VOL. LVII.
INDIANAPOLIS, JND., AUG. 30, 1902.
NO. 35
%xpexitnct _\ep^vtmznt
IF A FARMER, WISHES TO CHANGE FROM
GRAIN FARMING TO STOCK FARMING,
HOW SHOULD HE PROCEED?
Go Slow—Don't Attempt too Much it the Start.
1st Premium.—This proposition implies
that the farmer has been selling the products of his farm direct in the market,
-ivhile stook farming means feeding them
on the farm. I suppose jou have some
corn, oats, hay, etc., on the farm. Now
on September the first I would start the
change by getting some live stock, cows,
sows and ewes ,and breed them at once.
I would not advise you to buy scrubs,
neither would I advise you to buy registered stock. Get some good grade stock,
but breed to registered or very high grade
males. Probably you can get the service
(.1 ■some males from some neighbor at
reasonable rates until you get started. Now
let us commence slow and not overstock,
for if you have not had experience in
handling stock you w-nit to go slow, and if
you have had experience you do not need
this advice. The next thing to do is to
prepare to take care of this stock through
the winter, remembering that you must
keep up a certain amount of animal heat
in live stock and that this heat is produced by feed, and that it is thrown off
very rapidly in* bad, cold weather, but that
yon can retain much of tliis heat by proper
stabling and bedding. So you want to
prepare the stabling before bad weather
comes on, for it is much cheaper to keep
up this heat by shelter than by extra
feed. I never knew a man that kept
his live stock exposed to the inclemency
of Ihe weather who reaped any profit from
it. Well, St is not too late yet this i'al!
tn commence some changes in your mode
ut farming, for you must have grass where
yon have live stock. Sow such land to
wheat as you would have in grass. You
should have some permanent blue grass
pasture. Sow your blue grass and timothy
this fall and clover in spring. While you
want grass for both pasture and hay iit
Btock farming, aud must have it, you want
grain also, and must have it if you succeed, so you must look out for your grain
crop for the coming season. It is probable
that your farm is not dividen into lots and
fields suitable for the handling of stock.
You need more fields for hadling stock
than you do for grain farming. Lay your
plans for the subdivision and carry it into
effect as soon as possible. If you have
uo running water you had better put down
a well or two. In refeneing your farm
arrange a lane so as to connect with all
yon* fields, and with barn and water. It
will save you much time in handling your
slock. I'm* live slock should water al will.
Now, if your horses are geldings, you
had heller exchange part of them for
mares, and raise a few eolts. You have
an idea that live stock just grows up on
the farm without care and attention, you
had better get out iu the sheep lot, and let
your buck sheep butt you until you get
rid of that idea. Go slow, do not stock
up too fast, for you have many things to
learn*. Read! Read books, read agricultural papers. But experience is what
you want and what you must have. Attend agricultural meetings and get the experience of the best stock raisers, for you
need working over as well as your farm
You need to be transformed into a stock
raiser. If you have been in the habit of
talking in a high key, you had better let
yonr voice down to "D flat" when among
yonr  stock.      Make   changes   about  your
farm as experience dictates them. Consult your neighbors who raise stock. Do
not start out with improvements as if you
were a millionaire. Do not keep a sow
lhat will not raise 8 to 10 pigs at a litter
and  two litters  a  year. 0.
Marion Co.
Keep Everlastingly at it.
2d Premium.—The change from grain tu
stock raising, is going on continually in
this vicinity, and while I will not attempt
to say the ways here are the best ways,
I can give a brief synopsis of the method,
if- it can be called such. We learn
many things in a new country, and as we
were pioneers here we have had many
experiences, and have also seen very many.
Our idea was that this South Dakota, then
c territory, was a great wheat section,
and so it is; but we have found that it is
also a great cattle country as well. Many
who came here devoted themselves entirely to wheat, not even raise potatoes
for their families. Well, trouble came, as
it has a way of doing, in material things.
The dry weather came on, and many who
had staked everything on wheat farming
found that the stake did not hold, and they
had to "pull up statkes" and go somewhere
else, because debt had them in such a
clutch they could not free themselves.
Then wise folks began to look about, and
the few cattle brought here grew in number and increased in value. If one must
begin on a very small scale, it is a good
plan to take cattle in shares. In this way
one can get a start. But if one is
steady and steadfast, a worker and in.t an
idler waiting for the "world" to give
him the "living" it owes him, I believe a
quicker way to buy cattle is by borrowing
money, if they cannot be bought, and in
Ihis way get a much quicker start. It is
a hard time to buy now, as cattle are so
high in price, and if they should fall and
a mortgage to pay. it might bo difficult
to meet it. But with the present prospect
it is safe enough to infer that cattle "more
than pay for themselves." Yearling steers
bought now and turned off another fall
will, if prices hold, nearly double in value.
There are some things t>ir one not "in"
the eattle business to think about. It is
well to decide what type of cattle are most
desirable for the location and purpose.
Are they to be kept for dairy purposes or
for beef? When this question is settled
get the best of the kind you can afford to
buy. Do not depend upon a scrub bull.
