Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-12-10
Cees = etssh--Its EGbs1s a Charas.t


The question as to whether the
care = (oHm stock is conducive to
the 4 Elevation Of the farmer is.
one of more importance than II gen.
orally believed, aud one which will
do to talk about. Every farmer OF
any experience or observation in this
matter knows how much OF annoy
ance there is connected with tn. care
Of different kinds of stock usually
kept en- a farm; especially where the
stock is neglected and the owner In
dulges in bad temper or pettishness.
The pigs trespass upon reserved
ground and the owner is angry. The
hungry cattle and horses break over
fences and destroy in a night more
than would keep them in condition a
week and acquire such q knowledge
Of their power that finally fences are
looked upon as no barrier at all. Re-
straint becoming impossible, the far
mer finally gives way to strain of
eloquence worthy Of Clay or g.
Webster, yet it is not Of such char
acter as to rebound to the elevation
of his better nature. On the whole,
it is degrading in no small degree
The man loses his manhood and the
stock loses its domesticity.
+ Our advice to farmers is: If you
have not the facilities, the taste and
the patience for taking care of stock
properly you had better not have 1t;
and this, not only upon moral con-
siderations but upon principles of
economy. 1t is better to depend up
on the raw materials of the farm for
living and be content with the
smaller profits. Association has
much to do with an ordinary life in
elevating or degrading the character,
and we think it the duty of all men
to think Of this when they engage in
any occupation.
Where stock.is properly cared for
the relations between it and the own
er seem to become one of mutual un-
derstanding. The breeder provides
an abundance of food and everything
necessary for the comfort Of the ami
mails; and in return they bring quiet
contentment and comparative free
dom from disease, to reward the far
mer, for of course they bring the best
possible returns in ready money for
the time and food bestowed on them.
The breeder in this case has no rea-
son to be otherwise than contented
and happy. He has time to study ma
ture and natures laws, and apply the
knowledge thus gained in all the de-
partments of the farm and in promo
ting the happiness OF his family. In
fact, the mora character is rather
promoted than otherwise from having
the care of domestic animals, in case
all the duties due them are strictly
performed by the possessor. The
thorough farmer becomes wise in the
study OF the nature of the animal, and
also the mature of the food they should
eat, and puts the proper conditions
together to produce the best results.
He brings under his control the ele-
ments Of nature 80 fully that when
he desires thrifty, healthy and mus
cular animal he bcstows the proper
food to produce it; or if he wishes to
promote the development of fat, to
prepare the animal for the butcher
he understands the kind OF food to
be given to produce that. So he
goes on joyously, hand and hand
with the unseen and unknown as it
were, yet the results are as sure as in
an algebraic problem in mathematics.
Farmers, study your calling and be
happy; treat your stock we'll and be
good-natured.- Western Rurai.