New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-28

pay for itself The average yield is probably not
far from II bushels ranging in different years from
o to 80. The margin of profit thus appears 10 DO
considerable. Why, then, Is wheat-farmng an IN
sufficient source of wealth. The reason Is easily
shown. The labor of the wheat crop, pl0ughlng
narrowing, drilling, harvesting, threshing anu
hauling to market, heavy as it seems while In mo
tlon at the most only two or three months OF
the year. This three months industry Is amply
repaid by the crop. The farmer, his hands ana ms
horses could live luxuriously three months on the
profits. But how shall the three months labor De
expected to reward also the nine months OF idle
ness II is as futile in farming as in other occnpa-
tiohs to look for profit without full use of time;
The wheat crop is u profitable part OF the varied
industry which should fill the year but 1t Is idle to
expect the part to do DUTY for the whole: II me
wheat farmer is also a cattle man. his year Is easily
filled. The supplies of hay and corn VIII call TOT
many days of work, and WINTER. which stops all
tillage labor. demands IN return more work among
the herd. The calves. weaned and yarded apart
must be fed with the best fodder, and the feeding
wagons must make their daily trips to the stacks.
and thence through the eager herds-no trilllng
task when the bitter nOrthcrs' are out. The care
Of stock requires very varied activity and easily
fills all davs that the crops can spare. The saving
of the straw pile which in years OF short louder
crops will help to carry the herd through the
winter Is secondary advantage OF the prudent plan
of mixed farming.
STOCK RAIsING on TIE PRAIRIE.
The cattle interest must ever be the backbone OF
this section The abundant strong pasture and the
dry air. so favorable to the health OF stock are adj
vantages not to be sighted The methods OF stock
raising are in a state of transition. The rapid SET
element of the country must hasten the change from
the frce-ranging plan to the plan OF owning ana
fencing pastures. There is still, however. good
deal of vacant land which the larger ranchmen are
able to use for summer herdng. The system fol-
fI..o flo
run free through the whole year. mnglng without
distinction of ownership, and only sparated twice
a year at the county round-ups" is no longer pos
sible in Kansas. For the herd-law protects the
unfenced crops from rowing cattle The herder,
therefore, must always attend the drOves of rang
ing stock Each spring the ranchman hunts up
range for his summer camp. When the grass is
well advanced the herling outfit start for the new
quarters, letting the herd graZe slowly along the
vacant sections on the way. " hen the chosen spot
Is reached, camp i made ana the summer : WOIN
is begun. A cook and two or three herCers, with
five six tough ponies, make mp the working
force. To hOlu the herd IN sufficient control 10
prevent scattering and ttcspaSS on the occasional
hOmcsteads and yet to allow them as much As may
be of quIrt liberty and unmOle,ted choice OF graz
ing, and to save all needless OHerwOTk OF ponies
and worry OF cattle. these are the objects Tor
which the herdcr must ever exercise his skill. II
the winter bee very mild, the camp may sometimes
continue through the year. But usually IN NOyem-
Der the held is driven home 10 smaller pastures and
better shelter where the great stacks OF mllet ana
corn foddeI have been provided through the sum
mer by the farming force
IMPROVING THE URrED.
The foundation of these large ranches is usually
made in Texas cattle or at best of The common
stock of Colorado, which. though superior to the
Texas. is still much in need of Improvement This
Improvement is being rapidly supplied on the better
ranches, by the Introduction of good Shorthorn
breeders, whose influence has already made won
derfu changes in the originally scraggy herds.
There is no greater industrial satisfaction than
that which the careful ranchman feels as he sees
each year N his ever-imprOvng Gales tho quick
result of his prudent investment in a few welbred
bulls Ii is in this direction OF higher quality that
the future development of the Kansas cattle in
dustry must CHIEFLY move. Each year the Oppor-
tunites of free ranging being restricted by new
settlements The checker. board homestead system
forbids the purchase 10y large investors or corpora
tions Of great tracts OF land for ranches The great
wastes OF Colorado and Wyoming and Montana
may yet for many years allow the profitable branch
of ranching which is there III use. But in Kansas
the cowboys day will soon be gone. Barbed wire
fences Will have destroyed his occupation. The in
crease of wealth, which was formerly measured by
the growing size OF the herd, is 10 show itself
IN the finer shape and greater weight of the indi-
and barren cows are sold, and the vacancies are
filled by the young crosses of ShOrthorn blood. As
the tlitv of the stock improves. the Kansas ranch
will o.. called to furnish. not only the finest
steers for the feeders OF Missouri ana Illinois, but
also young bulls To grade mp the herds OF the re-
moter ranges. Tins the standard OF the herds of
the Territories also Is yearly to be raised till good
beef shall NIL the hungry world.
sHOITaoGN AID PoILED ANGUS.
The Shorthorn has hitherto heen introduced to
-,.,f,
seen the rapid benefits of this course would dispute
it's value Yet the Shorthorn's one fault, that he
is in some degree a tendrr-ioot," may possibly
enable harder rival 10 replace him. The new
claimant is the Polled Angus. OF Aberdeen, which,
only within a short period. has been imported in
small number; from Scotland. Several good specl-
mems of this breed may now he found at Victoria
and in tins mel ghDorhood. Indeed. the first i'm
portatiOn ever made INTO the United states Is be
licved 10 have been the purchase by Mr.. Grant The
founder of the Victoria colony. The good qualities
of the crosses raised from his stock have been n
chief inducenent 10 the further importation which
other Victoria stOck-mcn have lately made. The
record of these cattle in Victoria, brief and slight
rs it yet must be- is strongly favor of their pre-
tension to SPECIAL value for the plains. The Polled
Angus is black coal. and glossy. His head. horn
less. is furnished with a prominent bump which he
uses very effectively rs pushing apparatus in his
pucky and generally victorious contests with more
sharply armed rivals. Ills body long and very
round and massive, Is hardly raised above the grass
by his a. sonishmgIy short legs. With a beefy build
that the ShOrthorn can hardly surpass, lac shows
hardness which thrves through seasons of scant
iced, of cold or OF drouth that tell sadly on the
Shofthorn. OF checrfuily philosophical DISPOSE
tion ne lives gayly OH hope when Otuer resources
temporarily fail
Tne Angus crosses are strongly naked by their
sire The slcndeuSt. scrawny. long horned yellow
Texas COW presents 10 Ter black lord n calf after
ms own heart solid. standing close 10 the ground.
generally black, and without germ of future
hons. THIS lack of horns though a secondary
matter. Is certainly an advantage when the steers