Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-05-20
Turned Out to Grass.

IuAuTidttHB upon the spflnglnB grasses
of fresh pasturage in the United States.
Half of them have been foraging all
winter, with no aid from men, i'll the
pine woods of the South, on the plains
of Texas, the slopes of the Rocky
Mountains, the parks of Colorado, the
deep canons OF the Sierras. and the
broad green valleys of California. The
other half have been sustained in part
with feed prepared by human labor.
One in six OF this vast number is wanted
every twelve months to supply some
sixty pounds of beef to each inhabitant,
with nearly half million beeves to
spare for the mouths of hungry
foreigners. "All flesh is grass" It is
literal truth. Hay makes but little
beef, coarse forage less, corn larger
proportion, but grass is the great factor
in beef production. The turning out
to spring grass is therefore an epoch in
| beeimaking of great importance.
Though winter feeding, as practiced in
the States north of 500, is rarely a
means of profitable gain III weight and
value, it is great negative advantage
safely to bridge over an unthrifty period.
/ and make "safe approach to season
of growth and profit" So with the
cattle that feed themselves as best they
may throughout the continental
stretchers of winter pasturage, buffeted
by biting northers, and by snow and
| clin9ing sleet; it is n season of rejoicing
to owners and good cheer to the patient
| brutes when the fresh grasses re-
appear.
The Statistician of the Department of
Agriculture, Mr.. Dodge, has Just issued
report upon the spring condition of
farm animals and their diseases of the
past year. 1t appears that the mild
winter nus been remarkably favorable.
that care and shelter have been more
general, so that disease has been re-
duced to a minimum. The increasing
value of cattle and beef has also exer-
cised q conservative influence. There
are fewer hides for sale in Texas. and a
smaller exhibit Of bones bleaching on
the pla na. Whole herds have not been
starved i'll snow drifts. Still there has
been loss of condition and of life from
neglect and exposure, from death and
starvation. Even in the heart of IIli-
nois cattle have literally starved to
death in Missouri the loss from want
OF feed has been heavy in the worst dis
trlcts Of last summers drought, and in
some Mississippi River counties large
proportion has been drowned in the
overflow. Ia mildest winters absolute
freedom from losses cannot be assured
if millions of cattle "have no protection
except fringes of forest along the
streams. wind break of trees" or 'the
4 nj. g y
Even in more northern ATTITUDES, where
sheds and shelters are common, thou
sands are left to the protection "afford-
ed by wire fence or the sunny aspect
of rayine." The fallacy, affirmed so
recklessly and SO often, that no shelter
IS needed in the more southern winter
range, has q striking REPUTATION in the
record OF almost tropical San Diego
III the southern extreme of California,
where many cattle died from exposure
IN severe storm of last September.
The most suggestive portion of the re-
port relates 10 the investigation of the
gam or loss resulting from the winter
feed of cattle The question was,
whether the manure left represented the
net profit OF the forage supplied at so
great cost. The following conclusions
were deducted from The facts and.opin-
ions of stock growers in all parts of the
country: |. A considerable percentage
of stock fed actually lose in flesh and in
weight. 2. Another large fraction
maintain their weight and add to bone
and size of frame, but decrease in flesh.
3. a small proportion make increase of
weight, 5, 10, 20 or 30 per cent, de-
pending upon comfortable shelter and
variety of feed. Those farmers who
fail to shelter stock, who stint their
forage supply or give innutritious ma.
terial, make no gain in flesh, and often
lose III condition and weight, as we'll as
incApacity for more profitable results of
pasturage in the following summer.
The contrast between such results and
the experience of skilled feeders is
strikingIy shown. 1.-The difference lies
between current habit of neglect and
thrifty custom of systematic feeding
for flesh. Ii Is shown that saving of
moderate margin of this wide difference.
say ii hundred pounds during the season,
ut the lo4 estimate of So, would be
equivalent to fifty millions of dollars for
that portion of our cattle that are fed
III winter.
In New England and the Middle
States q small average gain is made in
winter; IN Maryland and Virginia still
less and in most OF the Southern States
nothing at all, the increase in herds
having pasturage Of not care) being
counterhalanced by the losses and de-
procia,ion of vast numbers less for
tuuate. II the West there is wide
variation in practice and results, with a
small balance on the right side and 8
tendency to%ard improve 1ent. The
lesson is easily deducible that ma
jority OF the farmers of the United
States edo not practically realize the
physiological necessity Tor continuous
growth In the production of meat OF
juicy, itch, even quality, or the economic
necessity OF making every pound OF
feed yield the highest possible fraction
of L pound of flesh" 1t may not he
easy to attain such ideal fully, even by
those Of ripest skill and experience, but
an approach to it would lie worth an
effort, which would be rewarded by a
saving Of many million dollars. The
constantly narrowing margin OF price
between store cattle and beeves must
compel the learning OF such lesson OF
economy and thrift. ~. y Tribune.
For Wife Beaters.