The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-05-18
MONEY IN D..ay!.G
Clooe Relation Between Grain
and Cattle Raising.
WIN Glover to Furnish Protein and
0orn Carbohydrate Material Cheap
Balanced Ration 10 6asily
Secured.
(By q. L. MARTIN.)

There appears to be close relation
between grain growing and live stock
raising In the northwest, which &C
counts largely for tho increased pop
ularity of dairying. Formerly the
whole northwest was a grazing coun'
try populated by thousands Of cattle
which each year supplied the eastern
markets. Then came the period OF
settlement which gradually reduced
the ranges and extended the boun'
dairy of cultivated areas. During the
period the live stock industry gradu-
ally gave place to extensive grain
farming. Much Of the land has been
cropped more or less continuously
ever since with the result that in
many places the virgin fertility of the
soil 10 so badly depleted that grain
growing 10 no longer practical nor
profitable.
Just now We are entering upon q
third stage-that Of diversified
farming. With constant cropping of
the soil grain yields have become
very low, and fields are extremely
conditions the farming methods must
change. Everywhere throughout the
grain region farmers realize this year
as never before that two things must
come to pass in order to insure profit
able grain yield and to rid the fields
Of weeds. These are crop rotation
and stock raising.
1t has been very strikingly demon
strated in many places the past sea-
son where grain crops have followed
some kind of cultivation that nearly
double the yield of grain was oh.
tanned This is especially true where
small grains succeeded the corn crop,
The cultivation of the corn serves as
a summer fallow to destroy weeds,
conserve moisture and prepare a mel
low seed bed for succeeding crops.
Likewise, 1t is found that crops fol-
lowing clqyer give much larger re-
turns. The deep penetrating clover
roots serve to loosen up the soil,
store up nitrogen and when these de-
cay leave the necessary humus to
prevent soil washing and teaching
and to serve as a sponge in retaining
the moisture. With these facts estab
lished as have been done in so many
places the past year, 1t should not
take the average farmer long to rec
ognize the value of crop rotation in
which corn and clover are large fac
tors.
The next thing is to decide upon
particular system of rotation that will
bring the soil back to a reasonable
state Of fertility, destroy weeds and
at the same time supply those grains
which will find the most profitable
market and furnish the most econom-
ical ration for live stock. The five
year rotation-wheat, corn, wheat,
barley-clover, then clover-f1ts read
lily into the average farming scheme
and is we'll adapted TO northwestern
conditions. In this rotation 10 grown
three small grain crops that flnd a
ready continuous market and two
crops which furnish an ideal ration
for live stock. The object with most
farmers IL to increase the yield per
acre Of small grain, especially that
of wheat, which Is tho most valuable
small grain crop in the northwest.
With this five-year rotation each
wheat crop follows crop Of corn or
clover that puts the land in the very
best filth by destroying weeds, pre-.
pairing a seed bed and conserving the
soil moisture.
With these crops being used in the
rotation brings up the question OF
what live stock will utilize the corn
and clover with the best ec6nomy
and profit There is but one logical
answer-the dairy COW. Already in
many sections corn is being raised in
quantities even to the Canadian boun.
dairy. Many varieties mature we'll in
the average season, making ideal 81
lage and fodder corn. 1t is much
richer in protein than corn grown far
Their south, while the stalks do not
grow too rank to be relished by the
animals. On many forms the past
year where corn was put into the silo
the dairy COWS are making . profit
and no shortage of feed is expert
enced. -"s
Where the farmer can saise all OF
the feed for his stock much larger
profit can be realized. This is the
case in the northwest With clover
to furnish the protein and corn the
carbohydrate material, the dairyman
has cheap balanced ration which lie
easily handled, healthful, nutritive
food, and conducive to large milk
flow. The profits in any line Of farm.
ing depend upon economy Of produc'
ton coupled with quick, safe and
continuous return. With the urgent
necessity Of crop rotation and the
growing popularity of corn as one Of
the main farm crops, the dairy COW
is destined to become popular ard
profitable animal On the farms of the
northwest.
Exceedingly Useful Birds.
It IL claimed that the quiet dispo |
sftion and steady habits Of the Black /