The Phoenix herald., 1882-09-15
THE AUTUMN EXHIBITION
CT CATTLE.

The Golden Gate Agricultural
Fair, in the suburbs of Oakland, at
tracts a very large number to the
races which occur on each after
noon of the present week But Il
far more important feature, in its
relation 10 the agricultural indus
| tries OF the State, is the exhibition
of cattle, embracing some of the
best of nearly all the notable breeds
VIII CHI have been introduced during
the last twenty wears. We miss the
Devons which TIE late Seneca Dan
iels and others were wont TO show in
former years. These handsome red
cattle always attracted much atten-
ton. They were hardy, quick of
action, docile, intelligent, and make
the best work oxen known in the
country. They will travel with a
loaded cart about as fast as horses,
and for that rea on We're very de-
sirable cattle on the farm. They are
good beef cattle. and as a dairy
stock, crossed with other breeds,
have been found desirable. But
they have so many points of excel
leuce that the rearing of this breed
of cattle is worthy Of the attention
of farmers.
The Durhams are out in force,
though the nun er is not greater
than in ,rmer years, although
stock of this breed has greatly in
creased in this State during the las;
five years. It would be Instructive
TO have a number of Durhams
brought to the fairs which had not
been stall-fed, washed, comhed and
blanketed The latter are as hand
some as a picture. One sees what
can be done with these cattle when
the utmost care is bestowed upcn
them; but the items of cost IN rear
ing them in this way are always
withheld. What the average farmer
really wants to know is. What are
the relative advantages in growing
these cattle over any other? Now,
the majority of farmers cannot cur
~ and blanket their cattle every
day; and they cannot even keep
them up in stalls Even if they
could do these things they will not.
They would like to see samples from
herds of Durhams brought from the
dry pastures. OF course they would
look comparatively rough by the
side Of 'pampered" cattle. The
Durham is the natural arlstccrat
among boviDes He does not like
to go up steep hillsIdes. He is heavy
and clumsy. He wants level, succu-
lsnt PASTURES, shade and water with
IN convenient distance One does !
not expect TO find such animals Oh |
steep hillsides. Their natural home |
is in rich valleys, or on compare
lively level land
Probably these cattle have been !
brnugh to as great or greater per |
fection in the blue grass region Of |
Kentucky than in any other Part of |
the country. But they. have done |
we'll all over the United States, in
Oregon, and the north
west Territories. The general farm
er, that is, those who besides grow
ing var iety Of crops adhere TO the
good old practice of growing cattle
in a moderate way for beef and for
dairy purposes, will probably be
better atisfied with either grade
or thoroughbreds of this
breed. His grades will take on flesh
attaining heavy weights at
.hree and four years. The grade
COWS are, with care rs to breeding,
heavy mixers, md if they ran to
flesh they are readily turned into
beef at a large profit. These are
some of the reasons why rurfams
Will always be favori'es with those
wlo have suitablc pasture ranges,
II choose to adopt the practice of
soiling. The farmer who could this
autumn turn off fifty head IF graded
Durham fat steers would ind this q
most satisfactory item in the produc-
ions of his moderate farm.
Then ccme the Jerseys, which arc
so Tapidly in this State
hat there is already some talk of
ing herd book for Jerseys
,wned on the Pacific coast. The
fierce herd is famous all over the
% untr Y and now repre- sents some of
he best strains of blood known in
he whore rsnge of Jerseys. The
.rSifcr is iuStIv nrOun OF his fxhfb l