Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1879-09-04

ohA hbh 0AASON'
appropriate theirgood qualities with
out the care and long years required
for thorough climatization. This
can be measurably done by crossing
the imported male upon selected fe-
males Of eur native breeds, but can
be far better done by an infusion into
the European breed Of the hot blood
of the long-descended and pure bred
tropical races. The grade is at once
climatized, and renewed crosses upon
the European stock and careful at
tention will soon give you an animal
equal to his European ancestor IN ell
desirable qualities, and at the same
time one naturalized to his new home.
These remarks apply more particular
ly to cattle. The Spanish Merlno
sheep for fine wool is unequalled by
any breed here or abroad, and it is
at home with us without cross. The
broad-tailed is regarded by many as
the superior of all others for mutton
and is a good coarse wool sheep. If,
however, taste prefers one of the En-
glish mutton and coarse wool breeds,
the cross of the broadtailed will ac-
complish the purpose of climatization
without depreciating the mutton Or
wool quality. We all recollect what
valuable hog for plantation pur-
poses the cross of the Guinea upon
our native stock made thirty y ars or
more ago. lam satisfied now that
the best hog for us would be from
new aud direct infusion of tropical
blood into some OF the modern i'm
proved breeds. This cross comes to
US through the Essex and Berkshire,
but there is too much of the native
English bloo' in these hogs. Long
residence in northern climate has
toned down the tropical blood too
much, and the cross itself, for our use,
needs clima atizing 10 some extent. |
have for many years made my bacon
economically and with due certainty
by breeding Essex Or Berkshire boars
to native sows. The half-bred was
thrifty and healthy, good planta-
ton hog, fit for slaughter without ex-
ira care or attention at twelve to
eighteen months old. In my expert
ence higher grade was no improve
ment. Once relied upon the pure
bred Prince Albert Berkshire, giving
thirty-six dollars for my boar at six
months old. The sows kept fat, bred
freely, and the pigs looked like the
originals Of the pictures we sometimes
see on the circulars Of agricultural
fairs. When began to feed them
fos, slaughter. first one. then another.
was found dead, until in short time
nearly the last one was g>ne. The
disease was as mysterious as The en-
pertinent of pure breeds for bacon
was novel with me, and Ireturned to
my grades. There are probably very
fewifany, pure-bred Brahmin cattle in
this State, although very high grades
may be found. DR.. Davis imported
a cow and bull into South Carolina
in 1850, which he afterwards sold
into Kentucky. I have seen in the
columns Of the old Farmer and Plan-
ter a statement from Mr.. Fades, the
Kentucky purchaser, that after six
years successful breeding, in which
he sold near $4,000 worth Of calves
from the bull, he sold the original
pair to Mr.. Mediation, of Louisiana.
for 81, 900 something more than he
gave DR.. Davis for them. He claim
ed for the grades not only the snpe-
riority for beef and work which is
generally conceded, but also high
milking qualities and increased size.
l am aware that the claim to milking
qualities is sometimes contested, but
in my observation he is right. l
once took from twelve-year-old cow
in one day, without extra feed, twen-
ty-two quarts of rich milk. She was
half Brahmin and half Alderney,
and would have weighed fat fully one
thousand pounds. This same COW,
bred to an imported Alderney bull
produced cow that approxlmated
tn, Alderney nearer in reduced size
and smaller quantity OF milk. The
Brahmin blood in that case certanl y
did no damage to the milking qnall-
ty Of the Alderney, while it greatly
added to size, symmetry Of form and
|
thrift in the grade. There is also al
opinion entertained in some quarters
that the Brahmin grades are vicious
and jumpers. l have not found then
to be either. Bulls Of all breeds wei
: kept, like stations and boars, ar'
: apt to become vicious with age. |
g kept in large enclosures, with a
8 many COWS as they desire, or broker
e to the yoke and worked, this troubl
e is decreased. AS jumpers, if tn
e habit is once acquired, the Brahml
: is apt to excel, because of his SUPER
: or form and activity. lie has, how
z ever. no more predisposition to tn