Farmers' Club (Part Four)

The Cortland News, Friday, March 23, 1883.

Farmers’ Club.

   At the meeting of the Club on Saturday, the 10th inst., Mr. A. P. Rowley presented the following on the subject of "Soiling":

   Mr. President and Gentlemen:

   Unfortunately for me I was selected with one or two others to make some remarks on "Soiling." It places me in rather an embarrassing position, as I have had no practical experience in soiling. However, I will treat the subject as fairly as my observation and information go.

   At the late State Dairymen's convention Mr. F. S. Peer read a very interesting paper on this subject. There were several reasons why soiling should be adopted: 1. Saving of land; 2. Saving of fences; 3. Saving of food; 4. Better condition and comfort of farm stock; 5. Greater production of beef, milk and butter; 6. Increased quantity and quality of manure; 7. Increased productiveness of the soil.

   Let us look at the first and see if it pays the farmer or dairyman. Admitting that you can keep more stock on less land by soiling than by the ordinary method, one of the greatest drawbacks to a successful issue of the practice of soiling is the labor involved in cutting and feeding the fodder, especially during the busiest season of the year in the field. However necessary on some days to secure the hay crop, the cattle must receive their regular rations of green fodder and the farm hands taken from the field to prepare the feed. Much valuable time is thus consumed which more than offsets the rent of the pasture.

   As an illustration we will take 30 acres of land at $50 per acre, or $1,500, the interest on which would be $90. Supposing such a pasture would summer 10 cows for 41 months, which is a large allowance. Then the expenses would be $9 per cow, or 75 cents per day for the 10 cows. It would require one-third of a day's labor to cut the fodder and feed the cows, which would cost one-half as much as the pasturing. Even admitting that only a small area of ground is needed for growing the fodder under the soiling system, or 3 acres for 10 cows, yet this land must be plowed, harrowed, planted and manured. At a low estimate this would cost at least $2 per cow. Every fair-minded man must admit the impossibility of competing with cheap pastures by any system of soiling yet devised, at least during the three or four summer months. In fact there is no feed that will produce either milk or butter in quantity or quality equal so our good pastures during the flush of feed. I think it would be the height of folly for any one to maintain that milk or the average class of butter can be produced in any other way in competition with good pastures even at $50 or $75 per acre. Under existing circumstances, I claim that our dairymen can make more money from good pasturage than from the system of soiling.

   The greatest benefit to be derived from soiling would be in early spring or in the fall, while pasturage is poor. Corn stalks are inexpensive feed, and the milk therefrom will figure at low cost. Without pasturage it is doubtful if soiling can be made profitable for a farmer unless he is located near a town where pasture is not available and he sells his milk.

   In respect to the second reason, that of fences, Mr. Peer is correct, though we would have to maintain line fences unless our neighbors too adopted soiling, when there would be larger fields and less inside fences, which would save great expense.

   As to the third reason, the saving of food, Mr. Peer claims that the soil is less exhausted by raising a crop of grass than by pasturing, which idea does not coincide with my experience or observation. By continuous mowing the land will deteriorate, more than by pasturing.

   Wishing to make a few suggestions as to crops, etc., used in soiling, I have not the time at present to take up the other reasons. Much good has accrued to agriculturists through the innovations introduced by the soiling system. Thus by green winter rye in the spring before the pastures are ready, and again in the fall when they are dry; by feeding sowed corn or green clover, or barley and oats that have been sowed the latter part of summer for that purpose. In growing and feeding corn fodder, the farmer has learned how small an area devoted to such a crop will suffice, to produce sufficient food for the maintenance of a cow under the soiling system.

   Much can be said in favor of soiling, and yet it has been adopted by only a small number of our farmers or even of dairymen. My idea is that it is not practical in a financial way for the general farmer, and some, of its most enthusiastic advocates have modified their views and practice. Those who contemplate adopting a soiling system the coming season should at once commence their plans therefor. Those who last fall sowed winter rye for early forage have made a beginning, but it will be advisable to put in some spring rye and the seed should now be secured.

   Whether the crop that is to succeed it shall be barley or Hungarian grass or clover, must be decided upon. If clover, it should be sowed as soon as the weather and soil will permit. If spring rye, it should be sowed as soon as you can get it into the ground, and clover can be sowed at the same time and brushed in and will make a good forage crop in the fall. Clover with proper fertilizers applied will give three crops with less expense than most any other green crop, and will add great fertility to the soil. While for Hungarian grass and other forage crops it will have to be plowed and manured heavily it you wish to get a crop worth harvesting, as these crops draw heavily on the soil.

   It is well to compare notes on these important subjects, yet farmers must be governed largely by the conditions by which they are surrounded and the circumstances peculiar to special localities—soils as well as proximity to markets, etc. 

A. P. ROWLEY

The Charter Elections.

   At the village election held Tuesday afternoon the whole number of votes cast was 717. The ticket put in nomination at the caucus Saturday evening was elected except collector. Mr. A. Mahan was elected president by a vote of 716; G. W. Bradford, trustee, 714; Theodore Stevenson, trustee, 706; Samuel Freeman, assessor, 717; Fitz Boynton, treasurer, 698; Wm. H. Kennedy, nominee for collector, was defeated by Henry St. Peters, by a vote of 310 to 407 for the latter. Frank Place, B. B. Jones and J. W. Suggett were re-elected school commissioners.

    All the recommendations made by the trustees for expenses for the ensuing year were adopted. The resolution calling for an expenditure of $2,000 for school-houses was carried by a vote of 417 to 129 against. That for $300 for street lamps was also carried by a vote of 227 to 157 against. That for $1,200 for equipping and maintaining two policemen was lost by a vote of 315 to 212 for. That for $150 for a safe was lost by a vote of 196 to 131 for. That for $3,500 for a steamer was lost by a vote of 305 to 231 for. A resolution that the sum of $56.41 be raised for repairs to engine house was adopted. The trustees were authorized by resolution to revise the village charter and to raise and expend not to exceed $100 for counsel fees. 

A. P. Rowley: http://www.rowleyresearch.org/Records/LocalHistory/NY_Cortland.html