The Farm

About all the farmers in this country aimually fatten at least a few pigS-JBüt very many farmers who have hut 40, or 80, or 100 acres feel they cannot successfully compete in cattle feeding with the large farmer; and uniuestiosably the farmer who has a lot of 50 or 100 steers has some marked advantages in caring for and feeding tliem over the man with one, or two, or half a dozen. The work can of ten be done to much better advantage and much less time, in proportion to number, with the large lot. VVhen ready for market the owner of the half-dozen car-loads of utooiu janeliiiusr: bis Iliarkct and irceive reasonable shipping ratos, white the man with but a few is dependent on bis local markets or neighboring dealers, or, if he attempt to ship at all, lie must pay a higher rate. But, as in most cases, this question has two sides. The advantages are not all in favor of the more extensive dealer. Very often the stock of the sniall farmer will receive better care and give a better return than those in larger lots. Of ten times, too, a large nart of what thev eat would be wasted were it not for them. The pasture may of ten carry tl ie extra steer or two, and yet give grass enough for thecows.and so of the stock tield or the hog stock. What is of even more importance, as affecting the profit, is, that while the labor of feeding the small number may really be greater in proportion than in the case oí' a larger number, it really is often done at less cost, because the work is just so njuch done in addition to whüt would otherwise be accomplished. A farmer will add tlie feeding of a half dozen-steers to his usuai 'chores," and do the work without fatigue or loss of time needed for other labor. The large stock feeder must "make a business" of his work, either for himself or for a hired laborer. This has its good results, but it also causes a direct outlay. Another very important consideration is found in the i act that the average farmer can give much ketter attention in the way of shelter and protecüon, and also in in variety of food, to his half-dozen steers - thereby seeuring a larger percentage of grain to food consumed - than is often practicable for the great feeder who numbers his cattle by the hundreds. These points, at first flash, may not seem of importance, but they are well worth thinking about by those who have but small places. Observation will convince us that, in a good many cases, the reason for superior success by one such farmer over that reached by this neighbor, is, that lie is not content to stop with his ordinary, "regular" work, but adds to this a number of little things, from each of which he makes some proflt. Nor is it always that the home market i noL a good one. At the worst, it is easily reached and can be watched so as to receive the benefit of a rise in prices. The prices of a half dozen good steers will make a handsome addition to the yearly receipts of a small farmer, and in the large majority of cases we believe it will be a eonsiderably of larger sum than would have been obtained from that part of their food which would have been sold had the steers not been kept.