The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-12-15
TO the cattle-Brseders Of Iowa.
Iowa Ao'L. SocrErr, Sec'y's Office,
Muscatine. Nov, 18th. 1853.

suaiiy prosperous for several years. ex.
cept the past one, and no pursuit has
been more successful than that Of aRri-
culture. Abundant harvests and good
prices have placed very many Of our
farmers in independent positions. sod
probably in no part of the Union have
farming interests been more prosperous
than in Iowa. Those who, a few years
ago, were grasping after li4ls more
land, are now satis6ed--they have
enough, and are beginning to improve
and beautify their farms and homes,
and to test methods of culture and breeds
OF domestic animals new to them, which,
if properly commenced and intelligent.
ly pursued, must lead on to fortune.
How much our various County aud
State Agricultural Exhibitions have
done to inspire and keep alive this de-
sic for improvement it is impossible to
estimate. but it is undoubtedly safe to
say they have been among the leading
causes of this movement, aud, if sus.
tanned and properly conducted, they
will prove themselves. as they have done
in older countries, invaluable schools
of practical instruction and compari.
son. a...--. - -. .... .s. '.
Three years experience as Secretary
Of che State Society has necessarily ex.
tended my acquaintance very consider
ably among the farmers and stock
growers Of Iowa, and during that time
l have observed very general, marked
and constantly growing disposition to
embark in breeding short horned cattle.
Other families, especially the Devons,
have not been entirely neglected, but
the great attraction has been and still
appears to be the Durhams. This state
OF things has been taken advantage of
In many instances in my own knowl-
edge. which will not now stop to emu
merate, by irresponsible pedlars-par-
ties who have nothing to lose but all to
make by playing the rascal-who have
brought in whole herds of grade ami
mails, sold them as thorough-breds.
and got thoroughbred prices for them.
Here it may be said, IF farmers are
fools enough to buy such animals, and
pay such prices. let them do it." The
misfortune is. these purchasers are EN-.
barking in business entirely new to
them, and they are not judges of what
Thoroughbred animal shoull be-
They have never handled tha, kind Of
stock. and however intelligent they may
be on other subjects. they are not in
telligent on this. e. -.
Ii the evil terminated with tie loss Of
the money of the purchase. it would be
comparatively small item but many
men think it derogatory to their dig
niiy to admit they have been deceived,
and even prevail on themselves to be-
lieve their stock is all right. and thus.
after years spent in vain efforts to i'm
prove, they pronounce the whole scheme
OF introducing improved stock q hum
bug. quit it in disgust. and the whole
community in which they live point to
their attempts and results as conclusive
evidence that the way to wealth does
not lie in that direction. Aud all this
is the result Of, in the first instance. be-
lleying "rascally pedlar." If these
men would pursue the part of wisdom.
they would, at once, avail themselves Of
the best faeslits.s ~~>fS~--1 -.~~l-4
the question conclusively as to the pu-
rlty OF the blood of their stock. Ii it
is all right, you are satisfied, and you
can recommend it with a clear con.
science, aud if it is not right, YOU had
peter know it now. and save yourselves
from disappointment and loss in the
end. Here 1t may be asked. "by what
are short-horns to be iudped
with regard to the purity of their blood?"
In answer | would reply. the breed ia a
foreign one. and every pure animal mus.
trace It's pedigree to imported anc cestors
'n both sides Of the house. without
any admixture of native or other
breeds. ..s.-ges, a. . r~s-s -, = =.
The American Herd Book, now com
prising three volumes. is recognized "A
national authority on this subject. In
hat work it is now known there arc
some animals that are not pure it is
also known there We're some pure ami
mails in the country twenty years ago.
when the first volume was published.
hat were Tot put in it, but these are rare
exceptions and not rules. The more
recent volumes contain the herds of every
respectable dealer in the United States.
It Is an unfortunate fact that there are
lot more than halfa dozen copies Of
his valuable work in the State. Every
breeder should have il. and it is abso,
utely Indispensable to every county So
'iety. But, as it costs FIVE dollars a
Folume, it is not to be expected that it
will ever be very generally introduced.
10 supply the want of this work, there
ore. SO far as the herds in Iowa are con-
erned. it is my purpose to publish in
he next volume of Transactions the
'edigro, Of all tie bred cattle in
he State, of whatever race they may
e. and in the class of Short.Horns 1
1lll now say once for always that I w;U
asert no animal as pure blooa, uuless Il
, already in tie american Herd Book.
= IS entitled to be there. In the other
reeds l am not 80 well informed. but
'ill be qually careful to do exact Justice
0 each animal submitted to my eYami,
atiun, SO Iar as l am able.
Those who Anow they have thorough
red animals will gladly avail them
elves of so general and so authentic an
advertisement. Those who have reason
doubt the purity of the blood Of their
nimals, and still want to pass them a.
uch, will treat this circular with silent
whilst others in the same
osition will be glad to be Sc, right if
hey arc not so now. This circular will
g published in every newspaper in the
tate, and every man will have an op.
ortunity to read 1t. and its contents
I'LL commend themselves SO universally