Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-11-22
1njudicfous Changes.

Farmers are often accused of being
very slow in introducing improvements.
Possibly they are not as quick as manu-
lecturers and merchants are to adopt
new methods and practices. In the
matter of breeds of animals and fowls
and varieties of fruit and field crops,
however, they generally show a desire
10 keep up with the prevailing fashions.
This disposition is shown in their eager
ness to obtain new breeds of animals
and fowls. The fashion in cattle changes
almost as often rs that in bOnnets. The
changes in either case are not always
for the better. This is shown by the
fact that fashion. like history, repeats
itself. DevOns have been the fashion,
able cattle in this country several times,
and it is altogether likely that they will
be again. The first attempt to make
Herefords fashionable was failure, but
the last gives promise of being a great
success. Every few years there is a
general change of opinion in regard to
the most desirable color for hogs. White,
black and spotted hogs, each by turn,
have ''their day At present there is
a revival of interest in red hogs. Ayr
shire, Jersey, Guernsey and Dutch COWS
are in turn preferred by dairymen. In
another decade Swiss cows may be pre-
ferred to any of them. In point of fact
the superiority of one breed of dairy or
beef cattle over another is not so great
as to be generally acknowledged. The
choice largely depends on fancy or the
peculiar surroundings of the individual
farmer. The like is true of breeds of
hogs and sheep. A farmer is very sue
cessful with one breed for time and
prefers it to any other. His neighbors
notice his success and procure the same
kind of stock. For several years. per-
haps. all are satisfied with their ami
mails.
After time, however, there is a
great excitement in favor of some
breed never kept in the neighborhood.
Specimens are exhibited at the county
fair, and they attract great attention.
They are noticed at length in the local
papers and stock journals. The milk
record or the gain in weight is pub
lished and circulated. Some enter
prising farmer invests in several of
these animals, paying, of course,
Clancy price, for them. Being dearly
bought they have the best feed and at
tention. Twice as much is expended in
taking care of them as Of an equal
number of cattle of another breed.
The COWS give large amount of very
rich milk, and the steers lay on flesh
and fat at surprising rate. The breed
becomes popular, not on account OF its
intrinsic excellence, but in consequence
of the superior care, shelter and feed
given the animals. 1t remains popular
while this system of tending. housing
and feeding is continued. When the
time comes that the animals are no bet
ter kept than those Of the breed that
has been discarded they are found to be
no more valuable in any respect. Ifnc
enterprising breeder starts ''boom"
in favor of another breed the chances
are that there will be disposition to
replace the one that was discarded.
The change in any event was costly
one. Animals. like other things, are
costly when they are scarce. Consider
able risk always attends the introduce
ton of a new breed of animals. They
must be acclimated and made a.
customed to their new surroundings.
A change of food and water not unfre-
quently causes sickness or general de-
bility. Before any farmer resolves to
change the breed of cattle, sheep OF
hogs he is keeping he would do well to
count the cost and endeavor to ascer-
tain from intelligent and entirely disin-
terested parties the comparative merits
of the kind of animals he is thinking OF
substitut ng for those he now has.
The disposition to change varieties OF
fruit frequently prevents persons from
any profit from the orcha d,
vineyard or plantation of berries. Many
non professional fruit-growers allow
themselves to be imposed upon by ped
dlers and the agents of nurseries. They
are carried away with the colOrcd Illus
trations of fruit seen in magazines and
the descriptions given in catalogues.
They neglect the standard varieties they
have in the vain hope of finding some
thing better. They hear of the wonder
full success some persons have had with
a variety of apple. pear, cherry, grape,
plum or berry, and send for a supply.
They might have learned, had they
taken the pains. that the variety of fruit
was only successful in Il few localities
having very different soil and climate
from those of the place where it was
proposed to introduce it. They might
also have learned that the variety had
never been thoroughly tested in any
locality, and that prominent and relia-
bic horticultur.sts had not decided on
it's merits. The persons who derive the
most profit from any kind of fru:t-grow-
ING cultivate but very few varieties:
They select them after the most diligent
inquiry and the most careful expert
ments Wien they have found varieties
that are hardy and productive they stick
% them. They take new varieties only
IN trial. They never discard the old
ill they are entirely certain that they
nave found something better. Some of
,he largest orchards in the West contain
not more than four or five varieties OF
apples. Some of the small orchards con-
ain almost as many varieties as there
ire trees. The varieties of any kind OF
iruit that are very profitable in any To-
:ality are generally few. Having deter
mined what they are, it is the wisest
course to plant them extensively, and to
make few changes. Chicago Times.