.
ter, cheese, eggs and various kinds Of
Meat are nece sSary. These contribute
to the comfort and happiness of the
family. Furthermore the companion
ship Of animals is great factor in de-
veloping the spirit OF country life in
young people. The lamb, colt, calf,
pig and chick all help to make the
country pleasant and attractive. The
writer's most pleasant recollection OF
mis- childhood days was the companions
ship of the farm animals
There are other reasons than the
one mentioned why live stock should
be kept on every dry farm. Grain is
The main dry crop. The farmers eggs
are all in one basket" Grain is his
only source OF income and if storm and
insects take it. the expenditures and
efforts OF the whole year are lost
With few milch cows, there is an
dncome all the time; butterfat is sold
TO the creamery every day and a few
calves can be vealed and disposed Of
to the local butcher. A few hens will
pick up great deal Of waste grain
that otherwise would be entirely lost
and the revenue therefrOm Is usually
sufficient to provide the family with
groceries. few sheep will furnish
meat for the table and cash at various
times during the year, when the farm
or has no wheat to sell. The same
is true when there are horses, beef,
cattle and hogs TO sell. They provide
an income when the farmer needs it
and be can pay cash and thereby SO.
cure many advantages that cannot be
secured by credit
When the farmer keeps live stock he
can give employment the whole year,
but ON the grain farm there is a long
period OF id!eness during the winter
season. Most desirable labor cannot
be secured when there is short
period OF employment and consequent.
~ the farmer has to put up with
low class of farm hands. which is de-
moralizing to the young people Of the
community. On the farm without live
stock. production ceases during the
winter season. while on the farm con-
tanning live stock it continues the
whole year ana because of it the COM
munity is more prosperous
The question Of maintaining the fer
,ility of the soil is important. The
time will come. though slower than in
humid climates. when the productive
capacity OF the soil will be greatly re-
duced, unless the plant food now be-
ing taken ont is replaced. Some crops
remove great deal from the SOIL for
instance. one ton of wheat removes
$40 worth of fertility. This is greatly
In contrast to the amount $50 cents
WORTHY removed in a ton of butter
In the raising OF live stock. the farmer
must grow leguminous plants that add
fertility to the soil. as peas. clover and
alfalfa. About so per cent of the fer.
tilizing constituents of crops is re-
tained on the farm. when live stock is
Ted and the manure returned To the
soil BY growing leguminous plants
and feeding live stock the fertility. to
q large extent is maintained and de
pleted soils are rapidly built up. This
is impossible without live stock.
Before going into the live stock bust
ness too extensively, the farmer must
learn what kind of crops can be prof
itably grown. This varies greatly be.
tween and within the states Some
crops that can be grown successfully
in Kansas and South Dakota would
probably fail in Montana and some
that can be successfully grown in one
part OF the state would fail in another
Alfalfa. where 1t can he grown is the
best all around crop. II can he safely
pastured by hogs and horses. and is a
good feed in winter and summer for
all kinds of animals. even the chick
ems 1t cannot be safely pastured by
cattle, or sheep. as 1t may cause bloat.
but 1t can lie cnt. allowed 10 wilt and
IT, fed to them viii safety. B.on!e