The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-11-30
We Should Raise More Stock in the
SDuth.

"''h'pS ftoStiSC VI lHc OOVlu ID "tnt
of attention to stock of all kinds. On
many places well adapted 10 the raising
OF cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses, The
farm work Is done by mules, ubtnined
from abroad the laborcrs are fed or
nork produced in the West, the butte,
used by the family comes from the
grocer, the cattle aud sheep are puor, ii
fed and neglected, and the hogs few and
unthriCty in comparison with what they
shonll be.
Our farmers should understand that
the great reliance Tor the improvement
OF the soil is upon tho stock Of The farm.
Without stock a sufficient supply Of
domestic mannres cannot be mude, md
| the farm will inevitably decline in
fertility until its cultivation cLases to be
profitable. Moreover the farmer who
tries it will find hat i, is more profitable
to turn his surplus grain and roots into
beet, pork, mutton butter, and conous
supply Of valuable home made manure,
than 20 scnd it off To market at heavy
expense for transportation. These
remarks arc more especially applicable
to our uplands of moderate fertility.
On rich alnvial lands aud swamps
grain is made in sufficient quantities to
Justify 'ls sale. And in the interior
wheat on improved lots ia generally a
good farming crop. Our farmers gene
rally accept The principle that it is not
profitable to raise corn Tor market on
their upanos, but they do not inquire
sufficiently into the question whether ON
such lands grain may not be proftubly
raised for stuck.
In Europe they keep large hcrde and
llocks, by means Of their fine meadows
and pastures, and by raising large quaint,
ties of roots, for winter feeding. BY
this means. they not only have the
finest meat, but milk, and cheese, ard
wool and raise manure enough, 10 ke, p
their lands up to the highest point OF
prodac;ivsiess. We might adept their
system here, witt some modification,
with great advantage. There are no
better natural pastures in the union,
than may be found in the mountains
district OF the South, as we'll as those be.
low tide water. in the eastern parts
AS our winters are short, it will re-
qmre comparatively a small area, to be
planted in roofs. and clover, and other
s a'scs, to support Il large stock.
The manure raised instead of being
applied to grain crops, as in the old
countries and in the Northern Suites,
where the system has been adopted to
some extent should here be applied to
cotton. know from my own cxpe-
riencc, that even under the old system,
where the stock are allowed to run in
the woods, during summer and are
sparingly fed during winter, with the
offal OF the grain crops, sufficient ma
nure can be raised per head to make a
four hundred pound bale Of cotton. If
they werc provided with good summer
pastures and with plenty of hay, and
,urnips during tho IS. inter, the quantity
of manure would Dc incalculabiy in.
creased, and its quality much cnhanc.
ed.
Tho more roots crops, there would be
the more stock the more stock, tho
more manure; the more manure the
more cotton Under this system, we
might make as much more cotton as we
do, on one.third of the land, save the
money paid Ior fertilizers, and supply
ourselves with an abundance of fat beef
and mutton, milk and butter, articles
that are extremely rare, even on the
tables of our wealthiest farmcrs--lhe
more shame to them it is so.
But the only way our farmers can be
induced to keep large stock Of cattle,
is to convince them that-thcv can make
more cotton thereby, and at less cost.
No system will be adopted By them
that does not revolve around this
pivot.
There is now an awakening among
the agricnlturis,s Of tho South to the
necessity Of Improving the breeds Ct
their domestic animals. Almost any
person Of proper qualifications who will
undertake the business Of raiaing ami
mails OF improved breeds. will fnd it a
profitable business. Such ANNALS arc
being constantly brought southwarl Mt
great expense and with some risk, on
account Of change of climate, food etc.
A trader Al the South possesses many
and obvious advantages, which may be
eummcd mp in one sentance. Hu has the
market At his door.
The raising Of fine horses is business
which may be pro6tably followed in
some portions, 49, american Stock Joar.
nat
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