Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-04-29

how the western farmer wants to
steer clear of live stock. He will
rather grow alfalfa under irrigation
and sell it. He will readily undertake
to grow potatoes. lie does not need
persuasion to induce him to 20 into
the growing Of fruit. But when is
the growing Of live stock going to he
ovprtlone?
The cry has gone ont that meat il
high. Consumers have begun boy
colt against the use of meats. But
what is going to make the price Of
meats lower? Why should they 70
down? What is going to bring them
down? can readily see why the
price Of coarse grains may come down.
| can see why the price Of fruits and
potat oes and alfalfa may come down.
Increase the production beyond the
demand and they must come down.
Potatoes in some parts Of Montana
are drug ut the present time. In
the Bitter Root valley in the Huntley
project near Billings, and in other
places. the potato crop is a drug to-
day.
Why should not the same happen in
regard to meat? For the reason, first
that the population of the United
States is increasing much more rap
idly than meat supplies. Congress is
trying to find out why meat is SO
dear. The most important reason is
that the supply is not equal to the de-
mand. This, however, is not the on
ly reason. Second, the fact that
western farmers have an aversion to
growing live stock will be important.
1t will limit the number of farmers
who will take up the work. Third,
more skill is required to make Il sue
cess OF this line Of work than Of or
binary farming, and this will deter
many from engaging in the work.
1t is exceedingly probable, there
fore, even to the extent of being a
certainty that the prices of live st ,ck
will MAINTAIN present values more sure
ly than the prices Of other commodi.
ties. Of course it would not be cor
rect to say that these prices will not
fluctuate. A financial crisis would
send them downward, but it is fair to
infer that it would not send them
down 50 low, relatively, as the prices
OF other products. AS l see this
question, the surest lines of produc-
ton in the future will he the growing
of beef, mutton, pork, milk, batter,
cheese and poultry.
Live Stock on the Western Bench Lands
That winter wheat can be success
fully grown on the bench lands of the
west is now generally conceded by
those who have given much tin ought
to this problem. That flax can be
grown OH these lands when properly
grown is generally conceded. The
same holds true of other grains, at
least some other grains. The thought
is prevalent, however, that when the
bench lands are broken up, this is 60
ing to mean the end Of keeping live
stock on such lands. do not sympa-
thize with that view. believe that
more live stock will be grown upon
the bench lands than when the whole
OF these were devoted to grazing.
But this will not be done until the
methods Of farming these lands find
some adjustment. This adjustment
will take time.
Why do think that these lands will
keep more live stock than formerly?
For the reason first, that these lands
can be made to produce from and
one half to tons OF alfalfa per acre
per year when the alfalfa is properly
grown. Because these bench lands
may be made to produce from tos
tons of cured fodder corn per acre.
Because they can be made to grow
grain such as live stock need and in
large quantities when grown right.
This means that the production of the
tluS Will Ut several
times the production that was obtain
ed from grasses alone in the days OF
The pasture supply is somewhat
more difficult. But it is pretty GER
tain that such grasses as bronze. west
prn rye and alfalfa sown together
will make good pasture. 1t will also
be found probable that pasture OBJ
tanned from winter rye will be val
liable. The rye will be sown in the
early summer. 1t will be grazed
when ready and until the advent of
winter. 1t will then be grazed if de-
sired. the following spring. or it may
be allowed to furnish grain. In any
event it should furnish Il large
amount OF pasture.
If cattle are to be grown on these
In rms for meat the aim should he to