Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-04-15
THE FARM.
The Need Of Improvement in cur stoci Of Cattle
BY GEO. NJ. SWAIN, DAVIS CO., IOWA.

tie, VINO rom enc Dlaue, or one acre
Of grass or grain, produces as much
food for the hungry millions dependent
upon the labors Of the Agricnlturist,as
was before produced from two with
he same labor, is equally a beuetact'
or Ct all; and this ! deem a possible
achievement, if but an earnest and
persevering effort be made fov that
purpose, and continued in, despite the
labor and occasional annoying failures
that may occur. If asked how, my
answer would he, by the Improvement
Il our stock Of cattle. / need hardly
mention the fact, that from onr herds
Of cattle. in the forms of beef and
milk and it's products, is drawn large
portion Of the suslenalce Of our popu-
| la,ion, anl it is n noticeable fact that
statistics given in the reports Of the
Department Of Agriculture, which
show the ratio of neat cattle TO b.
eighty cattle to one hundred inh;bl
tan,s-shat eight of these must be
working oxen--.,hat twenty eight must
be milk cows--also show that these
requirements have not varied Il siugle
per cent. in thirty years since 1910.
This shows ut one" that there mnsi
ever be a demand for the products Of
our her,ls, and if We look AZ the mal
ter il the combined lights Of facts and
reason, it must appear To every intel
| iIgent observer, that the heavy drain,
upon the almost countless droves Of the
hitherto abundant and extensive uatu-
raj pastures of the West and south
west, which have been SO gre,, for II
lew years past as to almost mt the
markets, must in Il very few years
more, III connection with the rapidly
increasing population OF our country,
and the consequent changing Of the
free pastures Of the West to g,au
fields, reduce the supply from this quar-
tel. When this time shall come, which
| predict is in the near future, then
viii appear, more than ever before, the
necessity Tor an Improvement of our
cattle. may say that the opinion has
been expressed by men well Informed
on the subject, that the abundant sup
ply thrown ON the markets hOm these
sources, since the extension of raj!
roads into and near these cattle fields
has already been the expense of Grip
ping the production IN the future. II
Tins be true, such cause. IN conuec.
ton with the changes which inevitably
result from the settlement of the coun
Try and the changing of the cattle
ranches now estimated by square miles
aud leagues (,ihgIc ranches comprising
territory suticient tor Il county,, into
; farms, gardens, villages, towns and
cities, VIII hasten the time when the
markets of our country must look else
where Tor the necessary supplies To
make good this deficiency, then, will
IT be an important question whether
beet can be furnished to the laborinu
classes as an article of GOOD, or by rea-
son ct short supply and consequent
high prices, be cla>sed as q luxury
Then will come demand for tie re
CURED supply, This demand will mean
increased prices, and ample renuera
; ton Tor alI labor and outlay. Here IN
the fertile State of Iowa, ON her rich
pastures, may bc fed and reared larg,
herds OF cattle, giving Increased profits
to oar farmers AZ prizes deiymg com
petition IN the oidurthe more eaSterly.
the less productive states. The Amos,
certain prospect Of an increased de
mand for beef and dairy products,
makes this matter of very grelt i'm
portanee. hope that five years may
not elap>e till it will DE m uncommon
thing To see in this whole country a
/ vicious, i'll bred, halfStarycl, dw usi> Il
scrub bull kent tor service r,gr,,i,. -