Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-12-17

generally improved and crops which
were not only adapted to producing
a large flow of milk, but would built
up the soil fertility at the same
time, were raised. Today Mr.. Mel
son has many visitors from other
states, among whom may be men
toned the largest dairymen in the
! United States. These visitors come
to the farm for the purpose of see
| ing this excellent herd Many in
stances of this same nature could be
cited.
When one visits dairy farm, he
finds the atmosphere entirely differ
ent from that around the ordinary
grain farmers home. On this farm.
everything is well kept; the fences
are in good condition; lawns now
ed; flowers and shrubs decorate the
lawn and the barn is economically
and substantially built. Inside the
home one finds everything comfor-
table ana homoiike. In the library
agricultural papers and magazines
are found, and one is impressed that
the farmer and his family are salts
fled and happy.
The dairy farm is one of the best
means in the state of Iowa of keep
ing the boys and girls on the farm
This is particularly true where the
cattle are we'll bred, where records
are kept and where a system is in
troduced which necessitates some
accounting for the young people to
occupy their time. In other words,
the dairy farm is a permanent pro-
position. Provision is not only made
for the present but plans are laid
for the future and the boys and girls
are planning on taking up the family
farm and going ahead.
Another thing which impresses
one very strongly among the dairy
farmers, is the fact that every farm
is named. They think enough of
their places to give them an attrac-
tive name which means much to the
locality in which they live.
The writer recently met a young
man who formerly lived on a farm
such as our neighbors over in South
Dakota or North Dakota live upon.
However, the young man became in
terested in dairy cattle and, of
course, this at once led him to the
thought that they should have bet
ter animals and as a result, after a
considerable while, he succeeded in
convincing his father that the thing
for him to do was to follow in the
footsteps of Mr.. Nelson. The young
man began to weigh and test the
milk, weed out the poor animals;
introduce up-to-date methods of
feeding and breeding, and although
this occurred but eight years ago,
the farm is on a paying basis today
and is valued at $500 to $500 per
acre. The cattle which are on it.,
are all high grade and are pure bred
dairy cattle. Not one of the child
rem in this home is considering 60
ing to the city but each is satisfied
with the farm and expects to remain
on it and continue the breeding of
pure bred cattle and advance meth
DDS just as far as they possibly can.
There are many localities
Throughout the state where dairying
is practiced by almost every farmer.
! If one goes into these territories, he
finds that the towns are very pro-
gressive and that the merchants are
Icarrying no debts. This is true be-
cause the dairy COW on the Iowa
farm brings in a steady flow of mo-
ney throughout the entire year.
Good dairy industry returns more
steady income than any other which
the farmer can engage in. If the
grains are sold direct from the
farm, the income is only at the har-
vest time of the year, while on the
other hand, if live stock is rails
ed for the purpose of marketing
them, this income is also periodical.
On the other hand, the dairy cow
produces almost every day in the
year. The cream is sold to the
lcreameries and the checks are made
out to the farmer every month.
These checks so to pay the bills at
the grocery, the meat market, ETC.,
and consequently, the community
as whole is Iuilt up and is made
better because of the dairy cow be-
ing located there.
Iowa can boast of some of the
largest dairy farms which may be
found in the United States. Among
the largest of these are the w. w
Marsh farm at Waterloo, Iowa. This
is pure bred Guernsey farm and Is
known all over the United States be-
cause OF the great COW which pro,
duced over 1000 pounds of butter