The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-02-19

we are btlll BrOplng In the dark and
we have scarcely entered the pioneer
stage OF dairying. Guide posts are ex-
ceedingly far apart as yet and they
have been set up by the few who paid
little attention TO prejudice and popu-
lar misconception in their farming
business ventures These guide posts
have been set up by men who at the
outset ignored the contention that
this region was too far north, that the
winters too long and the seasons too
short for growing a sufficient variety
OF crops for profitable dairying
these men could plainly see in all
directions a most lavish distribution
OF natural advantages for dairying as
we'll as general live stock production
Natural Advantages
or the natural advantages, one OF
the most conspicuous was the spon-
taneous and persistent growth OF the
clovers and several of the best tame
grasses, which were springing up on
the raw soil OF new railroad embank-
ments, completely covering logging
roads, preempting every available
space as fast as the timber was re
moved and converting these open
spaces into meadows and pastures
so rapidly as 10 leave one wondering
where all the seed came from. No less
conspicuous was the vigorous and
steady growth of the clovers and
grasses during the entire growing
season, thus indicating that the eli
matte conditions were far more favor
able here than in more southerly
localities where clover winter kills
and pastures dry up during midsum-
mer. AS the grasses represent more
than one-half OF all farm crops, there
was ample evidence, therefore. that
for abundance of feed of the best
quality, this northern region had
superior advantages for the produc-
ton of live stock, and, the men who
set up the guide posts of dairy farm
ing were duly impressed with these
natural advantages.
II is well understood that develop
ment and growth in live stock is large
ly Influenced by the abundance and !
quality OF the feed. and that greater
growth in given time may be eX-
pected in this northern region is but
in accordance with well established
State and government sta
.istics invariably show that crops
raised in the Lake Superior region
give larger yields per acre than the
same crops raised farther south, and
IS climate affects plant life and animal
life TO a large extent i'm the same de-
gree, one may well look for greater
hardness and better development in
northern regions, for mankind, as
veil as other forms of animal life, re- ,
Iuire the bodily inauguration which ,
ONES from the winter climate i'm or :
Ter TO maintain the best health and
ighest efficiency Downing sums mp Z
he effect of the northern climate in q
he brief sentence: "The highest /
uality is obtained at the northern
init of production Prof Moore,
Drmerly Chief OF the United States
Weather Bureau states "The most p
igorous people physically and the o
lost resourceful mentally will be J
,und i'm the most northerly regions Il
nat will produce not simply cereal a
rops. but an abundance of them" 4
IT, Ellsworth Huntington OF Yale, in o
h article entitled 1T Civilization De a
,rmincd by Climate?" says THE a
innate conditions in the places where II
was highest must have 81
cen highly stimulating, or rather. to "
at Il in another way, under such cir r
instances the physical characters a.
cs of the great countries Of the past d,
ould have been such that high civil ID
alton would have been favored, just III
, il is now favored, in the five great II
.nters OF modern progress" VI
Correcting n Mistake nj
Experience IS the best and generally g
e most expensive teacher, and as u'
me that / have been asked 70 dis 81
1873 the subject which has been as y
gned to me for the purpose that the ~
ginner may profit by the lessons IA
lich experience has taught us at III
,ycroft Farm Having decided upon pr
trying az the most profitable line OF 40
rming. and upon the Jersey as the lh'
,st economical breed for the average hR
'mer. Roycroft Farm. in common
tn many others, at first made the ai'
stake Of starting with foundation oV'
'ck OF average quality. Like others,
soon learned that the average does
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