The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-08-24

in Kentucky, for example, where the great
natural resources Of the country seem for
the present to bid defiance to all the faults
of the farmers On the other hand, the
mechanical excellence and superiority in
all labor-saving machinery exhibited in the
great cattle yards of Chicago, and of our
Eastern cities too, receive the unqualified
praise of our Scotch critic, whose breath
is almost taken away when he tells us that
in 1876 the total value Of the live stock
received into the yards Of Chicago was
over one hundred millions Of dollars, aud
that fortune is made by the slaughter
houses out Of fee Of the four feet of eve
~ animal killed.
There is almost romancein the story of
"Shorthorns, " introduced into Virginia in
1888, and bred, as matter of fancy, in
an irregular way-from 1924 to 1910 Mr..
John Hare Powell, of Philadelphia had
the best herd-until now it is grown so
strong fashion that even an Indian chief
has Joined the breeders and studies the
herd book, where all pedigrees are relig-
iously preserved. As to the prices and
prizes, one mouth waters over cows bring
ing anywhere from fifteen to thirty thou
sand dollars apiece, and earning thirty thou
sand dollars in prizes in ten years, and
Kansas farmer refusing hundred thou
sand dollars for four cows. In Canada a
stock company own herd of four hun
dred, the largest in the world, and yet Mr..
Macdonald tells us that there ought to be
ten thoroughbreds for every one now in
this country, to raise the whole stock to
anything like the standard of the old
country, and he urges the dealers to give
up speculation in cattle and to devote them
selves to the improvement of the race by
steady, slow progress. He asserts soundly
that Texas and common cattle cannot
compete with English beef, and that the
best American is not so good as the best
English beef, and that this is due to want
Of care in feeding, for corn alone is not
fattening for tender beef, while elaborate
tables of cost and prices show there is no
profit for the American farmer or shipper
of meat that has to be sold in England at
twelve or fourteen cents a pound, when
native beef can be produced in Scotland
at twelve to sixteen cents pound. He
points out the difficulties to be overcome
in the matter of our long railroad trans
portation and the risks aud dangers of the
sea voyage, although American ingenuity
has done great deal and may yet do all
that is necessary to overcome these and
enable the pioneers in this trade to put it
on a profitable and safe footing.
Mr. Macdonald sums up the results of
his investigation tour by reassuring the
English and Scotch farmers that there is
no probability that the Importation of
American meat will prove Immediately
disastrous to their interests, although it
viii introduce an important opponent; yet
it will take eight or ten years for Ameri-
can farmers to compete successfully in
point of quality, for it viii take at least
that time TO raise the average to that
which is wanted and produced in the old
country. His book supplies to intending
emigrants a fair basis of comparison as to
the principal items of earnings and expen-
ses in the old settled parts of the United
States, and in the newer regions opened
to 4 great increase of population. 1t is
inst such intelligent observation as best
informs the thinking and inquiring people
both at home and abroad. philadelphia
Ledger.