The western farmer and stock grower

Table Of Contents

PAGE.

Chapter I.— Introductory, ..... 5 II.— Natural Features of the West, . . 10

IIII._The Present Condition of the West, . 21 IV.— Manufactures, . . • .32 v.— Timber Growing, . • . • .49 VI.— Fruit Growing, . • • .65 VII.— Grain Growing, . . • .74 VIII.— Farming in the Moon, . . .91 IX.— Diseases of Domestic Animals in the West, 95 X.— Epidemic and Epizootic Diseases, . • HO XI.— Origin of Diseases, . ■ .115 XII — StocK. Growing in the West, . 134 XIII.— Stock Growing Continued, . . 137 XIV.— Stock Growing Continued, . • 170 XV.— Does Color indicate Quality? . .184 XVI.— Feeding for Fairs — Pedigreei^ of Short-horns, . . • • .189 XVII.— Essay on Stock Farm, .195 XVIII.— Sheep Husbandry, • • -203 Conclusion.— Oak Hill Stock Farm, . • -214 Useful Tables, . • • • • ^19, 220 Appendix.— The Wools of the United States, . • 221

Preface

IN ajoology for presenting this book to the public in face of the fact that the country alreadj' seems to be over supplied with farm literature, and other advice that is intended for the amelioration of the condition of the farmer, I am, I think, sensible of the fact that the present emergency growing out of the embarrassing condition of the western farmer demands special attention, and a thorough investigation of all the various subjects that have a relative bearing upon the prosperity of the farmer, as well as all other industrial interests, that are tending more or less directly in developing the material wealth of the west, which is lavished in unstinted measure in a normal condition, for the future growth of a vigorous and powerful nation. A sudden hegira of people from all civilized nations of the earth, suddenly precipitated upon the vast alluvial plains of the west, under new conditions of life, arising from different elements of soil, a changed condition of climate, and new commercial relations to the markets of the world, renders the condition of western life experimental and transient, as well as all the various industries connected with its development and prosperity, uncertain and conditional as +o successful results. In adapting all these various elements of national civilization, that have each a peculiarity of its own, to this new condition of life, new ideas, new practices, and new systems of doing business, are necessarily demanded, that will tend to ignore many of the established principles of older states and older countries.

While our country is abundantly supplied with farm literature, it must be a recognized fact, that the larger portion of it has a special adaptation that is peculiar to the older states, and not applicable to the western prairie. It is also a fact that a large portion of our western farm literature originates from

4 PREFACE.

a source necessarily impractical, abounding in theories but wanting in practical value. Successful practical results form the essence of scientific farming. Agricultural writers all over the country, such as never scented the new mown hay under a July sun, or had any appreciation of the real facts connected with faim life, are constantly sowing broad cast, many theories unfounded in fact or practical experience. It is with this understanding of the case that I attempt in this small volume to give some few facts that have at different times been suggested to my mind, from my own i)ractical experience and connection with farm life, for the last twenty -five years, sixteen of which I have spent in the state of Iowa, and during the time taken cognizance of all the various interests in connection with the development of the country. And while I feel a great reluctance in presenting this volume to the scrutiny of an appreciating public, through a mistrust of my own ability to do justice to the various subjects herein treated of, I yet have faith to believe that it contains many facts of much value to the reader to whom it is addressed, and more especially to the inexperienced farmer of the prairie country. The fact of this work being prepared in the few intervals of time occasionally snatched from the active duties of a large farm that necessarily requires my whole time and attention, will account for its fragmentary and incomplete form. As much of this book is composed of articles previously designed for newspaper articles only, and essays on difterent subjects designed only for publication in our state agricultural reports, a repetition of various facts and arguments will necessarily occur that might otherwise have been avoided. While perhaps a portion of this work might be considered well adapted to the common reader, it is more especially devoted to that cause and avocation which at the present time, especially in the west, stands begging at the back door of commerce, while nearly all other interests enter in at the front door, and receive full protection that guarantees their prosperity. In the ideas herein presented that are deductions from the so called sciences, I have taken special pains to divest them of all technicalities and clothe them in such language as will make them easily comprehended by any one of ordinary education.

