The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1911-07-29
STOCK ON DRY FARM
Milk, Eggs and Meat Contribute
to Comfort of Family.
companionshlp of Animals lie Great
Factor In Developing Spirit OF
Country Life In Young Peo-
ple--No Idle Period.

the Dry Farming Congress BulisunD
Dry farming as carried on at the
present time is cold business propo-
sition. A visit to the average dry
farm reveals a lonesome, somewhat
gloomy situation; there are many
things lacking that are necessary to
make this home a desirable, pleasant
place to live. The wife-the mistress
of the home-feels this more than
anyone else. If she were raised where
fruits, vegetables and live stock were
grown. the lack of them to her now Is
keenly felt. No farm can be truly
home without live stock Milk, cream,
butter, cheese, eggs and various kinds
OF meat are necessary. These con-
tribute to the comfort and happiness
of the family. Furthermore, the COM
partnership of animals is a great fac
tor in developing the spirit of coun-
try life in young people. The lamb.
colt, calf. pig and chick all help to
make the country pleasant and at
tractive. The writer's most pleasant
1 recollection of his childhood days was
the comranionship of the farm ami
mails.
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 expendi-
lures and efforts of the whole year
are lost. With few mich cows, there
Is an income all the time; butterfat
Is sold to the creamery every day.
and 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 there
from Is usually sufficient to provide
the family with groceries. A few sheer
will furnish meat for the table and
cash at various times during the year
when the farmer 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 1t, and he can pay casl
and thereby secure many advantages
that cannot be secured by credit.
When the farmer keeps live stock
he can give employment the Who'll,
year. but on the grain farm there Il
q long period Of idleness during tn
winter season. Most desirable labo
cannot be secured when there lis
short period Of employment, and con
sequently the farmer has to put III
with low class Of farm hands, whicl
Is demoralizing to the young people o
the community. On the farm withou
live stock. production ceases durini
the winter season. while on the farm
containing live stock 1t continues tn
whole year, and because of II tn
community Is more prosperous.
The question of maintaining the fer
tility of the soil is important. TIL
time will come, though slower than i
humid climates, when the productiv
capacity Of the soil will be great
reduced, unless the plant food no,
being taken out is replaced. Som
crops remove a great deal from tn
soil. For instance, one ton of whes
removes 81 worth of fertility. Thi
is greatly In contrast to the amour
GO cents WORTHY removed In ton {
butter. In the raising Of live stool
the farmer must grow leguminou
plants that add fertility to the sol
as peas, clover and alfalfa About 8
+" per cent of the fertility constituent,
's of crops is retained on the farm whe
D. live stock is fed and the manure r
turned to the soil. BY growing leg
le minous plants and feeding live stocl
the fertility, to large extent, Is mai
tanned and depleted soils are rapid
built UP. This is impossible witho,
t live stock.
rs Before going into the Ave stoe
IS business too effectively. the farm,
lie must learn what kind of crops ca
a be profitably grown. This varies grea
W iy between and within the state
u, Some crops that can be grown su
as cessfully in Kansas and South Dako
ID would probably fail in Montana, al
le some that can be successfully grow
st IN one part of the state would fail
II another. Alfalfa. where It can |
is grown. is the best all around Gro
as It can be safely pastured by hogs al
n. horses. and is good feed in whit
as and summer for all kinds of animal
* even the chickens.
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