The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
farm aud Auusshula.

Jafm ahn Sluu5ehulM.
The Pi0a3cr Press has Il correspond
ent out in The Yellowstone region.
who had the fortune To fall in with
one of those old hunters full of Wis
dom as 10 the best places and habits
of large game, and became so en-.
raptured that he engaged him for a
little tilt among the elk, which he
thus graphically describes
In the morning VT were awakened
by the shrill whistle of elk, and
seiZing our rifles went ont upon the
trail. \ short but spirited walk
brought Is into Il series of parks
ranged along the base Of Il bald
mountain, where We found fresh
signs of the noble game FOR which We
sought. shortly the dog gave the
Signal that the game was near,
and Is we came suddenly into an
opening, Il short sharp whistle nd
monished us Ia prepare for action.
Hardly had we thrown our rifles in
position when Il magnificent bull elk
emerged from the timber into the
opening with his splendid antlers
thrown proudly lack over his neck
and shoulders. His keen eye and
hardly had our rifles been leveled ut
him when he wheeled around and was
in the act of returning when the
simultaneous report of two rifles
rang out on the still morning air. and
he sank upon his knees with an all
dible groan. While we were regret.
ting the act of laying the noble animal
low, he sprang To his feet and dlsap-
peared i'll the dense woods in an in
slant. lie had recovered from the
first shock of the shot, which had
perforated nearly every vital organ.
and was making Il desperate effort to
escape. All sentiment in the poor
animals behalf disappeared with
his antlerS, rs he bore them aloft
triumphantly in his flight. But his
triumph was of short duration. The
trained dog WAS released and set upon
his trail. and having brought him Il
bay barely within hearing ofthe scene
of shooting. ran the Inflated animal
back through the same park, where
q shot from Il repeating rifle put
uuietus upon his troubled career. As
he ran through the opening, fighting
the dog, the Intelligent animal dodg
ing the vicious tllrustS of his horn,
and appearing upon the other flank
he received IN ounce of lead through
the brain. and, sinking down. ROLLED
over upon his side. composed his
limbs, and after Il tremulouS move
ment of the muscles WAS dead. W.
butchered him. packed the meat an,
splendid head of horns, and returned
TO camp. where we divided the fruit
of the chase. and took Il regretfu
farewell of orr old hunter friend.
Certain Ohio sheep men have again
started the agitation in regard {
which is the best mutton sheep AM
after prolonged newspaper discussion
have not succeeded in convincing
breeders or consumers that there hi
vet been IA distinctive breed, ~ tn
product of any possible cross, tina
equaled the o!d-faShinned favorlt
SOulIltlON IL l'l NIt 'NANl'I = NV N
1t has been said that old things ar
the best, and there would seem To ~
great truth II that axiom, judgin
from the unsuccessful efforts of Shce'
mel TO breed Il mutton sheep tina
can take the place of the black-face
flock. Since time imlnemorlal tn
S%outhdowns have been the choice q
English butchers and consumers, an
their early introduction in Americ
was quickly followed by the sam
general preference. They are hardy
and will thrive upon feed that no Othe
breed, except the Mcrino, can evel
be kept in fair condition upon. Til
Improvement of stock is most deSil
able. and the Scienc" Of breeding la
become the aim of almost every ma
III the business who Is possessed u
the slightest ambition, but amidS
all the various results of judiciou
crossing and ~inhrerdinS which la
followed the crIZe for something bet
ter, the Southdown mutton sheep i
its original form has dCiied and sti
challenges the world.
\ TribUHc representative recent
met Il we'll. known breeder of short
Horn cattle who in his younger day
had some experience in Shecp-fIrn
ing. After twenty years eXpericnc
in cattle-hreedinG, during which II
has met with fair success. the gentle
mai has determined To sell al! but
small number OF his herd and inves
his capital in sheep.
He thinks that shrcp-farming is br
in its infancy. and advises young me
who are locking about for invest
ments to put their money into nut
ton sheep, the top cross being first
class Southdown rams and the best u
native stock. The demand for goo
grade sheep of this character is RAJ
idly increasing, and such invest
ments are certain to be profitable
The wool crop of good grade South
downs will more than pay for thei
keeping. and there is no feature o
the business that presents more in
ducements to beginnerS.-Chicdg
Tribune.
Following the recent heavy rains
there will he Il vast quantity of sol
corn lHc SltdI coiiI-bCi
of Illinois and Iowa. y great savin
can be affected by promptly shucking
and the wiScst farmers L indus
triOusly engaged in saving wha
they can this way. Should har'
frost suddenly occur, which is eX
tremely probable, the loss from thi
water-soakcd corn would be enormous
In sections where, notwithstanding
the druuth, Il fair crop of corn ha
been raised, this danger from waite
n frost has become quite alarming
and may result in general ruin so ia
as corn is concerned, in fields wher
it will he Impossible to house tn
crop before severe frOsts Begin
Chicago Tribune.
Many of the most careful ranchme
in Texas have so graded up thei
native stock with the use of goo
bulls that they freely assert that will
in a few years they will sell grad
steers good enough for export will
out feed but the native grasses.