The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-11-30

York market, we seldom, IL ever, see a
drove from Michigan. The drovcs mostly
come from Ohio. Kentucky, Indiana, iii.
nois and some other Western States. Our
average two year olds bring about el2, and
three year clds about sic. Now ifsNew
York farmers can buy them, and feed them
corn, at the price corn brings in the State
Of New York, and make money at the
business, certainly our Michigan farmers
can make more money to fattcn thcm at
homo where corn is cheaper.
Frederick Fowler, OF Reading, has upon
tho Fair ground ten fat three year old
steers, which have been fed not to exceed
$500 wo,th of grain each. Their aver.
age weight is 1850 pounds. They have
seen kept on grass since the 9th Of May
last. One year ago last August, when
but two past, he was offered $50 head
for them. He says that he intends to give
them all the meal they will eat the coming
winter, and he thinks they will weigh by
next spring over 1900 lbs. each; and that
he will get 800 head for them, or $1,000
for the lot. They have gained 254 lbs.
each in the last months, on grass alone.
Now II don't take large farm to raise and
fatten ten ycar old steers; and if they
bring S75 head, it is the best business a
farmer with grass farm can o--ccrtainly
better than selling ordinary two year olds
for $l2, and three year olds for Sic or
even $50. Besides there is something
beautiful in drove of fine fat cattle
Fowler's lot are fine sight to look at
They have been admired by all who have
seen them on the Fair ground. We ough.
to see more like them. Nothing makes a
country look moro rich and fourishing than
fne herds Of fat cattle grazing in green
pastures. 1t shows that the county is Ca
pable Of raising surplus for expectation.
And here ] will say word or two about
blooded cattle. There is ono four year old
Native in Fowler's lot. The Others are
part Durham. Six of the three year olds
are heavier than the four year old. This
shows what improved blood will do in rails
ing beef.
At the late State Fair I saw Durham
Bull, two last spring, said TO weigh 1000.
Another year old weighed $500. But
I would not advise you to introduce Dur
hams till you are provided with rich ma
ture pastures and warm stables and yards.
That is ill you have converted your swamps
into meadows, aud your timber and stone
into warm stables. Blooded cattle will
not flourish on oak grubs in summer, nor
beside straw stalks in winter.
Considering The unfavorable season, the
display of fruit at the Fair is very credita-
bic, and proves that fruits of the best va
rieties can be raised in this county, There
is no greater luxury fer tho table, and no
article Of diet conduces moro to health
than good fruit. Abort rod square cf
cultivated strawberries will supply small
family with tho most delicious fruit for
number of weeks in the spring. Then
with little attention the farmer can be
well suppIed Win ufo rtoepLv..y, H.
Blackberry and the Cranberry in their sea.
son. BY proper attention every farmer
could have an abundant supply Of apples,
either dry or green, the entire year. In
addition to the luxury Of the article it is
well worth the expense Of cutivating them
on the score Of economy. Thor free use
will do more than all your pills and doctors
TO mitigate and banish the bilious fevers Of
the country.
| wonder that moro attention is not paid
to tho cultivation Of tho grape. II grows
to great perfection in this county, as the
specimens on exhibition demonstrate. You
can get supply of the most delicious and
healthy fruit from the grape in three years
after transplanting. Ny vines, which wero
only set out two years last spring, bore
three bushels Of excellent fruit this sum
mcr. | set them in warm, sandy loan,
and have given them one dressing Of swamp
muck, and kept the weeds out. No fruit
is superior to them for oil uses, A II trav-
oilers bear testimony, that in grape grow
ing countries where wine is extensively
made from the grape, and freely used as a
beverage, the people are moro temperate
than in other countries. On principles of
temperance then wo ought to encourage
the cultivation Of the grape, and the man
ufacture OF pure grapo wine in order TO
Danish from our midst CORN whisky, rum,
ale, and other intoxicating drinks, which
domoralize, degrade, debiIi,ate, and i'm
poverish those who use them.
Our social natures, and the courtesies Of
life, lead us to acts Of hospitality, and to
tender to our guests meats aud drinks when
they visit our houses; and if the pure juice
of the grape and the currant were more
commonly used, man could take social
glass with friend without danger Of vic.
latng his principles Of temperance, and
tho good house could offer her guests
glass Of home made wine without the
modification of its being refused for fesr
that it might contain something that would
intoxicate.
Nothing tends more 10 show the advance
ment and progress made by our agricultu-
rists and mechanics than tho labor saving
machines on exhibition at our late State
fair. There was the portable 10 horse
steam engine, which could be removed from
place to place with two yoke Of oxen, and
could be attached to any kind Of machinery.
1t consumed less than one halfcord ofwood
per day. There were numerous threshing
machines Of remarkable power and velocity
competing for the first prize. What con
trast between the fail with which we pound
ed out fifteen bushels a day with pure hu-
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