266 Our Farming. 



all they can use of suitable food, every day in the year, and given 

 pure, fresh water and entirely comfortable quarters, and whose 

 wants are attended to with clockwork regularity ? I would look 

 for profit in the stock business in this direction. Half-way work 

 no longer pays. There is too much competition in the half-way 

 line. You would not be a slave to your animals ? Well, then, 

 you will never attain any very great success any more. I went 

 home with a successful manufacturer from an institute once, and 

 he told me how he was in debt for the boots he had on his feet 

 when he came into the town. Now he employs, perhaps, one 

 hundred and fifty hands, and can count his money by the many 

 thousands ; but I found when right around with him that he was 

 almost a slave to his work, his business. He was up early and 

 out late, trusting much to others, of course, but watching and see- 

 ing that it was done. I concluded that he was about as tied up 

 every working day in the year as I was when I took the best pos- 

 sible care of those steers. Rest assured, friends, that when success 

 of the highest kind comes, somebody is working hard and system- 

 atically and untiringly. To make money from cows is very con- 

 fining work. And the worst feature with me is that about as much 

 must be done Sunday as any other day. It is necessary, however. 

 If I could not make my cows comfortable Sunday as other days 

 and go to church, too, I should know where my duty was. A 

 man can serve God in his own barn. Care of animals of all 

 kinds in winter is confining. I would not disguise the fact. My 

 present tillage farming gives more leisure and full rest on the 

 Sabbath. But if I kept animals, then I would keep them and be 

 confined enough to make it successful. I did do this. 



In many sections farming cannot be successfully followed 

 without stock of some kind. It can be here, and often with less 

 hard work. Still one can farm* right here with animals and make 

 money. I know I can do it on my farm. But not in old ways. 

 With the good care spoken of above, and choice thoroughbred 

 or grade stock, and with the manure all saved and used to the 

 best advantage, and with a silo and ensilage corn, and purchased 

 bran, and oil meal, and cottonseed meal, and dried grass instead 

 of hay, and all other advanced ways put into practice, I know I 

 could make money in more than one line. 



Perhaps one reason my horses have done so well on clover 

 hay only, as told of in another chapter, is because they have been 

 pretty well taken care of. My father used to tell me when I was 

 a boy, that a good cleaning was as good for a horse as four 

 quarts of oats. I did not believe it then as fully as now. There 

 is no question but a well -curried horse does better. Also, there is 

 a good deal in proper feeding. Some horses at least would eat 

 themselves poor, if hay was kept constantly before them. I want 

 them to have a reasonable feed that they will eat right up, as a 

 rule, and then go without till another feeding time comes around. 



