The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-03

been observers Of the advantages TO be
gained nor do they willingly accept theo-
ries or invest largely upon the recommen-
daticns of others. the value of expert
mental stations in educating the farmers to
a knowledge of the requirements OF soils
and the importance of judicious methods OF
feeding is very great. Millions OF dollars
will be saved to the country by the publica-
ton Of the experiments conducted, and
once established in evciy State they will be
found after awhile e. b. indispensable, and
the insignificant appropriations annually
necessary for their purposes Will be invest
ments which return hundred fold to the
States that foster them.
There should also be stock improvement
stations, flom which the farmer is certain to
procure that which i of benefit To him, and
from the hands of those who will be able to
assist him in his selection and advise him as
to the stock best adapted to the climate and
soil OF the location in which he resides.
Many farmers who wish to improve their
sheep, for instance, resort to the Cotswolds,
and are disappointed simply because they
do not live in sections TO which the Cots
wolds are suited, that class of sheep degener-
ating unless on good, rich pastures. Such
farmers would find profit in the Merinos or
Southdowns; but desiring to improve, and
having no experience with blOoded stock,
they select the sheep that stand at the head
of the list for large carcass and long wool
without regard to the thought of adapta-
Oiiity.
With breeding farms for the advance
ment and distribution OF blooded stock the
wants of all classes can be better under
stood and supplied, and such difficulties
as those mentioned would be avoided. The
farmers of County could act in such a
matter; or a Township might enjoy the CO.
operative advantages of a place at which
would be kept the best stations, bulls,
bears, rams, and even poultry, to which
farmers may resort with their female stock.
This would not only insure improvement
in breed, but would do away with the
| breeding in-and-in that now SO generally
prevails. If every Township should adopt
| this plan of imUrovement the expense an
nually incurred by each individual would
be much less than the cost of keeping on the
/ farms the scrub" males of the different
kinds of stock which we see every
who're. The cost of operating such
stations would be tnhing compared with the
increased value given the stock. Even II
necessary to frequently incur the expense Of
| new stock the cost would not be great, for q
system of exchange conld be arranged be
tween different Townships, as the sale oil
one class of stock would furnish the greater
part of the sum necessary for new purchases
/ Rightly managed, such stock Improvement
farms or breeding stations would be nearly
self-sustaining. to say nothing OF the lasting
| good they would confer on any com
munity. Massachusetts has already begun
to move in stock improvement, for her So
cIety for Promoting Agriculture offers u
supply without charge thoroughbred i'm
ported rams to any working farmer in tina
State who applies for one before April l
/ The farmers who use them will discover tina
they eau improve other stock in the same
manner.