A registered animal is required, not simply
because he is registered but because with
a good male a herd can be bred up in time
lo a good standard ,and the young cattle
will be uniform in color, etc. It is the
"bunch" of steers lhat are alike that brings
the best priees. We have "experimented"
a Utile in cattle milking some cows even
of the beef type and separating the milk.
The calves are fed the skim milk and they
thrive and do well, and it is noticed that
they look as well in the herd when about
two years old as those that have run with
the wether, having all her milk, fresh and
full cream. Is not this something worth
thinking about? I doubt if anyone could
pick out the skim milk cattle from the
"full cream" in a bunch standing together,
because they seem to look equally well.
For a beginner on a small scale, then, it
might pay in making a change from graiu
to stock to milk the cows and sell the
cream product. It would help very materially in paying expenses. Hogs are
an outcome too of dairying, and a good
number of these can be raised as a side
issue, bringing in ready money nt almost
airy   season   of   the   year.       Raise   grain
enough   for  teed  if possibles  and do pay
hired hell), and let the eattle do the rest;
they will if given a chance. If you raise
cattle to sell for beef, raise beef cattle.
They are by far the best aud bring much
better prices, and even if the cows do
not produce Jersey milk and butter, the
kind they do produce will be a help. The
dairy cattle are not the kind wanted by
those who are going into cattle for cattle,
instead of for dairy products. "Keeping
everlastingly at it brings success." Do
not give up when prices fall. Go ahead
and be ready for the next rise.
South Dakota. R. S. M.
Premiums of $1, 75 cents and 50 cents
are given for the first, second and third
best articles for the Experience Depart
ment each week. Manuscript should be
sent direct to the Indiana Parmer Company and should reach us one week before
date of publication.
Topics for discussion in future numbers
of the Farmer are as follows:
No. 339, Sept. C—How would you run
a farm of only 40 acres, not in driving
distance  of a  market?
No. 340, Sept. 13.—Give plans for practical and economical hog house, with capacity for feeding 50 to 100 head of hogs
in winter.
No. 341, Sept. 20.—What are the greatest obstacles to sheep growing, and how
can they be overcome?
No. 342, Sept. 27.—Tell about home
comforts and conveniences for the winter
months.
£ late Hew-J.
Forest Riddle, Bluffton, age eleven, fell from
a lmvmow and crushed his skull. Recovery doubtful.
Stephen Ward, a retired farmer, at Thorntown,
Is iu a critical condition from being kicked by a
horse.
As a method of revenge, someone unknowu to
Howard MeKlnney, a merchant, of Bedford, went
to his barn one night, last week, led his horse
to  a   cistern  and  drowned   it.
Four horses ami baggies were taken from the
public hitch rack in Marion. August 19th, and one
alleged ihief, Bert Sanders, was captured next
juorning. Two of the horses and two buggies
were  recovered.
Charles Girod, aged 19. of Berne, was arrested
last week for stealing a horse from David Swartz,
an Ainish farmer near Berne. Gired was captured near Van Wert, O. He had sold the horse
and  bad  tbe  money  iu  his  possession.
Daring a heavy electrical storm, Aug.20th, 3
horses belonging to Elnier Warner, a farmer living near Gollett, were struck by lightning, 1
being instantly killed, and the others badly injured.
A heavy rain and electrical storm crossed over
Ihe country around Alexandria about 4 o'clock on
on the morning of Aug. 20th. There was also a
heavy hail, which damaged the corn to a large
extent.
Several hives of bees owned by Samuel D.
Keyset*. <>f Roel-dale, were upset by four playful
line blooded pups. The bees pounced on the animals and stung them so badly that all died within an In .ur.
A special election held in Lawrence county last
week for the building of 86 pieces of gravel raods,
resulted in t victory for good roads. Kvery
road carried by a gootl majority. Work will begin   immediately.
The two large burns and coin cribs on t he
farm of liiibau Harding, 0 miles northwest or
indianapolia, vera destroyed by lire Saturday
evening. Aug. 16th, The loss on building and
contents  was  tb at $4,000.
While drawing water from a cistern, Mrs.
James Wheeler, of Geneva, broke through the
wooden platform and was precipitated into the
water. She held ber three-months-old child in
her arms. The water was not sufficiently deep
to drown them, but considerable trouble was experienced before they were resued from their
l-rilons  position.	
(fLstuzxixl Henrs.
postal (£>owtspovalt.xcz.
I.a Porte Co., Aug. 21—Nice rains as often as
we need now; uot too much and no drouth this
summer. Coru good but late and green yet, and
■ will not. surely be safe from frosts before Sept.
I 15th to 20th. Late potatoes doing well, no bugs
on them. Pastures tine, only too many weeds.
Apples look well,   not  falling much.
Mrs.    B.    A.    D.
California is prmluciug daisies a foot in circumference.
Australia supplies $9,r.,000,000 worth of wool a
year.
In spite of hard times the value of fann
animals in Germany is increasing at the rate
of  four  millions  a  year.
The Wisconsin dairy industry tmploys 1,700
hands at an annual cost for wages of nearly
¥1,000.
