Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-10-03
EXHAUSTION OF TIE SOIL.

Prof Z. H harrington Of Wisconsin
Agricultural College, in speaking Of
Soil Exhaustion, made a very interest
ing statement regarding the selling Of
dairy products from tie farm as com
pared with selling the grain produc
tons directly Of the farm. Here is
what he says:
There is a great difference in the
amount Of soil fertility removed from
the farm By. selling crops as compared
with the selling Of cream and butter
The constituents OF the soil that be
come most easily exhausted by farm
ing operations are the nitrogen. the
phOsphoric acid and the potash. These
each have a market value per pound
and can be bought in commercial fer
tilizers. They are also contained il
farm manure.
An analysis of different crops and
Of milk. butter and cheese will show
how much Of these various constitu
ents are removed from the farm wher
a certain quantity Of these products
are sold. For instance, by using ths
same prices per pound for the follow
ing crops, etc, We find that the fer
tilizing constituents taken from the
soil when one ton of hay is sold from
the farm have value of $4.34, one tor
Of corn 1886, one ton Of wheat $3.50
ore ton of milk $217, one ton Of skim
milk 1921, one ton of butter 40 cents
one ton of whey 81 cents, and one tor
Of cheese SAB. The value Of each
ton Of these different products is vel
known. For instance, the ton of hay
may be sold for $4,000, while the tor
Of butter is worth 100000 and a tor
of cheese $4,000. These figures show
however. that if the crops raised on
the farm are fed to the COWS and eth
er cream or butter only is sold, Their
for every 100000 worth Of butter only
so cents worth Of fertility is drawn
from the farm
In encouraging the farmers to en-.
gage in dairying, Prof. Harrington
says:
"Dairying keeps up the fertility OF
the soil as already explained
''SkimmiIk is very valuable to the
farmer not only for the reasons given
but because it is profitable for a far
mer to become a stock raiser-that is
raise calves, pigs, poultry, etc, rather
than a crop producer and a seller OF
grain.
DAIRY products, butter and cheese
are not bulky to market, being much
more concentrated and the cost Of
transportation less than it is for hay
grain, etc.
"Dairyirg utilizes waste land, such
as stony pastures, timber and swamp
land, which may be used for pasturing
the COWS if these are kept, but which
otherwise would give no returns.
"Dairying gives profitable employ
ment during the entire year and idle.
ness is not coed for either man or
beast"
A visit to the National Dairy Show
at Chicago, October oath to November
End next, will give every one a short
course in dairying that cannot be
equalled anywhere in the world, and
all such matters as here discussed by
Prof harrington will be illustrated by
the worlds experts in every branch OF
the dairy industry. Opportunities to
view the best representatives on
American soil Of the leading dairy cat.
tie, and meet the men who are devot-
ing their lives to the advancement of
the dairy industry is here afforded.
Everything will be shown in big.
broad, educational way that all may be
enabled to keep abreast of the most
modernmethods in appliances and the
best results in breeding and feeding
dairy cattle, and preparing for market
and the marketing Of all dairy prod,
Ucts. Adv.