BY THE AUTHOR.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

NEW facts and discoveries in physical nature which are constantly opening up new fields of thought and investigation, tend to develope new theories, new systems of education, and new principles of hygenic practice. The natural tendency of the conservative mind of man, is to run in a rut; in the beaten path that so clearly proves the saying that every man is only a quotation of some other man; and ideas however obsolete they may be, are entertained in opposition to established facts. The isolated farmer in his tread-mill round of duties is more essentially under a cloud of darkness through the respect of ideas and practices of a by-gone age, than any other class of people. The position of the farmer in the absence of any system of organization among the masses, is one easily taken advantage of by combinations of capital that are at all times tending to impoverish the farmer and reduce the avocation to one of mere drudgery, and dependence upon what seems to be a higher power, that holds in serfdom and bondage the very life of the farmer. This condition of the farmer should not and need not exist. The farmer, especially in this country that is famous for the universal spread of literature among the masses, has ready at hand all available means furnished for the amelioration of his condition, if such means are only made available.

The farming class are in the majority and have the requisite power in their hands to elevate their position in the scale of humanity, if that power is properly brought to bear in their own behalf. But so long as our legislatures are made up of men selected from the professions of other callings in life, that naturally tend to alienate their minds from the industrial classes, they by a common principle of nature having no sympathy in common with the farmer, cannot be expected to do justice to the farmer. Their own aggrandizement is the idea uppermost in their minds, while any claims that the farming community or industrial classes may have upon their attention, are very carelessly investigated, or entirely ignored for the benefit of monied monopolies that are in constant attendance during their sessions holding out various temptations of reward for special as well as general enactments in their favor. Under this condition of things the former is called upon to foot the bills, that other interests may rejoice in the sunshine of prosperity.

While this is a fact in connection with our state legislatures to a greater or less extent, it is an established principle of our national legislature. The many monied corporations that are gradually but surely advancing and extending their power over the country, are all well calculated to control the various branches of our civil government, in their behalf and prosperity, and thus place the heel of despotism upon the industrial classes, and more especially the agriculturist. It is through concert of action only on the part of the farming portion of the American people, that any obstacle can be interposed to the progress of corporate and individual aggrandizement of monied progress, to the detriment and enslavement of the masses. This principle pertaining to the government of all nations, in all ages, is more especially becoming notorious in the civil and political policy of the American government in the last few years.

And while this principle is fast gaining a foothold in our civil government, it is a principle at all times existing independent of any political party that may happen to have the ascendency in the nation. Political revolutions while held out by the demagogue, the office seeker, and the outs that want to get in, as the true panacea for all the evils that are apparently made to exist; is always a dangerous expedient, and not usually attended with any promised good results. The inherent principle of all governments, from that of the most primeval or pairiarchal through the most simple form of district, to that of township, county, state, and national, is a natural tendency to usurp authority bythe strong over the weak, the wise over the ignorant. This principle of constant usurpation of power is the Alpha and Omega of all the sins connected with all forms of government.

The farmer, all-powerful in his natural position in the scale of humanity, is without power, without protection, and without his due measure of justice, for- want of proper concentration of forces, for want of proper organization, and directness in effort, and for want of a proper realization of the natural advantages given him.

Less hard labor bodily, and more thought, more discipline of the mind, more concert of action, a higher social position in community, more time spent in reading and investigation of all subjects and sciences pertaining to his calling, should be the motto of every farmer as well as mechanic and artisan. In this lies the road to his success and prosperity. On the farm is the true laboratory for the development of mind in man. It is here that nearly all prominent men in the world have had their earlier training, that was so necessary for the development of iTiind and body, that gave them powder for future usefulness in the world. It is here that the mind, bod}'', and habits of youth, are given a healthy development, untrammeled and undefiled by the many pernicious practices and conventionalisms pertaining to a village or city life. While the natural butterfly of the country amuses the child, with no contaminating influences, the fashionable butterfly of the village or city is developed from a moth that eats at the very vitals of social life, and imparts a poison to all surrounding social life. This moth of false pride :find8 its home in the families of farmers occasionally, much to their detriment in prosperity, and is fostered by shallow minded people in all callings in life. Although the invention of machinery has done much to ameliorate the condition of the farmer

J in the past few years, and promises much in the future, still the axioms of Dr. Franklin in his day are just as applicable to the present age and condition of the farmer, " lie by the plow to thrive, must himself either hold or drive." lie must be there. Eternal vigilance, constant care and watchfulness,, temperate habits, persevering industry, close economy of time, as well as money, a constant and faithful working for some delinite object, with some preconceived plan of operations, and a faithful attention to all the details necessary for a final success, are some of the principles that are essential to prosperity in farming, as well as other callings in life. 1^0 farmer can afford to grope along in ignorance, or do without two or three good agricultural papers. While there is much that is written in these papers of little or no value, there is at the same time much that is of great value, even to the most intelligent and experienced farmer, and it frequently occurs that the value of one little article to the farmer will more than pay the subscription price of the paper.

