Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-08-04

any half-dozen breeders or families
should monopolize all the merit to be
found. Once again, if we would Sc
cure the cooperation of the general
farmer we must not pay more regard
to a purely fancy point than to
one of practical Importance. If we
will pay large price for one animal,
and only very low one for another,
because the first has few more or
less white hairs on his nose or his
tail; we must not be surprised if our
stolid neighbor pronounces the whole
thing humbug.
Perhaps no one thing would do
more to increase and perpetuate the
prosperity Of this interest than the
practice OF vigorous "brecding out"
by all breeders, I have never yet
seen the breed nor the large flock or
herd which did not produce some in
terior animals-unworthy to be bred
from. TO sell such, as breeders, is q
double iniury-it is wrong to the
purchaser, and a wrong to other
breeders. 1t would do no harm if
we secured by vigorous pruning, a
somewhat larger supply of pure
short-horn beef or cotswold mutton,
or if more thoroughbred horses were
made use of in everyday work. 1t is
a strange mistake made by many
breeders, as we'll as farmers, to pre-
fer an unframed young animal to an
excellent and tested one, because of
a little more age in the latter case.
The not uncommon habit among
some breeders of decrying the merits
of all other breeds, is as foolish as it
is ungentlemenly. No breed is per-
feet; many have marked excellencies;
it is the part of truth and sound poll
cy to concede to all their real merits
and not seek to rise on the ruins of
the reputation Of an other.
1t ought not to be necessary to
call attention to the necessity of fair
ness and honesty in all dealings by
breeders. He who sends out ami
mails which do not accord with his
description, or who at a public sale
allows by-bidding, is deservedly held
in distavor. He who makeE a de-
ceptivo announcement is also deserv-
ing of censure. A breeder or dealer
has the full right to sell out as often
as he chooses, but he has no right to
give false reason for his sale. 1t is
not help to permanent prosL Gritty
if a few specimens are found offered
over and over at succeeding sales
Breeders are justified In meeting the
popular demand so far as they can;
but it is questionable whether, in
many cases, the present gain is not
more than lost in the future. The
average buyer will pay most tor fat
animal, but if the seller, to meet this
feeling, carry the forcing so far as to
injure the animal, he has done harm
to his own reputation.
Every man who honestly works in
introducing improved cattle, is doing
a good work-whether he be peddler,
dealer or breeder; but the highest
honor is to be given to the breeder.
1t is higher and better to improve
and develop, to breed to an ideal,
than it is to buy. 1t is better to buy
to try to improve than to buy to sell.
When we hear man, as he looks
at a fine specimen of fine breed,
say otis all in the feed" we are nat.
urally disguised. Let us all be care
full not to fall into the opposite error
of saying, otis all in the breed."-
The best of blood will not make good
care unnecessary. BY the develop
ment of the desired qualities we
have ordinarily made the animal the
less able to withstand abuse, hence,
breeders should not only teach the
advantages of their favorite breed,
but should also impress on purchas-
ers the necessity for good care.
Were this talk before 4 body of
general farmers, l should point out
that the whims of breeders can often
be taken advantage Of; that the die
tates of fashion often enable the far
mer to buy good animals at low
price; that the insisting on an unnec-
essarily high standard in the same
way works to his advantage; and
that to-day good ANIMALS of any
widely spread breed can be bought
at prices which the average farmer
can well afford to pay. AS it is be-
fore body of breeders, it has seem
ed best to suggest few means by
which unjust prejudices may be
avoided and proper appreciation of
the great value of the improved
breeds of domestic animals can be
impressed on the greatest number"