Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-04-25
LIY I ST OK.


grower of Gallatin county, in answer to
Charles Anceney's article copied by us some
weeks ago. The question a, to which par
~eticular branch of live stock husbandry is the
most profitable. is one not easy
We, like Mr.. Edwards, are somewhat in
clined to the belief that wool-growing rath-
er stands at the head. The figures, at a
casual glance at least, would readily incline
one to the conclusion but when we sit
down and carefully consider all the facts,
weigh all the advantages and disadvantages,
consider the risk. the relative amount OF
care necessary, there is not so much differ
ence, after all. Sheep husbandry has not
existed in our Territory on a large scale
long enough to be able to make a full esti-
mate Of the risks and losses of a decade,
while the beef industry can be figured on
with certainty yet we have full confidence
that the average success attained in the
wool industry in our Territory, will be fully
maintained throughout all time. 1t is a
well known fact that either, or we might
say every branch of stock husbandry in our
midst so far exceeds anything that can be
attained anywhere else in America, that
.cavil as to which is superior is useless. We
think the Courier's correspondent creates a
wrong impression, or errs somewhat in his
statement respecting the beef producing
business. He is no doubt a good shepherd,
q thorough agriculturist, but we believe
that his inference in regard to the cattle in
.terest of our Territory were drawn from OBJ
servations made in thickly settled farming
districts, and not from the facts as they .ex-
list In our valleys where stock is the para
mount interest and the pillow, spade and hoe
are rarely ever employed. We cannot agree
with him that because an animal rpaus at
will over hill and dale and becomes wild
from not being accustomed to the haunts of
men that it necessarily deteriorates, neither
can the fact of wild feed have any great ,eI-
feet, Or if it did the argument would not
hold good in Montana, since our bunch
grass is not to be excelled in nutriment by
tn" vegetation Of any land or country. The
thoroughbred, if,left to run and feed solely
upon pasture and hay, will, of course, not
remain in as trim shape as, if grain fed, but
necessarily belly out more from the CON
slant use of coarse and bulky %provender.
But the symmetry can only be effected in
this particular. The deterioration of cattle
in Texas is caused from the practice so
strongly condemned by Mr.. Ancepey's,
that of paying no attention to what breed.
grade and quality of bulls are allowed to
run upon the range. The Dukes and
Clutches, of the States have the cream of ev-
,erything that is good, and a home ike a
palace. They are kept for show animals
and made to carry every possible pound of
flesh, but their offspring unless subjected to
the same pqmpering will develop no better.
points than if their ancestors had only re-
.ceived ordinary care. Our winters are
sometimes long and cold, and many a bull
lock has to pass the long winter nights
bumped on the lee side of some friendly
= cadar bush" shivering with cold, but the
surprising figures at which they kick the
beam when they come to the slaughter
house, is abundant evidence that they are
neither dWarfed nor stunted thereby. They
are equal. and in many cases, superior to
States raised heeves. 1T our horned stock
have deteriorated anywhere, it is in thickly
settled farming sections. where little at
tention is paid to the class Of bulls turned
out and stock are fed enough in winter to
keep them around the farm and from learn
ing the important lesson OF how to rustic
for themselves and not fed Il suticieney.
On most OF our valleys our beeyes are i'm
proving, but II careful system in regard to