Chapter II. Natural Features Of The West

THE continent is born of the sea. In tlie grand systems of evolution and change constantly going on in connection with the earth's surface, is manifested the active life principle of all terrestrial matter. The development of vegetable life from the most simple organic structure to that of a higher order in plant life, which culminates in the stately forest tree ; the development of animal life in the ocean bed, from the lowest organic structure of the molusk up through the various forms of crustaceous life, to that of the whale ; and the development of the higher order of animal life from the creeping land insect up through the great chain that culminates in man, are all characteristic of the vital principle of the earth's changing conditions.

The bed of the sea furnishes a grand laboratory of organic life, which by the accumulation and deposit of crustaceous animal matter with mineral substances that are so blended as to form a basis of a higher order of life that obtains on the future continent. Through countless ages this accumulation in the ocean's bed is carried on through an established law. Hence we find in the soil so elaborated from the ocean's bed to form the basis of a continent, different formations that have each a special adaptation to vegetable as well as animal life. The drift formations of our continent we find better adapted to a higher order of vegetable life, and are more generally characterized by the growth of timber. Animal life in a normal condition obtains a higher development on the drift formations, from the fact of more congenial elements of the soil. The finer or lower sedimentary deposits being more simple in their nature, have their natural adaptation to a more simple form of vegetable life, and are usually characterized by the absence of timber. It is directly with these two formations that we have to deal, in sho^ving up the natural adaptability of the western prairie. The whole formation of the prairie country of the west, writes plainly and legibly the fact, that at no very far distant period of the earth's existence this whole country was in a condition of entire submergence. Aside from the boulders of granite rock that were detached from their native beds in the volcanic regions of the north and west, and carried by the ever moving iceberg, always tending to a warmer climate,' and depositing on its way whatever of solid matter, as appendages, that it may have carried with it, there is no formation but that characterized as sedimentary^, which forms the basis of the soil of the great Mississippi valley.

The limestone formations in this whole country are all characterized by the evidence of a common crustaceous origin, while the few sandstone deposits, limited to the more elevated or drift formation, are all characterized by the simple deposit of sand, usually in horizontal strata. The absence of timber on the great plains of the west, is doubtless owing, lirst, to the nature of the soil not being specially adapted to timber growth, from its peculiar geological composition ; and second, from the fact of the newness of the country, it not being developed by time through the chemical forces of nature that would eventually have iitted it for a higher order of vegetable life, and encumbered the ground with timber instead of the simple form of vegetable life, in the character of the wild grass that covers the face of the country and renders the scenery so monotonous to the traveler. The absence of timber on the prairies is by some thought to be caused by the dry cHmate of the country. In answer to such I will refer them to the region of the Sierra Nevada mountains, in a climate where about one half the rain falls that we get here. In this dry climate of California, where the average rain fall is iibout eighteen to twenty inches, and no rain for six months of every year, a greater growth of timber is found on the same area of land than on any other portion of the earth's surface. We find on the drift formation of the western country, various kinds of timber are covering the ground and making an active and healthy growth, and spreading from year to year wherever a congenial soil is found.

The western farmer, by imitating nature and growing fruit trees on such land, will be aided in his efforts and meet with greater success in growing fruit. While certain soils of the west seem to be adapted to most any kind of timber or frnit trees, other soils have their special likings, and interjDose an objection at once to the efforts of the tree planter. While certain kinds of timber seem to be well adapted to all of our prairie soil, and make a healthy growth, other kinds will only succeed in certain soils peculiarly adapted to their nature ; and only by observing these different peculiarities of the soil, will the farmer make a success in tree planting or fruit growing. And while we are in a measure restricted in tree planting and fruit growing, by the natural elements of soil and climate of the western prairie, it is no less a fact that the same principle applies in grain raising as well as all other farm crops. While one person on a certain quality of land will make a success in growing pears or any other kind of fruit, he is quite apt to think that another can do the same without any regard to the prerequisites of success that are found in the soil, but not generally understood, even by the successful fruit grower. So another in growing a wheat crop is greatly elated at a certain success of his own, or some other person, and invests largely in that crop, often to his great loss and disappointment.

FRUIT GROWING AND TREE PLANTING.

