SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 771 



growth and support of farm animals is derived from pasturage and graz- 

 ing lands. Many farmers will say the percentage is still higher, but 

 take the lower estimate — two-thirds. As to the second question, we must 

 appeal to the U. S. Census report for 1900. According to that authority 

 the total value of animals sold, and animals slaughtered on farms 5n, Iowa 

 in 1859, was $121,527,461. And the value of dairy products was $27,- 

 516, 870. Total value of animals and dairy products, $149, 044, 331. Two- 

 thirds of that sum: $99,362,887. 



The census year was about an everage in productiveness. Therefor© 

 on the basis of the oflBcial figures w-e find that pasturage and grassing 

 should be credited with the sum of $99,362,887. But to be extremely con- 

 servative the amount has been placed at $90,000,000 — a little less thau 

 $100 per farm. From this point of view, are these figures too high? 

 Where is the error in the reckoning? 



By another method of figuring we may arrive at about the same 

 result. The hay crop of the state, cut from about four million acres, is 

 worth over $30,000,000. Using that as a basis of reckoning what should 

 be the value of eight million acres in pastures, harvested by stock seven 

 months in the year, plus the grazing in meadows and grain fields after 

 harvest, and the range of eight million acres in corn stalks through the 

 late fall and winter? It is not an exaggeration to say that pasturage 

 and grazing count three fold the value of the hay crop in the production 

 of live stock and in the dairy. 



And now% it may be added, if this valuation of the foremost product 

 of the soil is too high, the selling price of farm land has reached an 

 unwarranted figure. No man can afford to pay eight to twelve thousand 

 dollars for a quarter section farm, if in its operation he- cannot make the 

 pastures and grazing lands pay at least $400 a year. The average must 

 even exceed that figure to justify present prices of land. I believe the 

 land is not overestimated in price, because of my conviction that the 

 crop reports are not exaggerated. 



In Iowa's agricultural resources there are two elements of greatness, 

 viz,: an immense productiveness of grasses and forage crops, and the 

 requisite qualities of soil for growth of great crops of corn. These are 

 like the two wings of a bird; they must be operated together in order to 

 make much progress. Grain farming alone is ruinous, but it is possible 

 to attain a good measure as success by devoting the entire farm to grass 

 and live stock. The best results are obtained by combining both grazing 

 and corn growing. 



