Iht RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
1475 
cayed, will furnish the fertility condition necessary 
for the native grass to flourish. Meadows in nay 
father’s day were mostly composed of June grass or 
I ted-top. Later Timothy or herd’s grass was discov¬ 
ered and has ever been a wonderful boon to the hay 
crop. But these grasses were not complete soil 
builders. A continued Timothy sod proved to be a 
soil robber. About this time it was discovered that 
avhere plants of a nitrogenous nature were grown 
the soil was soon rendered more productive, and as 
a result the acreage yields of crops today on the 
same farms are greater than in my boyhood days. 
SILAGE AND THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.—In 
those days the corn crop on our Western New York 
farms held a prominent place, and was grown for 
husking, 'the grain being fed to the stock along with 
the coarse fodder, and as the bean crop had now be¬ 
come an important feature in our farming opera¬ 
tions, this crop also furnished an abundance of 
coarse fodder, but lacking in the carbohydrates that 
the corn supplied. About this time the 
value of good corn silage began to be 
understood, for we had been reading 
of the experiments of Lawes and Gil¬ 
bert at Rotliampstead. I believe this 
began by burying green cut clover in 
pits, as one of the first steps toward 
the modern silo. Three things began 
to operate in unison now; more cows, 
more demand for milk and, conse¬ 
quently, more silos. This condition has 
increased to that extent that at the 
present time the supply of milk has 
outrun the demand. In too many in¬ 
stances about all the profit remaining 
to the farmer in the dairy line is the 
manure, and now some scientists tell 
us that land enriched by silage-fed 
manure 'becomes sour and unfit for the 
growth of legumes, which we have 
learned are the soil builders that are 
needed to maintain and increase soil 
fertility. I have seen a great deal of 
corn silage that was cut into the silo 
in such perfect condition that it came 
to the mangers almost good enough to 
eat, and giving off an aroma that the 
cows seemed to appreciate; and again 
there is a great deal of corn silage that, 
considered all around, appears unfit for 
the purpose intended. Undoubtedly 
manure made when such silage is used 
would have a tendency to sour the 
land. Now I am wondering if another 
important change in our farm practice 
is not due. The increase in the dairy 
business and the use of silage has cre¬ 
ated a demand for a grain ration to 
supplement the silage, and this, not 
being grown on our farms, causes a 
direct outlay that is a great handicap 
to the business of milk production. 
LEGUME CROPS'—We have the 
clovers and that wonderful legume, Al¬ 
falfa, that, after cutting two and three 
crops a year, leaves the ground in an 
improved condition, and again, the 
value of that plant that in former 
years we considered a weed to be kept 
off our fields—Sweet clover. Are we warranted in 
the expense of erecting still more silos, the building 
and filling of which is a hard and expensive job? I 
am wondering if curing and feeding- these legume 
< rops and again raising the corn crop for the grain 
to supplement the nitrogenous feeds, thereby cutting 
out the big item of purchased dairy feeds, would not 
be the more economic proposition. Every movement 
has its inception, and sooner or later reaches its 
peak, and topples. For instance, notice the land 
values in the Central West. There must be a limit 
to expansion, and changes in practice along all lines 
always will occur. Two things stand out very prom¬ 
inently; these appear to be the maintenance of soil 
fertility and directing our efforts to the production 
of those crops that promise to give the best return 
for the money and labor invested. Between these 
two efficient farm management is in the chair. We 
are told sometimes that present conditions are of our 
own making, but the thinker will observe that pres¬ 
ent conditions are in a great measure the result of 
past activities, and these together will affect future 
progress, or otherwise. h. e. cox. 
Fewer Poor Cows—More Good Sheep 
ODIFYING FARM INDUSTRY. — Once or 
twice during the lifetime of the average 
farmer necessity or circumstances or foresight con¬ 
stitute sufficient cause for modifying one’s type of 
farming. Frequently these causes apply to the indi¬ 
vidual only. However, whole communities or even 
districts may be so affected that it becomes expedi¬ 
ent to depart widely from the prevailing type of 
farming. Many farmers are today concerned about 
the future of dairying. Circumstances have brought 
about wliat appears to be an over-production of milk, 
or at least a production so large that the net profits 
in the dairy business are out of line with the labor 
and investment required. This condition appears to 
be quite general throughout the North Atlantic 
States, although it is more pronounced in certain 
districts. The typical dairy farmer, or whose major 
farm income is derived from the dairy, is beginning 
to consider the advisability of modifying his type of 
farming. 
DAIRY OVER-PRODUCTION.—Radical changes 
in the type of farming are unwise, generally speak¬ 
ing, for the reason that considerable risk as well as 
expense is involved. If a change becomes desirable 
or necessary it should be made with deliberation. 
