574 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



FURNISHES WORK DURIXG SLACK SEASOX. 



The central northwest states, by some, are objected to because of the 

 short crop-growing season and the long winters. From a standpoint 

 of crop growing only, this is undoubtedly a valid objection. To grow 

 crops or to produce new wealth only during about five months, and 

 have this manufacture of human food stopped the remainder of the 

 year, is not good farm economics. 



There are about 217,000 farms in Iowa. It is safe to say that each 

 of these farms employ labor at the rate of two men in the summer 

 and one during the winter. Granting this to be true, an army of over 

 200,000 of Iowa's best and strongest workers is every fall turned from 

 a held of production of new wealth to a field of non-production of new 

 wealth; in some instances from a field of activity to a field of inac- 

 tivity. This is a serious loss. The total loss of so much intelligent 

 human labor is almost indescribable and beyond comprehension of the 

 finite mind. Who can say how many of these men thus turned away 

 from a productive field might not be able to produce a Banostine Belle 

 DeKol, a Jacoba Irene or a Spotswood Daisy Pearl. Sure it is that a 

 certain percentage of these men would invent or produce something 

 that would be a benefit and lasting monument to real constructive and 

 more pleasant and profitable dairy farming. 



The time of the year for the dairy work can be regulated; not so 

 with other crops. The time of freshening is within reasonable control 

 of the owner. For the average dairy farmer, the fall freshening cow 

 is the most profitable. The winter affords the most favorable condi- 

 tions for the farmer to get the best and most work out of the dairy cow; 

 the labor is cheaper and more plentiful; the price of dairy products 

 are about a third higher; the cow gives more milk during the year; and 

 the fall calves are easier to raise. 



In addition, the dairy cow aft'ords opportunities for the various mem- 

 bers of the family to partake in the work on the farm. The work in 

 the barn and the dairy is not heavy work. It is work which requires 

 attention and intelligence, two important characteristics which we wish 

 to stamp into every young person's life. So the work of the dairy 

 cow is not only to use labor in a profitable manner, but to aid and 

 develop industrious, attentive young people of regular habits. 



INCREASES FARM PROFITS. 



On account of the high price of feeds which have prevailed during 

 recent years, some farmers have questioned the economy of feeding the 

 field crops to the dairy cow. To many the answer was that it did not 

 pay. At the same time there were many others who prospered by 

 feeding all they raised and even more, to the dairy cow. This apparent 

 conflict in results was due to the kind of a dairy cow. The difference 

 in the ability of cows to make money depends on the kind of a cow. 

 Some dairy cows, having certain care and feed, will make a good 

 profit, wliile another .so-called dairy cow will not even pay for her 

 feed. Considering this difference in cows, it is clear that it is impos- 

 sible to state what profit a cow will make. 



