The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-07-21
Ensnrns crs,e,,f .rEfve stock.

Farmers every 1WHcfC SHOuIu IN prove TIC
breed ef their lie stock, according to their
convenience and peeuniary ability where
practicable, ~ purchase Of thorough and
halfbreels, and when Their pecuniary
means will not admit Of this, by taking
extra pains auI even incurring little
more expense to procure crosses Of com-
mon with thorough and half-breeds It
is a duty Which the farmer not only owe
10 himself, but to the community in which
he lives, and to the progressive agricul-
lural aud s,ook-5,eoding efforts Of the
country at large.
All reforms, in all ages, whether in
moral, orsosjal development, are initiated
and most often for long time maintained
and urged by the originator and a few
devoted and seIfsacrifoing friends, and
are even secuted at by those who at first
view dislike them but who afterwards
become warm, devoted and energetic ad-
vocatcs of thom-regrotting, sincerely,
their inability to recognize their worth at
first view Thus it IS with the reform in
Agriculture and stock breeding. The
great drawback to improvement in this
respect, being tie fear which non progress
sive farmers entertain toward seeming in
creased expenses. Now, let US sec who
is the wisest, the farmer who lodges ex-
pen+es by lodging Improvement, or lie
who increases profits by courting improve
ments according to his ability.
\ native cow of years of age, at three
years old costing purchaser SIS to $25,
having borne three calves, (whichis usual
y the case, the fIst calf being born when
the dam is two years ola, much to her in
jury, but which is very natural, because
a man Is not SO apt to care for a cheap
article as for tho same article Of a better
quality, gives ten quarts Of milk per day,
afording five pounds Of butter per week,
and costs nothing for continuance of breed
taking into consideration her winters
keeping, actually nets nothing to her own
er A native crossed with a thorough
bred, usually, at the same age, gives y
TO 4quarts Of milk per day, and averages
to 10 pounds of hutter per week during
the usual season, besides supplying small
family with cream, etc. She costs $25
10 S35 at three years Of age, and is sired
at an original expense Of S.. Her keep
ing in the winter costs less, if anything,
than the native. Now, we would ask the
farmer if he avoids or rather does not in
cease his expenses by maintaining the
native COW. viii not the extra produce
Of the crossed COW pay handsome profit
over and above the extra expense of OBJ
tanning the cross
Just so with sheep 4 native sheep
will usually afford fleece of 3 to lbs Of
coarse wool, worth 25 to 80 cents per h.,
the carcass being worth 81 to 81, for
butchering. The same sheep is crossed
(tho first cross is said to be the best) by
a thoroughbred at an expense Of 81, and
the sheep thus obtained yields a fleece Of
6 to lbs, Of fine wool, worth 50 to 40
cents pound, and the carcass worth to
the butcher s. to So Both sheep aro
keFt alike, that is as the same expense.
Again we ask, is not the expense greatly
overbala1ced by the profit And the
Improvement Of the blood of the animal
is the real profit.
Horses, too, must be considered here !;
for in nc section Of the country we have
ever visited, have we seen SO generally IN
ferior looking horses as here in Potter
county. There are many good horses,
some fne-blooded; but in general our
teams are small and a great deal harder
worked than in other sections. Here We
would digress to say that a horse should
never be made to draw more than his own
weight in freight-every poundmoro than
that viii hasten the time of his worthless
ness and death. But to return to our
subject If common horse of your own
raising is worth $50 at 4 years old (no
horse is broken in England until that age)
and bred or blooded horse raised by
crossing your common mare, Is worth $50
or $500 at the same age, which is the
cheapest to own, considering them both
as farm or team horses Verify it is Just