If it is a fact, or if danger seems imminent, that 
we are facing an over-production of dairy products, 
should one’s type of farming be changed, or simply 
modified? Except under very favorable circum¬ 
stances it would seem unwise for a dairyman to dis¬ 
pose of all of his cows before he had developed his 
new lines of occupation. If his foresight is good 
he should be able to determine quite clearly the ad¬ 
vantages or disadvantages associated with the con¬ 
templated change, and by discounting the probable 
risks far enough in advance should be able to pass 
from one type of farming into another without upset 
or loss of a season’s business. 
WOOL AND MUTTON.—Admitting that dairying 
is not as profitable as it should be, let us consider 
what other line of the live stock business, adaptable 
to the East, gives promise of satisfactory returns. 
The friends of the sheep are not legion—at least 
among the typical dairymen. Some men do not like 
sheep. Some sheep would probably not do well in 
the care of some men. There is more point to this 
than is at first apparent. Consider the condition of 
the sheep-raising industry in the United States and, 
in fact, the whole world. Instead of an over-produc¬ 
tion there is, and has been for some years, an under¬ 
production of both wool and mutton. This condition 
is particularly acute in the United States, where 
during the past 50 years we have produced less than 
half of our normal requirements—particularly of 
wool. Roughly, the status of sheep growing in the 
United States can be shown by a few figures: 
Normal annual consumption require¬ 
ments of wool . 700,000,000 lbs. 
Production of wool. 260,000,000 lbs. 
Deficiency. 500,000,000 lbs. 
IMPORTED REQUIREMENTS.—The United 
States does not produce, nor during the past 40 years 
has it produced one-half of its normal requirements 
of wool. The balance has to be imported from the 
far corners of the world; Instead of being a self- 
supporting nation, Ave are a dependent nation, cer¬ 
tainly in respect to wool. During the past four 
years lamb has been the most expensive meat in our 
markets. Because of this high value ewe lambs have 
been sold for meat, and this has retarded the nor¬ 
mal increase in breeding stock. In view of this 
shortage in the United States, aug¬ 
mented by a shortage throughout the 
world, equally as marked, there seems 
nothing in the way for a period of un¬ 
usual prosperity for the industry. 
Prosperity certainly for those avIio are 
fortunate to have a sizable flock of 
ewes, and for those avIio may obtain 
breeding stock at reasonable prices. 
P It OFITAB L E LIVE STOC K. 
—Sheep-growing is not more hazardous 
than other lines of live stock farming. 
If it were convenient to compare the 
labor incomes from farms having an 
equal investment in sheep and cows, 
during the past 10 years, it would prob¬ 
ably show a balance in favor of the 
sheep grower. The immediate future, 
certainly for another four years, seems 
most promising for the sheep-raising 
business. Todafo it is the one outstand¬ 
ing profitable live stock business. There 
are several reasons for the situation. 
First, Ave have an admitted Avorld 
shortage of sheep and wool; second, 
this shortage is particularly acute in 
the United States; third, under normal 
conditions we Avould be enjoying some 
protection from cheaper foreign wools 
(tariff on wool imports), but in the 
situation the tariff has little or no 
effect on the industry. Wool is worth 
more in Europe than it is in the United 
►States. In the past, protection for the 
industry has not been accorded by our 
law-making bodies. In the absence of 
this measure of protection the industry 
did not thrive, hence the shortage '>f 
wool and mutton today. Grant the 
sheep raisers this reasonable protec¬ 
tion, and the United States would with¬ 
in 10 years (or could) produce as much 
avooI and mutton as we require. In¬ 
stead of a dependent nation, we would 
be independent in this particular. 
PROSPECTS IN THE EAST. - 
There is scarcely a farm in the North 
Atlantic States that is not adapted to 
sheep-growing. Range conditions in 
the East are, of course, out of the question. This is 
the realm of the small flock. Dogs, diseases and in¬ 
adequate fencing are dangers and deficiencies that, 
are surmounted where the industry thrives and men 
are interested. Under existing conditions among 
the dairymen it might be wise for many of them to 
kill off a few i>oor cows and acquii’e a few good 
ewes. Such a change, if made at this time, would 
probably mean selling cows at a low price and pur¬ 
chasing ewes at a relatively high price, but one 
must consider that poor cows never were a good in¬ 
vestment, Avhile good breeding ewes are usually very 
good property. Farming conditions in the East 
Avould be more profitable if we had fewer poor cows 
and more good sheep. f. e. robertson. 
Hydrated Lime in the Garden 
I am somewhat doubtful as to the lime I should use 
on the garden. I noted in a farm paper that under no 
circumstances should hydrated lime be used. Would 
you give me further information regarding this matter? 
Wilkes-barre, Pa. e. e. m. 
E can see no reason why hydrated lime should 
not be used on a garden. We have used it 
and find it useful. Hydrated lime is burnt lime thor¬ 
oughly and completely slaked by means of a spray of 
Avater. As betAveen ground limestone and burned 
lime for garden use Ave prefer the latter. 
An armful of feathers! Many of us were brought up with the old Light Brahma 
fowl. That was before the so-called American breeds were developed. The blood 
of the Brahma entered into most of them, and in this way has done a great service 
to poultry culture. There are some flocks still left. 
