The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1858-11-27
From the Muscatine Journal.
To tho Cattle. Breeders Of Iowa.

Iowa STATE AG'L SOCIETY, secretary's Office,
Museatne, Nov. 10th, 1855
All departments of industry through
out the western country have been un-
usually prosperous for several years, ex
cept the past one, aud no pursuit has
been more successful than that of agri-
culture. Abundant harvests and good
prices have placed very many Of our far
mers in independent positions, aud prob
ably in 10 part of the Union have farm
ing interests been more prosperous than
in Iowa. Those who, few years ago,
were grasping after ltttte more tand, are
now satisti'ed-they have enough, and are
beginning to improve aud beautity their
farms and homes, and to test method. Of
culture and breeds of domestic animals
new to them, which, if properly ccm-
menccd and inteIigently pursued, must
lead Oh to fortune.
How much out various County aud
State Agricultural Exhibitions have done
to inspire aud keep alive this desire 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 sustained and properly
conducted, they will prove themselves, as
tney have done in older countries, Inval-
liable schools of practical instruction and
comparison.
Three years's experience as Secretary
of the State Society has necessarily cx
tended my acquaintance very considerably
among the farmers and stock growers OF
Iowa, and during that time | have OBJ
served very general, marked and con
stantly growing disposition to embark in
breeding short horned cattle. Other
families, especially the Dcvons, have not
been entirely neglected, but the great
attraction has been aud still appears 10
be the Durhams This state of things
has been taken advantage Of in many in
stances in my own knowledge, which |
will not now stop TO enumcrate, by irres-
ponsble pedlsrs s--parties who have moth
ing to lose but all to make by playing the
rascal-who have brought in whole herds
of grade animals, sold them as thorough
breds, and got thorough bred 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 arc en-.
barking in business entirely new to
them, and they are not Judges of wha,
thorough bred animal should be. They
have never handled that kind Of stock,
and however intelligent they may be on
other subjects, they are not intelligent on
this.
If the evil terminated with the loss Of
the money of the purchase, it would be
comparatively a small item; but many
men think it derogatory to their dignity
to admit they have been deceived, and
even prevail on themselves to believe
their stock is all right, and thus, after
years spent in vain efforts to improve,
they pronounce the whole scheme Of
introducing improved stock humbug,
quit it in disgust, and the whole commr-
nifty in which they live point to their at
tempts and results as conclusive evidence
that the way to wealth docs not lie in
that direction. And all this is the result
Of in the first instance, believing ras-
cally pedlar." If these men would pur
sue the part of wisdom, they would, at
once, avail themselves of the best facil-
ties offered to determine the question
conclusiyely as to the purity of the blood
of their stock If it is all right, you
are satisfied, and you can recommend 1t
with clear conscience, and If 1t Is not
right, YOU had better know it now, and
save yourselves from disappointment aud
loss in the end Here it may be asked,
'.by what standard are short. horns to be
judged with regard to the purity OF their
blood2" In answer would reply, the
breed is a foreign one, and every pure an
inaI must trace its pedigree to imported
ancestors on both sides of the house,
without any admixture of native or other
breeds.
The American Herd Book, now com
prising three volumes, is recognized as
national authority on this subject. In
that work it is now known there are some
sniasls tia, are not purc5 Il Is also