Year: 1871




time of more vital importance To eY-
erv farmer, than the one We have
chosen in this article to present few
, thoughts upon. IL Is PLAIN 1act lhat
selling grain the past two years has
been unprofitabse, and in many cases
proved disastrous TO many Western
farmers. This necessitgtes change
in the disposition of the products OF
the form, or we will continue TO have
a great many unsuccesstui farmers
among us. To he sure, times may
change, and selling grain may be
profitable again, but it will only be
exceptional years; and taking one
season with another, putting gram
into stock will be much more proilta-
hle TO the Western farmers. Let our
Eastern farmers who have not so
much freight to pay, supply the grain
market. BY the time our grain
reaches the sea-board, the cost OF
Transportation deducted from the sell
ing price, leaves but little for Us.
Grain put into stock can be handled
at one-fourth the cost.


Stock raiseTs the past few years
have realized from 50 TO 100 per cent.
more for their grain than they could
in the bushel. We know many feed
ers who claim that their corn has
averaged them one dollar per bushel
the past seven years; while during
the same time it has not averaged
more than forty cents per bushel on
the farm. If this has not paid, there
is no branch of American agricuitu-
raj indsstry that will remunerate the
farmer for his labor.


In all branches Of industry it is the
profit we want. If it costs thirty
cents per bushel to raise corn, and il
sells at forty cents, the profit Is but
ten cents. If the corn is put into
stock and yields but fifty cents per
busheI. there will be twenty cents
profit, or double what il is in selling
the corn. To bring agriculture up 70
that standard of success we all attain
| TO, there must be q good round profit,
and we should resort to every means
consistent with our vocation 10 secure
| this profit, and make agriculture-as
! il ALWAYS should be-a power in the
| land; for wherever il is successful il
is soon followed by other branches Of
industry equally successful.


1t must be admitted that many en-
gage in stock raising and do not
make it more profitable than selling
grain. This is not the fault of the
business so much as it is mismanage-
ment on the part of the farmer, re-
sulting from ineXperience, careless
ness, or indifference. Too many en-
gage in the business thinking that
stock raising consists in keeping stock
in small pens or yards, with little or
no shelter, and throwing them grain
in the mud. Others are so penny
wise and pound foolish that they Will
not expend few dollars 20 procure
good breeds OF stock. There is az
much In the management and feed as
there is in the breed, and both are of
such vital Importance that they
should receive careful attention.


In new country like most of Iowa
it is no easy matter to engage in
the business, as most of the farmers
are poor, which necessitates the sell
ing of every bushel of grain in order
to pay pressing debts, add necessary
improvements, or procure the neces-
saries Of life. Yet new country is
the place TO make stock raising profit
able as there is abundance of cheap
pasturage, and grain for fattening
purposes can he grown cheap. Iowa
is destined TO come up to, if not
surDass all other States in the bust
hess. 1t hehOOves every farmer for
his own interest and the general well
fare OF the State to engage in what
Will bring the greatest general pros
peTity; and the way is now open to
ease and remove the heavy debts that
are expressing very many of our far
mers. and place them on the road to
prosperity and affluence. Let every
farmer begin according to his means,
or even make some sacrifice to get
start. Itdoes not require much capi-
tai. and but little time to raise hogs,
which are the poor mans stock.
Where one has the means, both cat
tie and hogs should be raised 10 se-
cure the largest profits.


One Of the strongest incentives TO
stock raising is. everything is con-
Sumed on the farm and returned 10
the soil is valuable manures, keeping
it in its original fertility, a necessity
every farmer should look we'll TO. |
Though our fertile soil is rich in all
thr elements requisite for plant food, !
it viii wear out some day, if every
thing is taken from and nothing re-
turned TO it ITCsterH Rural.