This subject is one perhaps that demands the attention of the western farmer as well as horticulturalist, in advance of any other subject, as connected with the general welfare of the people of the west. In presenting this subject for investigation, it be- 2 comes quite important to have something tangible to the mind as a basis to predicate theories and assertions, otherwise any theories that we may set up will only pass as theories, and give no satisfactory proof to those seeking this information. In the i great versatility of soil and climate pertaining to ' the western portions of America, is found a corresponding versatility in the spontaneous productions of the country ; and in the introduction of the various plants, trees and vegetables for cultivation, as well as the different domestic animals so necessary for the advancement of civilization, as well as the support of the various industries of the people, we must necessarily observe all these natural conditions and elements that will surely control and have a material bearing in the success of the agriculturist. The best means of opening up this subject in its true light, and presenting it to the mind understandingly, are found in the fact that certain sections of country under certain conditions of soil and climate, are found to produce certain articles, and all countries have a limit in their variety of produc- ^;ions, either naturally or artificially. For a subject in contrast we will refer to the Pacific coast, in the same latitude of the western states, including California and portions of Oregon. As some of my readers are supposed to be ignorant of the phenomena and general appearance of the country, a few words by way of description become necessary :

The first appearance of the country will naturally indicate a soil entirely different from th.it of any portion east of the Rocky mountains, and presents

ANI> STOCK GROWER. 15

the appearance of barrenness, or an almost entire absence of organic matter which forms the soil of the western prairie. A reddish cast to the soil of the whole country denotes the volcanic nature of the soil, and during a large portion of the year, for the want of seasonable rains, the general appearance of the coantry would indicate a vast desert, with no signs of vegetable life except in the timber that covers the mountains and gives relief to the monotony, by its evergreen foliage. This whole country, extending east to the Rocky mountains, a distance of about one thousand miles, is all of very nearly the same appearance and same character, denoting volcanic agency in its upheaval into mountain peaks and mountain ranges, with now and then a narrow strip of land in the shape of river bottom, that winds around between the mountains. These river bottoms of alluvial soil that have been formed from the decay and decomposition of the rock of the mountain, and generally impregnated with alkaline substances as well as various mineral matter that gives the soil a strong mineral basis, are found to be the richest soils, probably, on the globe. But that word " rich," when applied to soils, has only a relative signification. . While these volcanic soils are rich, it is usually in the elements of various min erals of which it is composed, and almost destitute of organic matter. Where sufficient moisture can be obtained to produce a crop, no country in the world can grow a more abundant crop.

But as the arable portion of the country is quite limited, and consists of these alluvial soils, or what might be called drift soils, the larger portion of the country is not capable of producing vegetation, except in the form of the vast forest trees that usually cover the mountains, and throw their roots down to the bed rock for sustenance and moisture. In noticing the adaptation of this mineral or volcanic soil of California, we find it peculiarly adapted to all kinds of fruit trees, and the staple crop of the country naturally consists of fruit, which is grown with so little care that it becomes almost a spontaneous product of the country. In addition to fruit, in such seasons as the winter rains favor a crop of wheat so that it can be advanced in its growth through the winter and spring, and come to maturity, a full crop is produced ; and what is understood by a fullcrop is fifty to sixty bushels per acre of a quality that is not surpassed anywhere on the globe. But these wheat lands are the alluvial lands, and not very extensive. Barley is also produced successfully on these wheat lands. There are also in California, tule lands, so called from their growth of a coarse grass, or rush, called tule. These are of the nature of swamp lands, bordering the large rivers, which overflow and produce rank vegetation on these low lands, and by that means accumulate organic matter, which forms a muck soil quite similar to river bottom lands on the western prairie. By draining these swamp lands at such part of the season as the water becomes low in the rivers, corn is raised, and most garden vegetables, such as turnips, cabbage, onions, &c.

These lands are richer than our western bottom lands, from the fact of having the wash of mineral matter from the mountains, and consequently contain a great variety of elements that fit them for producing such vegetables as seem like Gulliver stories, when we hear the account of them. But these lands are only garden patches, comparatively, and not extensive. The remarkable character of the timber in the volcanic regions of the west, is again indicative of the basis of the soil. Mostly evergreen, but very dense and compact in fibre, and comparatively very heavy for its bulk ; the live-oaks usually small, dense and compact in fibre, with a strength and hardness nearly equal to iron. The small undergrowth of various kinds, in the form of shrubs, that is found through this mountainous country, is hard and brittle, and like the forest trees, contain oil and resin as a sap principle, instead of water, and for that reason burn more readily when green. The scant herbage in the shape of a dwarfed wild grass that starts with the winter rains, makes feed for stock the latter part of winter and fore part of summer, but dries up and becomes dead in the latter part of the season. The soil, climate, and rich quality of feed of this region, are peculiarly adapted to the nature of the merino sheep. It is their natural home, and sheep husbandry is the most profitable business connected with this country, if properly managed. The scarcity of feed requires a constant traveling from one place to another, which was the original habit of the merino. Some of the severe dry seasons have caught the California herdsmen overstocked, and brought great loss and disaster to their flocks.

