Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-18

IChicago Times. I

Some months ago a sensational ar
tiele appeared in New York paper
on the future supply of beef in this
country. 1t showed that the country
increased much faster in inhabitants
than in cattle. II affirmed that the
possible limit OF beef production had
been nearly reached in many of the
States, and that in some of the Terri
tories there was not sufficient fodder
to properly support all the cattle
within their borders. 1t predicted
that in the near future beef would
become so scarce that it would rank
rs q luxury that only the rich could
afford. Then the same state of af.
fairs would exist here which exists in
some European countries. The COM
mon people would be obliged to give
up eating beef and be content with
cheaper articles of food. 1t certainly
is likely that most kinds of food will
be higher In the future than in the
past, but there seems to be no proba-
bility that the price Of beef will be
o1t OF proportion with other kinds Of
food. 1t 10 certain that the limit of
beef production has not been reached
in many sections of the country. The
production of beef for the market
has just bugun to receive attention in
most Of the southern States. Till
very lately cattle received only secon-
dairy consideration. As rule only
natives" were kept, and they were
often left to PICK up :heir food as
best they could. The production
of forage crops was neglected, and
but small amount Of corn and other
grains suitable for stock food was
raised. CJttou-seed was thrown into
heaps and burped or left to rot. At
present all this Is changed. Better
breeds of cattle have becn introduc-
ed; more attention Is given to the
production of forage crops. and the
cotton. seed is used for stock food.
The limit of profitable beef produc.
ton has not been reached in the New
England States. The introduction of
the silo and the preservation of fod-
der corn In the form of ensilage have
enabled some farmers 10 double the
number ofcattle kept on their places
Their example will be followed by
other farmers 10 the future. The
limit of beef production has not been
reached in the Stateswhere most beef
has been produced. Illinois has new
er contained cattle enough to eat all
the stock food it produced. Until
very recently large proportion OF
the straw produced has been burned,
while most of the corn fodder has
been wasted, Cultivated grasses and
clovers have not been generally In
troduced into one-fourth the counties
in the State. Scarcely any atten-
ton has been given to the production
Of turnips and other roots that do
80 much toward the production OF
bee. in England. The large amount
of fax seed meal or oil CAKE produc-
ed has been sent to feed herds in the
old country. Till lately large pro-
portion Of the cattle kept have been
scrubs" which gave no good for the
food they devoured. Every year
more attention has been given to saw
ing straw and corn fodder, and to
feeding them to stock in judicious
manner. Many swamps and boys
are being drained and made to pro-
duce euormeus quantities hot only
of valuable grass, but Of corn and
small grains suitable for stock food.
Cattle have better protection during
the winter, and as consequence they
REQUIRE less food. A more judicious
system of feeding is practiced, which
produces better results.