The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-12-13
And Once Again
The Dear Bossy

Farmers Who are Best OFT Now are
Those Who Own Cows and Pa
tronize Creamery
Last spring we had occasion to know
of number of farmers seeking loans
for the avowed purpose of buying cows.
says the Ryder Journal. The past two
years of adversely caused thoughts of
other than sole dependence on grain
besides, it was noted that such of the
farmers who were marketing from $25
to $50 month in cream checks were
those who best withstood that lean
period, to saying nothing of their better
in a general way. Bank
ers, machine men and others here
familiar with the farmers financial
condition, speaking generally, say you
can pick those best off by knowledge
of those who do or do not pay attention
to cows; that dairying is an index to
their financial statutes. This may be
some, but that there is a
measure of truth in the statement is
true beyond doubt. We have now
secured good crop so that many un-
able to purchase cows last spring can
do so this fall if of a mind-but are
they? 1t is easy to forget the pinch of
necessity in the face. of the easier
money had by good grain yield, but
seems to us now is the time to talk of
cows when there are means to obtain
them, the time for every farmer to at
least make start in obtaining the herd
of cows necessary to placing this
country in condition to meet repeti-
tion of 10 and IL. 1t may not happen
again in five years or ten years, but
happen again it will as sure as the years
come and go. A half dozen cows to a
family on quarter of land-the cream
and by-products-it is said by farmers
of experience will provide the family
necessaries of living other than that
the farm provides, and this. it must be
remembered, is wholly aside the >prin-
cipal business of grain growing-all to
the honey, SO to speak. When every
farm in this section is equipped with a
half dozen or more cows. its future is
absolutely assured, just as the rich
agricultural portions of Illinois, Iowa
and Wisconsin have in time been
metamorphosed from a condition like to
our own into independence and wealth.
Incidental to this stability of income
rose the tremendous value in land
stability of income; that, and that alone,
is why choice land in those states COM
mands six to ten times the sale value
our own. Innately our land is as good
as the highest-priced Illinois land, will
raise as much per acre in fodder or
marketable value, but the farmers there
long ago learned it was unwise t. put
all their eggs in one basket, and even
learned to scramble eggs was the
better plan. So from grain raising to
cows from cows. teherses, and into
select, pedigreed stock Of every kind
they slowly and painstakingly groped
their way into wealth and affluence,
there being farms in central Illinois
that can't be purchased for $500 an
acre, equivalent to saying they cannot
be had at any price. By dwelling on
this instance of agricultural success
there is intent only to point the way in
commencement, and that commencing
consists in every farmer keeping half
dozen or more cows. Far-fetched, you
say? Not unless you can conjure this
section say fifty years from now. Only,
what the Illinois farmers, by hard
knock, handed down from generation to
generation, learned we can learn at
once, if we have the perspicuity to
avail ourselves Of their experience.
What was true Of Illinois will be true
here. The one single step taken that
win mark we are alive to history taught
and opportunity offered will be when
our farmers assure income through by
products such as cattle, horses. hogs,
sheep, etc. Then will they gain the un-
earned increment in its bloom the
rapid and constantly ascending value Of
farm lands.
sanitarium . Opened