LIVE STOCK AND SUCCESSFUL FARMING 13 



It has also been shown that but for 'such transforma- 

 tion through feeding certain products, they could not be 

 sold at all. (See p. 4.) The home market thus 

 created, as it were, for foods otherwise unsalable, is one of 

 the greatest benefits from stock keeping. It not only ob- 

 viates waste which would otherwise be unavoidable, but 

 it greatly increases profits. It also encourages the growth 

 of many products that would not otherwise be grown, 

 thus widening diversity in crop production. 



Bearing on labor. Stocking farms partially, or to the 

 full extent of their capacity, has an important bearing on 

 the question of farm labor. Thh bearing is proportionate 

 to the extent to which the farm is stocked. It tends to 

 the distribution of labor throughout the year, exercises an 

 important influence on the relations between the farmer 

 and the farmhand, and furnishes profitable work for every 

 member of the family, according to the capacity of each. 



The growing of live stock distributes labor throughout 

 the whole year: (i) Through the diversity in crop pro- 

 duction, which it necessitates; (2) through the ever 

 present necessity of providing food for the animals kept ; 

 and (3) through the labor entailed at certain seasons and 

 with certain foods in preparing these for being fed. 



Those farmers who grow but one kind of crop from 

 year to year are only busy when growing that crop and 

 marketing the same. Those who add to the number of 

 crops grown and marketed directly, extend the period for 

 labor in proportion to the increase in the number of the 

 crops grown. Nevertheless, in the latter instance, there 

 will be a period of idleness as well as in the former, 

 though not so prolonged. But the keeping of live stock 

 on arable farms compels the farmer to widen his rotation 

 in order to- provide the requisite foods for the same, and 

 usually to the extent of making ample employment 

 throughout the entire season of growth. 



Animals, like the human family, must have sustenance, 

 and they must have it during every day in the year. 



