The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-12-19
Injud,cieus Changes.


Farmers are often accused Of being
very slow in introducing Improvements.
Possibly they are not as quick as manu-
facturers 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 desire
to 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 ss often as that in bonnets. The
change. 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 q
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 a time, however. there Is
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
hshed and circulated. Some enter
prising farmer invests in several of
these animals. paying, of course, q
''fancy 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 a 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. If no
enterprising breeler starts a "boom"
in favor of another breed the chances
are that there will be a disposition to
replace the one that was discarded.
The change in any event was a costly
one. Animals, like other things, are
costly when they are scare. Consider
able risk always attends the introduc-
ton of a new br, ed of animals. They
must be acclimated and made :
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 or
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 omparative merits
/ of the kind of animals he is thinking of
substitut ng for those he now has.
The d sposition to c! ange varieties of
fruit frequently prevents persons from
realizing 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 colored illus
trations of fruit seen in magazines and
the de criptions 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 supply.
| They might have learn d, had thev
| taken the pains. that the variety of fruit
was only successful in a few localities
hav ny 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-
BILE horticultur sts had not decided on
| its merits. The persons who derive the
| most profit from any Lind of fru 't-grow-
ing cult ate but very few varieties.
They select them after the most diligent
inqu.rJ and the mot ca eful expert
ments. w en- they have found varieties
that are hardy and productive they stick
to them. They take new varieties only
on trial. They never discard the old
till they are entire'y certain that they
have found something better. Some of
the largest orchards in the West contain
not more than four or five varieties OF
apples. Some of the small orchards con-
tain almost as many varieties as there
are trees. The varieties of any kind OF
fruit that are verv profitable in any To-
calitY are generally few. Having deter
mined what they are. it is the wisesi
course to plsnt them extensively, and to
make few changes. - Chicago Times.