Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-09-18
The farm aud fireside'
IMPROVING STOCK.

Opinions differ among men on the improve
ment of stock just as widely as on any other
question of Importance. Some contend that
it is best to buy in the outset the most i'm
proved breeds, in order to reach the speediest
and"happiest results. This will do for those
this is not the case with farmers generally, we
must look for some other method by which
the end desired may be reached and all bene-
fitted. The trouble with the South generally
is that there is not enough attention paid to
stock. Most every farmer has more or less !;
but they are, as a rule, of that character to
warrant no considerable amount of attention
and excite no considerable degree of pride,
and no man who feels no pride in his stock,
will ever prosper in handling it. 1t is better
to move slowly than not to move at all. Par
ticularly is this the case with those who are
not entirely prepared to care properly for their
cattle, and who know little about managing
them. 1t would in our opinion, be better for
a number of our farmers to club together and
buy one or more improved animals for their
own use. Cross these animals with our COM
mon stock, and the result would be most graf
flying. It is true they would only be grade
stock, the improvement would be not only
very perceptible, but would add very largely
to the value of the stock. Our observation
has led us to this conclusion, and we may say
here, we have had a good deal of experience
in breeding stock-that for very many pur-
poses on the farm, grade stock equal those
which draw their form from the purest strains.
Pure stock, like everything else, is to be de-
sired above that which bears the faint of coru-
mon blood. We prefer thoroughbred all the
time But the thoroughbred cow will give no
more milk, nor yield any more butter, nor in
the end make better beef, than the grades. A
great many men who handle stock know very
well. but not all of them will confess, that
there is as much humbuggery about stock
raising as about anything else. We speak ad-
visedly when we assert that the great secret
at last in possessing fine stock is in glorious
pastures and full corn cribs. 1t makes no diff
ference what breed of stock man may pos
sess. if he does not feed literally and carefully
enough. The great difficulty in any enter
prise is to start it. If it gets on it's legs once,
and it can stand, it will be apt to walk, and
take care of itself. Now, if some of our enter
prising farmers in every neighborhood would,
as we have suggested, club together and buy,a
thoroughbred Bull, or Horse, or Boar, OF
Buck, the cost would not amount to much to
each, and the result would be more than salts
factory. With good grades carefully attend.
ed and fed from the moment of weaving, the
process towards pure stock may be rapidly
with grades we may, in few years. with a
little cost, produce stock pure, which il
nearly as complete as is attained by most
breeders. Give stock breeder an animal
pure, and he will swear that that animal is
thoroughbred and no mistake. Our people
are beginning to learn one important lesson
viz. that Georgia is to be re-invigorated by
the introduction of stock-that the day has
arrived for this work, and that with its az
rival enterprising men are preparing for thu
harvest by importing and breeding pure stock
Planter and Grange.