To return from this mountain scenery to the western prairie, and take a retrospective view of this region extending for a thousand miles east of the base of the Rocky mountains, and about a thousand miles north and south, and we behold what was at no far distant period of time in the world's history, the bed of the sea, which is still unbroken by any upheaval of volcanic action, or other cause, to displace the original strata of sedimentary and drift deposits, that are the special geological formation of this extended garden of the world. The extensive fine sand deposits along the eastern base of the Eocky mountains indicate the western shore of this body of water, and the beating waves of many centuries were the means of these extensive fields of sand deposited as drift in contradistinction to the sedimentary formations that characterize the alluvial soil of the prairies farther east, or more especially in the vicinity of the Mississippi river.

The gradual receding of the waters southward, as this vast country was elevated from the ocean's bed, has left the action of the waves plainly delineated in the drift deposits so created in various places on the western prairie. The receding Avave to the southward, brought in its train the various rivers that have followed in the rear, and which continue to drain the country as well as point out the course taken by the receding waters. The immense bed of sand on the west is being drifted down by the muddy waters of the Missouri and its tributaries, which, with the aid of the Mississippi, Ohio, and other converging streams, are fast filling up the gulf below, and constantly adding new territory in the form of the drift deposits that constitute the basis of a large portion of the southern states.

This vast field of alluvial soil covering the western prairie, is remarkable for the entire absence of any volcanic agency that characterizes the whole mountain regions on the west. In the fact of these two extensive fields, composed of a soil wholly unlike each other in their constituent elements, of a dififerent climate, in the same latitude, and all other surrounding conditions so various, we find a basis for illustrating the principle of natural adaptation of different soils, and the varying influence of climate, that probably cannot be found anywhere else on the globe in such entire contrast.

The high and extended range of the Sierra !N"e. vada mountains forms a barrier against the balmy breezes of the Pacific, that produces the remarkable climate of California. The Rocky mountain range on the east forms an equal barrier to the searching winds of the western prairie, also the trade winds of the south-east, that furnish us our periodical rains in spring and fall, and give fertility to the western prairie.

The great interior country of the mountains between the Rocky mountain range and the Sierra Nevada range, cut olf from either the western winds or eastern winds, that carry moisture and furnish the rainy season, is unprovided with rain to such an extent as to cause almost entire sterility to the soil of this region of country. The great distance of the western prairie country from any large body of water to modify the extremes of heat and cold, leaves it subject to these two extremes, which are the most remarkable features of the western prairie. This vast field of volcanic country on the west, limited in its productions as it is, can never support a dense population, nor increase her population beyond a certain limit, except by the aid of cheap transportation, for the interchange of products with their neighbors east of the mountains. On the other hand, the immense surplus of agricultural products that will ever be seeking an outlet from the western prairie, can be, with proper facilities for transportation, exchanged to some extent, with the mountain districts of the west. The great surplus of fruit that can be raised in such great variety at so little cost and trouble in California, will always be seeking a market away from home, and will find a market to a greater or less extent among the vast population of the western prairie states.

Chapter III. The Present Condition Of The West

IIS" the sudden migration of humanity from the countries of Europe, as well as from the Atlantic and middle states of the union, to the vast inviting fields of the west, so rich in agricultural resources, the records of history fail to give us any parallel in the past. This vast multitude of people drawn from different countries, and from different callings in life, to overspread the vast plains of the west, which in an early day furnished precedents of what seemed to be fortunes, made in one or two years by cropping and selling surplus crops to incoming settlers, at great prices, who were necessarily compelled to purchase for immediate wants. The low price of land, and the bountiful crops so easily produced, were incentives to people of all the older countries to emigrate and avail themselves of these great natural advantages of sudden wealth so easily acquired. With the rise of this vast empire of agriculture, with no accompanying loom, anvil, smith, tannery, battery, cheese factory, or other mechanical industry, the vast products of the country are suddenly found to be out of balance. Agricultural products, from their general preponderance, are compelled to go begging for want of a market. The vast railroad systems that have penetrated with most gigantic strides throughout the whole western country, opening up suddenly to settlement and cultivation a vast amount of land, and affording market facilities for the surplus products of the country. These extensive railroad systems, fostered by government aid, and direct subsidies levied upon the people, have prospered and become wealthy by the very system of transportation and exchange of commodities with distant markets, that is constantly drawing the life blood from the farmer, and depleting his natural wealth instead of adding to it,