El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-04
Systems Of Farm Management
Schultz Prof Agronony New Mexico NJ College


W. ]. SpiIlman, Of the bureau of
determine the systems of farming:
Condition of climate. proximity to
market, character of farm labor. soci-
ologic conditions, and soil
The last Of these factors in its re-
lation to productiveness is taken as
the basis of the classification, in which
the types Of farm management are
divided into: Cd livestock farming;
CD grain and hay farming; and (Sj
non-humus farming.
In the first of these the crop raised
and bought is fed upon the farm and
the manure is added TO the soil, while
little or no other fertilizer is used.
General livestock, dairy, and special
livestock farming are recognized as
subtypes, with market gardening
where city manure is used, considered
a type intermediate between livestock
and grain and hay farming. This lat
ter depends upon roots stubble, and
catch crops for it's humus and nitro
gen, and upon commercial fertilizers
for the mineral elements. It's ultimate
value is not yet fully understood.
Non-Hunus Farming.
The third, or nonhumus system Of
farming, makes no provision for the
maintenance of the humus supply, and
finally results in wornout or abandoned
farms
The second type is extensively used
on the irrigated lands of the west
where alfalfa and the salts and silt
of the water keep up the fertility. The
third typo. as well as the first pre-
walls in all parts Of the country, es-
pecially in those where one crop has
been found extraordinarily profitable
An interesting fact brought out is
that the amount Of fertilizer used in
a state or county is inversely proper
tional TO the amount of livestock
raised.
Diversity In Farming.
To show the diversity allowed on
farms that do not sell anything that
will rob them or fertility. Mr. Spillman
studied in detail general livestock
farm having beef raising as its spec
ialty; a strictly dairy farm; and one
engaged in feeding western range
lambs and flock of pure bred sheep.
The farm Of z. z. Chester, of Cham
paign county, Illinois, was studied as
an example of the first type. Horses,
for feeding purposes, and are fed from
pastures of blue grass, timothy and
clover on corn, wheat and oats An
elastic rotation is practiced that var
les with conditions of soil, seeding and
needs of stock
About 200 acres, or more than one
third Of the arabic land is. In pasture;
blue grass IN the permanent, and in the
temporary pasture timothy and clover
sod is used the third, fourth, and some
times the fifth years. Corn is the prin-
cipal cultivated crop, usually 40 acres,
part being planted where corn had
stood the year before, the remainder on
clover or timothy and clover sod The
same land is used two or three years
for corn; each fall about 20 acres are
put into wheat, and in the spring about
35 acres into oats with clover. Pure
clover remains down two years. mixed
with timothy four or five years
The Cattle Side Line.
Cattle, OF which there were seldom
less than 100 or more sold for breeding
purposes, and steers are bought and
fattened for market. Mr.. Chester has
gradually changed his herd to regis
tered stock and now a calf at weaving
time is valued at 500. He buys steers
weighing between 500 and 500 lbs.
feeds them economically on pasture,
corn stalks, clover hay and silage, ana
when they have reached the 1000 H.
mark they are given 40 pounds en-
silage, a peck of corn, and all the
clover hay they care for. During
March and April on this feed their in
crease averages three pounds a day;
then at the end of April and until June
they are put on blue grass with peck
of corn per day. The period of fatten-
Ing varies between 100 and 12O days.
About 100 hogs are kept and grain
fed except when following cattle on
feed. They are sold at goo pounds.
When the spring yield is old enough the
sows and pigs are put in the pasture
after the cattle.
Sells Horses.
Twice as many horses as are neces-
sary for the work are kept, the object
being TO make enough profit on those
sold to pay for the sustenance of those
needed To prepare them for market
they are given sufficient quantities
of clover hay and as much corn and
oats as they will eat. In substituting
green corn for dry, one dry ear daily
IS replaced by a green one. He thinks
that farmers should raise only draft
horses.
In Allan county Indiana, is located
the dairy farm of T. E. Ellison. which
was studied by Mr. Spillman in
this investigation. No regular rota-
ton is practiced; all the crops are fed
and more feed bought as required. An
area of los acres is devoted to blue
grass pasture and the manure is spread
as 1t is produced 1t is virtually a
dairy farm with 100 registered and
grade Jersey cows and rs young ami
mails, no breeding stock being sold.
The heifer calves are fed skim milk.
clover hay and blue grass pasture. Six
brood sows raising two filters each
enable him to market about 100 hogs
annually, they being sold at about
225 lbs. The pigs get hntterr,,ill-- "a M