The Glasgow courier., 1915-12-31
LIVE STOCK AND FENCING


If ever there was an opportune time
for the farmers on the prairie to in
vest in livestock, that time is now.
The northwest never produced crop
like that of the past season. While
the price of wheat is less than was ex-
pected, it is relatively good compared
with the prices paid in recent years,
with the exception of 1914. While no
doubt much of the return will be want
ed in other ways, surely some of it can
be spared for making beginning in
live stock by those who have not had
any. The one obstacle in the way is
the high price which the stock COM
mands. It is not so high, however,
but that the farmer who has been fav-
ored with big crop of wheat may not
spare from the proceeds enough to
pay for couple of cows, or few
brood sows or a small band of sheep.
This will call for some fencing, but the
amount called for need not be large.
A beginning will thus be made. The
stock will soon increase and ere long
the farm will be stocked to it's full ca
pacity.
If the question is raised which kind
of stock should be purchased, the an
swer is that circumstances should de-
termine the investment, where there
is family, cows should be bought.
Where there is no family, sheep or
swine may answer the purpose better.
Another man may prefer to raise
horses from the brood mares which
are used in doing the farm work. The
natural tastes of the individual should
govern also, at least to some extent.
The danger is on the part of those
who invest in stock that they will
want to purchase more than they
should. The American farmer seldom
wants to begin in small way, and
there is merit in such an ambition
but like an unruly steed, it should be
firmly kept in place with bride and
bit. 1t would be great mistake for
one to go largely into keeping live
stock who is not we'll used with the
same. The person who does not live
on his farm and who cannot give it
close personal supervision should also
go slowly with live stock investment.
If the claim is true and it certainly
| .c hot +o hn
growing of grain exclusively will give
better return when farmed on the
mixed farming plan, why should it not
thus be farmed, and why should not
the farmers generally begin to farm
it thus A few animals on the farm
may carry the farmer through in a
year when the grain crops are fail
ure.
In nearly all areas Of the northwest
a COW can be carried for year in
good form on the produce of three or
four acres of land, should the products
grown be winter rye for pasture, and
corn and alfalfa for fodder. This car
be done on almost any dry land farms
The cream from that cow should be
worth $500 per year in the average
market. Her calf well raised shoule
be worth $4,000 in a good market at
one year old The return from the
cow and calf for one year should be
$125.O0
The two should be kept during that
year on the produce Of five acres
This would mean return of $20.O(
an acre. OF course the labor must be
taken into the account. The man who
can do that can live and make some
money on the dry land farm.
But should it be objected that the
farmer and especially the beginner II
northwestern areas where the markets
are not we'll adjusted cannot get these
prices, which is probably true. Ther
let destruction be made of 20 pei
cent or one fifth of the whole, the re
turn from the five acres is$lOO.OO o.
$4,000 an acre Now if the dry lant
farmer can get return of $4,000 al
acre for his labor, where has he an!
ground for complaint. Even though
it took acres to feed the two animals
there is still $14.O0 an acre and it j:
sure thing. Twenty bushels o
wheat per acre in dry areas is not :
sure thing nor are twelve bushels al
ways sure. l have seen corn in tn,
northwest during recent months, ont
acre of which had enough of food nu
trents in it to feed COW for year
THOMAS SHAW