Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1891 — OUR RURAL READERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OUR RURAL READERS

WILL BE PLEASED WITH THIS DEPARTMENT. Advantage or Farmers’ Clubs and Institutes— Farms of tlie Future—A Convenient Milking Stool—Raising Pigs for Profit—General Poultry Notes—Points Pertaining to the Household and Kitchen. THE FARM. Farmers’ Clubs and Institutes.

BFTER securing tho late crops ami providing for tho physical comforts of his household, as well as tho \ needs of his do- \ mestic animals, \ tho rural citizen JM may enhance his I welfare by disL charging impor\Jn tant duties in uuWa other direction, fa* During tho long season of leisure gg upon which they K aro now entering 5C American soil tillers will have J rare opportunities

to acquire knowledge pertaining to tho practice and science of their noble vocation. Among tho sources of information relative to the best modes of soil culture and farm management, tho discussions and other doings (lectures, essays, etc.) of farmers’ clubs and institutes are the most valuable, though rural books and journals merit careful study. Therefore, we urge ruralists to attend every session of a farmers’ club or institute held within their reach, and to participate in its proceedings. Many States have provided for holding county institutes the coming season, and it is hoped these will be numerically attended and prove largely beneficial to the agricultural interest. Farmers’ clubs aro also increasing in numbers and usefulness. Of tho great benefits derivable from these clubs there can be no question, and they should receive the encouragement and support of tho truo friends of rural progress and improvement everywhere

The Paring of tho Future. The Country Gentleman of a recent date prints a letter from Mr. C. Wood Davis on crops per capita, and the conclusion he draws is “that good lands anywhere in the United States will be worth 8100 an acre within five years.” This ought to cheer the hearts of the farmers. Mr. Davis asserts that thero is an exact ratio between population and production, but that this has not been made manifest for the reason that we have been cultivating too much land and could at any time increase one product at the expenso of another without making a “shortened supply of tho lessened crop.” But this is not to be so another decade. Indeed, he fixes tho limitation in 1895. His reasoning is exhileratlng: We cannot reduce tho number of cattle other than milch cows below 530 to 1,000 people without making beef so valuable that tho farmers will rush Into its production and thus create a shortago in some other product; nor make the milch cows less than 230 to each 1,000 of the population without making a shortage in some other direction and putting up the price of everything pertaining to the dairy. The balance must bo proserved. For each 1,000 units added to tho population we must add 230 to 235 milch cows and a given number of horses, and but. for the surplus of beeves now existing we should have to add fifty to fifty-three cattle other than milch cows. For every cow, steer, or horse added we must add about six to seven acres to our farms, and of this two and one-half to three acres must be in pasture. On these figures Mr. Davis, in 1891, believes that homo consumption by 1895 will consume all the products of American farms, and that tho price of good farm lands in the old Northwestern States will be SIOO an acre.

If I Could Bo Young Again. If I were a farmer’s boy intending to be a farmer, I think I would study very hard all the forms of “out-door science.” Before and after school, and in tho long vacations I would keep the run of all farm operations, learn from my father tiie reasons for his plans and operations, and try to share in tho plans and the results. I would try to become deft and skillful in all the farm processes, such as hand mowing, pitching, plowing, care of stock, milking, shearing, pruning, and handling farm tools and machines. I would have, if possible, and read some of the best books on fanning. As soon as I had a thoroughly good education in tho common English branches, I would try to spend four years at. a good agricultural and mechanical college. If that of my own (State was not doing good work for agriculture, or was not thoroughly in sympathy with industrial life, I would try to go to one in some neighboring State where such was the case. 1 would study the conservatism of fertility, for with proper cultivation, rotation of crops and manuring, any soil is inexhaustible, aud for ages on ages it will yield food for man and beast The indestructibility of matter is the law that conserves productiveness. But by continued cropping, without sense or reason, certain food elements may be removed from one place to enrich some other lands. If we raise corn anil wheat in America to feed Europe for a century or two we shall certainly waste our patrimony and exhaust the resources of fertility in our lands, rich as they are.— IF. I. Chamberlain, In Rural New Yorker.

Fall Flowing. The benefits of fall plowing for all spring crops, except Indian corn, have already been demonstrated, and its great economy is so apparent to every intelligent farmer that no further discussion of the question is necessary. The Inauguration and making of permanent and other improvements should also now receive attention. Underdraining, and also surface drainage and the laying of pipes or logs for the conveyance of water, may often be done to advantage at this season, and will prove most valuable improvements. Now, also is a good time to provide a year’ssupply of fuel, as well as peabrush, bean-poles, etc. And it is not too early for gathering the ice crop and making maple sugar, while those who have timber to cut and hall will do well to plan their work without delay. Forecasting and arranging in advance will greatly facilitate farm operations during tho winter.