The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-02-14
Agrie"It"r"l3e department.
W. S. SHIELDS, EDITOR.
Good Blood for Grazing and
Feeding.-Grade Steers.

Mr.. JAMES GAINS, "Ridge Farm"
Ills. writes us. that since last fall,
he has sold from his farm three
hundred grade steers for, in round
figures, about thirty thousand dollars
Concerning them he states that
ninety head averaged 1870 lbs, and
were sold at 1915 per 100 lbs 100
head averaged 1865 lbs, and sold
for $6.121 per 100 lbs, and 10
head averaged 1.770 lbs, and sold
for Sc per 100 lbs the whole lot
averaging about 500 each. He un-
derstates the figures, which are $751;
1887. lie has, we understand,
some 800 head left, many of them
as good as some of those which he
has sold.
We are laboriug constantly to
open the eyes of general farmers
to the advantages which will accrue
to them by the use of thoroughbred
bulls to grade up the common stock
of the farm, and the facts and fig
ures which such gentlemen as Mr..
Gains can supply are needed to
carry conviction home to the minds
of the general farmers Of the land.
The experience of Mr.. Gaines
amounts to a demonstration of the
superior advantage of good blood,
and OF its free use merely for COM
mon everyday farm purposes. We
implore him, although he has such
good thing in handling grade stock.
not TO keep it to himself, but to
speak out in public. and give other
farmers the lessons they need in
handling stOck-lessons which will
tell them, in every line and syllable,
that to make the farm pay they
must improve their farm stock.
Every one can see that they were
Heacier than native steers could
have been made, and every one of
experience knows that grades will
mature earlier and fit themselves for
market on less food.
A great many farmers have an
idea that unless improved stock is
blanketed and stuffed with oilcake
and other delicacies, it will not
thrive. This is not so.
There is much in Mr.. Gaines
statement upon which The general
farmers can reflect with profit. His
lands have increased in value, and
his expenses of every kind have
been greatly increased, since the |
easy days of of ante war times. and |
the extension Of railroads in every
direction, has brought him into COM
petition in the raising Of grain and |
the power qualities of beef with the |
cheap lands of half a continent. |
Which ever way he turns. he finds
the market so amply supplied with
the cOarser products, as to keep
prices at the lowest possible point,
and scarcely above the cost of pro-
duction. Every consideration urges
him to cheaper the cost of produc-
ton, and to produce those things
which are in the greatest demand,
which meet with the readiest sale
and bring the largest prices. In the
selection of stock to consume the
raw produce of the farm he should
give particular attention to obtaining
4
permit, and then improve it from
year to year and continually to The
highest standard. And why? Not
for any fancy, but simply because
the improved stock natures earlier
and attains greater weight in a given |
time, and can thus be produced more ,
cheuply, and because it brings high ,,
er price in the market, More mon
ey can be made in handling improv-
ed stock than in handling common ,
native stock. and this is why the y,
general farmer should select it. We ,
are no advocate Of any one going in !
debt under any circumstances. But ;
f there is anything for which a far ,
ner would be justified in borrowing !
money at high rate of interest, it :
s for the purchase OF a bull, boar, E
md ram of some Of the thorough :
bred races for the improvement Of |
he stock upon his farm. And we .
believe the farmers who does with :
,ut these, is carrying his money .
Dose in his pocket, with q very +
arge hole in the bottom. There is
10 use in preaching about the boys
md girls on the farm spending more :
money than their fathers and moth !
rs did at their age. If there is a o
Grub bull on the farm, he is respon- 2
ibIe for q large measure Of the I
lose times. The trouble is not i
nth the expenditure Of the money =
7hich comes in, but to the money =
hitch does not come In, but which
could come in if the farmer gave 6
be same honest effort to the improve =
rent Of his livestock which he gives
} other things, -LiUe-StocE Journal