The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-07-21

$1,050 in cash. He harvested 100 loads
from 26 acres in three cuttings and
acres cut the fourth time. He baled
and sold at SIG to SIT at home, or SIS
to $40 delivered. Mr.. Lau tried alfalfa
repeatedly for Is years but hid no sue
cess until he applied some lime eight
years ago. Since then he has found al
falfa very profitable crop. In 1914
strip rod wide through his field left
unlimed produced practically nothing.
Iron and Concrete.
Mr.. Lau declares that this is an age
of steel, iron and concrete. and, where
ever possible these should be substi-
tuted for wood in farm construction.
He has concerted h4s entire barnyard
this year and will keep straw in the
cow yard to catch all the liquid ma
nure as well as the solids. The cost
was 1-3 cents per square foot.
Mr.. Lau's barn is 40 by 50 by "a feet
and contains 80 tons of hay and straw
for bedding. He has an elevated tank
supplying 10 hydrants, including 3
faucets in the house. He has shelter
for 40 head of cattle and Z horses.
His hoghouse is provided with self
waterers and self-feeders, the latter
for hogs on full feed Thus the hogs
eat and drink at leisure, there is no
sudden exposure and no wrangling,
no rubbish to clean off but clean cobs
for the tank heater or kitchen stove.
Item of Chores.
In doing the work on the farm where
there is lots of stock, the chores be-
come considerable item. Mr.. Lau
has two-horsepower gasoline engine
mounted on truck sufficiently light
for one man to easily pull around and
he makes this the chore boy for null
titude of jobs. He regards gasoline
as cheaper than hired help. He is
careful that no feed shall be hauled or
carried in baskets to live stock and
puts the hay in place overhead with
the feed hunks below for the cattle
and has a feeding place for hogs ad-
joining the corn crib. Water is also
piped to the slop barrel and the table
40 OOS OOlOl . lilo Ao6o al Q ihFlICu "
their dinner In this way no feed is
dragged through the snow or mud but
the animals come to their dinner them
selves.
Another important point in the man
agement of this farm is the dividing
and subdividing of the place with
fences which are hog and cattle tight.
In this way many weeds, volunteer
grains and shattered kernels Of corn,
oats and barley which otherwise
would be wasted, can be utilized in
producing mutton, pork and beef. In
his experience thrifty lot of hogs
with such range will return from 80
to 80 cents per bushel for corn when
fattened.
Vineyard and Orchard.
This discussion would not be COM
plete without a statement in regard
to Mr.. Lau's fruit. He has a vine
yard excelled by that of very few
farmers. 1t contains many choice vari-
cites of grapes. He has apples, pears,
plums, cherries and plenty of small
fruit as we'll as good garden. The
orchard of one-half acre has been
sprayed each year for four or five
seasons and has always produced
fruit since the spraying was started
In 1913 he sold $247 worth of fruit.
Mr.. Lau has raised family of five
boys and one girl. He thinks the farm
er has an opportunity of having some
thing more than farm. He can have
an attractive home and it should be
the ambition of every farmer to make
his homestead beautiful as well as his
farm profitable. To render farm life
more attractive he has installed
carbide plant outside the house to light
all his buildings, has transformed an
old we'll into a cold storage place for
cream and victuals.