428 DRY LAND FARMING 



is, in a sense, imperative to have enough live stock to 

 supply the needs of the family. This means that the 

 farmers must, in a sense, have some cows, swine and 

 poultry, and it will be all the more to their interest to 

 have some sheep, especially after the farm is fenced. 

 The farmer thus equipped, who at the same time grows 

 his own vegetables and small fruits, has but little addi- 

 tional outlay for his living. To furnish this he does 

 not need to maintain a large number of any of these 

 classes of animals. 



Under some conditions it may be wise to extend 

 the growing of live stock so as to make it trfe dominant 

 industry, even at an early day in the work of the home- 

 steader, as, for instance, where free or very cheap pas- 

 tures are easily accessible. Such extension may apply 

 to horses, cattle or sheep, according to the conditions 

 that may be present. 



Stocking the dry farm. As a rule, the live stock 

 on a dry farm should be introduced very gradually. For 

 this several reasons may be given. First, there has not 

 been time to make suitable preparation to care for them 

 in a large way. The outbuildings are not ready. Fences 

 have not been built. It may be that winter water sup- 

 plies have not been secured. There has not been time 

 to make sure of winter supplies of food, as the bulk of 

 the ground broken is usually wanted for grain. The 

 introduction of much stock by purchase is costly. It 

 is much better, as a rule, for the dry land farmer whose 

 operations must be confined to his own farm, to begin 

 with a small amount, and to grow much or all of the 

 subsequent increase. When increase is made in this 

 way, all the operations of the farm may be kept in due 

 balance. Such increase is thus obtained at a minimum 

 of cost. VThe experience while making it has been ob- 

 tained under the attendant conditions, and is, therefore, 



