The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-02-28

acteristic Of unsuccessful farming at
tracts much public attention. Such
farms are Improbable largely
through ignorance OF Indifference on
the part of the operator. Under good
management they can generally be
made successful
Diversity Of the farm business
Improper organization of large
farm limits its possibilities, just as
area limits the small farm. Single
crops or single livestock enterprises
seldom utilize farm labor to its maxi
mum. By having several crops there
is not only better distribution OF
labor, but the chances of total loss
from crop failures are lessened. For
tunately, corn, oats and wheat util-
ize the farmers time pretty thorough
~ through the growing season. In
some parts of this country certain
crops that need labor only q part OF
the year may be so profitable that the
farmer can afford to be idle the rest
Of the year. However, these are the
exceptions. Most crops are not prof
liable enough to permit any such
practice. Idle horses and machinery
are nearly as expensive as idle men.
If the working equipment can all be
kept busy on paying enterprises, sue
cess is almost assured.
Equally important in the selection
Of enterprises to permit the maxi
mum use OF labor is the considera-
ton Of the profitableness Of each
Dairy COWS and cash crops may util-
ize all Of the farmers time, but in
certain regions, possibly, dairy cattle
under the best mana cement could
hardly be made to pay a profit. Mar
kets and other conditions have to be
carefully considered in choosing the
enterprises which are to constitute
the main sources of income. Fitting
the right crop to the soil and selling
it to the proper market or feeding it
to the right kind Of live stock are i'm
portant factors. Following such types
Of farming as are unsuited to the re-
giOn is often a cause of Improbable
agriculture in some of the older set
tied states.
The wide fluctuation in prices OF
certain crops makes it extremely diff
ficult for a farmer to choose a def
mite rotation. One year they will be
such as to give handsome profits on
certain crops, and the next year may
be insufficient to pay the cost of
production. The question confronting
the average farmer is not so much
one of production as il is of market
ing. Most farmers are able to grow
sufficient quantity of crops. to give
them very comfortable living if they
are assured of reasonable prices for
their products. However, under pres
ent conditions the farmer has to take
big chances with nearly all of his
crops. If he is so unfortunate as to
have a combination of crops every
one of which is low in price in some
particular year, severe losses will be
the result. Potatoes, apples, peaches,
onions, and cabbage are good ilIustra-
tions of the crops that fuctuate
widely in price from year to year.
The essential characteristics OF the
more successful farms are a suffi-
cient area and a proper organization
Of well-selected farm enterprises to
permit the maximum use of men,
horses, and machinery.
The bulletin just issued gives in
detail the results of the. thorough
study that the Departments special
lists have made of farming as a bust
ness in the corn-beIt, and can be had
free upon application to the U. S.
Department of Agriculture, Washing
ton, D. c., for Bulletin Al, entitled.
"a encouragement Survey of
Three Representative Areas in Indi-
ana, Illinois and Iowa"