The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-04-12
Aqrifnltnral.


Imprev~msnt ef Oar Ce1mos Stsek.
There ia perhaps 20 hrHneh Of Agricul-
inre which more needs improvement, OF
which would become productive 81 great
~ profit o. the farmer, than that Of The
improvement q cur common stock. would
il not be mere gratifying II We wcrr TO oh.
serve little more attention paid % this
most important branch q our profession.
Itisa stubborn fact ssain say. that
the improvement o. domestic animals is
one Of the mos, important, and 10 great
extent. one a. the most neg lected branches
Of rural economy
Why il 1t that We have 40 much inferior
stock throughout the coun,ryf There are
many reasons. but, TO large extent IL is
caused by the farmer selling or slaughter.
ing his best stock, thus emitting of all
hopes Of any improvement in the future
II be has a fine heller that shows dispo.
sition TO lay on some fat. no matter whs,
her quality may be fer . good COW. she
goes 10 the butcher; il has fine pig that
becomes fat ufon the same rations which
the rest sqneel over and become poor on,
he gives her over 10 the pork packer.
propogaies from the lean. hapsided. long
shouted ''land sharks" that are too much
like the Yankees pigs--so lean that he bad
to tie knot in his tail to keep them from
getting through the kpoihoies IN the pen
This same farmer has fine, upright eve
that is in good condition; be finds his half
filled pork barrel is about empty, concludes
il good times TO kill her--sbe is as good
as she ever will be- and worth the trouble
Of killing.
Thus it is that so many farmers perpet.
ate breed Of animals that is not only .
shame 10 himself but disgrace to the
country. They have great tendency to
adopt one clause OF Davy Crocket's motto,
and ignore the other; his motto was "be
sure you are right, and then go ahead, =
and go ahead is it, at railroad speed, every
obligation that might hinder their dash
ing career, being at once and for ever req
udiated; they hold all improved breeds in
utter contempt. and class them among the
"sundry humbugs' Of the day. These
men hold fast to the traditions OF their
forefat.sers. and rejoice in following the
system that IL independent OF science and
the arts. Nature never produced peach
a pear. an apple. or even potato, no
such tempting fruits as load our tables TO-
day were provided by nature for her i'm
perial guests. Acid fruits, bitter plants,
and poisonous roots, are what she gave to
man, who by skill aud art has changed
their characters, and converted them into
wholesome and nutritious food. II is
said the original plant from which the
finest roses have proceeded was the COM
mon wild brier; that corn was once
grass; that our apples in all variety of their |
species are improved offspring Of the crab
that man was destined by his maker, to
improre upon nature in true and scientif-
lc way. Nature never reared DEXTER or |
Maud S.; no lordly Durhams, or beautiful
Jerseys, roamed in her forest; no Cots.
wolds or South Downs fed on her noun
tains no huge Chester Whites or Poland
Chinas fed in her wild wood; the growing
of the Seabrigbt Bantam or the majestic
Brahma was not heard in the wilderness.
For illustration OF this we will suppose
the breed made choice Of to be that Of
the Jersey. The produce from the first
cross upon our common COW would be q
ialf-blood Jerey; the second would give
the next would be seven
lights, and so on. increasing in like ratio
With each successive generation until
lerd would be reared nearly equaling the
Jersey. If you want to be
uccessful in stock breeding, you must
understand tho best breeds OF horses, cat.
lie, sheep, swine and poultry, and their
to your soil and climate.
GEO. VAN DENVER.