From Winona couuty, Minnesota, comes a report
that this is a record summer for rattlesnakes.
one citizen has killed more thau 200 of them.
London is introducing water troughs for
thirsty horses, at which the water can be run
off by pushing a pushbutton and fresh water run
lu.
A large panther has been seen by several reputable Harris township, St. Joe county farmers the
last week. The animal has killed two calves.
Where  it  came from is a  mystery.
The rotation of a waterspout at the surface of
the sea has been estimated at 354 miles an hour,
or nearly six miles a minute.
The bamboo holds the record among plauts for
quick growth. It has been known to grow two
feet  in twenty-four hours.
Two classes of the population of St. Petersburg
are specially adicted to eating horse meat—the
Tartars because they like it, the students because  it  is  cheap.
Millet ami maize constitute tiie staple dieiary
uf the South African native. When he has
plmve.1 liis land, sown ills seed and scoffied he
rests   until   tbe   harvest.
The largest private collection of cacti in tbe
United States is owned by Mrs. Ida Palmer ('imp,
uf Cara. Mich. It contains many varieties uot
found  elsewhere  In   this   country.
Georgia is the peach State of the Onion, having
7.*;•'■".'mi peach bearing trees. Next is Maryland,
with 4,015,000; then New .Jersey, with 2,700,000,
and  Delaware,   with  2,400,000.
Of the six hundred weeds and grasses growing
in the Northwest, it is estimated by those tliat
have made a study of lt that sbeep will cat 576
of tbem, while horses consume but 82 and cattle
only  56.
Governor Cummins, of Iowa, is one of the liest
authorities ln that State upon forestry- He has
mastered the subject thoroughly, having originally taken it up some years ago as an amusement
and having stuck to it ever since.
Because the exportation of frogs from Canada
to the United States has become a big business.
the Canadians are in a quandry If frogs art-
game the close season must be fixed by the
provincial authorities; if they are fish, by the
Dominion.
THK FAIRS.
Illinois State Fair.-This year the State Board
of Agriculture of Illinois will celebrate their
golden anniversary, and iu an elaborate manner.
Illinois has always been counted as the final hat-
t he ground of the beef breeds, as well as i be
hogs and sbeep. President Roosevelt will attend the fair on Friday, when the largest crowd
In the history of the fair Is expected. The
dates of the fair will be September 28 to October
3d.       W.   0.   Garrard,   Secretary,   Springfield,   111.
Ohio State Fair.—Last notice for the great
Ohio State fair, which will take place In their
beautiful grounds, near the city of Columbus, O.,
September 1 to 5. From all reports, this will
be the largest fair ever held by the Ohio State
fair. More entries are being made than ever before. Prizes have beeu increased, and if the
weat Iter is good, the attendance will be t hie
largest in years. Readers of the Farmer who
can spare the time should avaif themselves of
the opportunity to attend this fair, as you will
never ivgret it. .ludging conimeuces on Tuesday and will continue until Friday. Races every
day.      Excursion  rates  ou   all  railroads.
The Carthage Fair.—The 47th annual fair of the
Hamilton county Agricultural Society was held on
their gii.unds. Carthage, Ohio, last week, and
was a success In every way. The weather was
tine, and the exhibits of live stock the best they
have had for years. Many noted herds wars
on exhibition. Great credit is due secretary 1).
li. Sampson, for tike success of the fair. The
attendance was the largest ever had on the
grounds. Kvery depart ment was filled to overflowing. In the cattle department such breeders
exhibited as Bradfute & Son, OedarvUle, Ohio;
and Allen A Son. Georgetown, Ky., with Aberdeen-Angus; II. ES. Watson, Kdlnburg; C. K. Ams-
ileu A Bon, Shelbyville, and G. W. Harness, Galveston, with Herefords. W. Tossy & Son, Marysvllle, with Polled Durhams. In swine were
Dr. W. 1). Burkhart, Cincinnati, with Polands
and Durocs, capturing all prizes; W. T. Dever,
l.uca.sville. Ohio, with Chester W'hltes, all prise,
and li. O. Peterson, Spring Valley, Ohio, with
Berkshires. In sheep were J. C. Williamson A
Sons, Xenia. Ohio, with Oxfords; W. H. Comp-
t on *: Son, Monroe, Ohio, with Southdowns; R.
I>. Williamson. Xenia. Ohio, with Merinos; Wm.
Furry. Greenfield aud Coffey A Sons, Ruby with
Shropshires.
Jay Co., Aug. 23—We are having fine weather at present; a little too dry for pastures: best
prospect for corn we have hud for some time:
oals was good, making from 40 to 00 bushels per
acre; plenty of potatoes and truck of all kinds;
will be good crop of clover seed if it fills well;
not  much fruit except pears. K. B.
The coining State fair of Illinois, at
Springfield, September 28 to October 4
is styled on the premium list "Golden
Anniversary State Fair/' and the motto
is "Greatest Fair on Earth." "We must
go  and  see  it.
Prof. .Frederick Hirth, of Berlin, has ae-
eepted the offer of the Chinese chair at
Columbia University.