The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-10
Keep the Best.

Ia another article we have said in re-
gard to stock, IF any are kept, it pays
10 keep the bsSt" This is a truth that
may proftably be dwelt upon further,
and with wider application. As re-
CARDS horses, cows, sheep and other do
nestle animals it is too much to expect
that all farmers can afford to buy and
keep the fancy breeds, and we are free
to say that it would not be desirable if
they could. The so-called fancy breeds
are not always the best in practical
point of view. The kinds wanted are
those that are actually the most profit
able and serviceGble These are the
healthy, well-fayored animals, not the
poor, scrawny, indifferent ones, which re-
quire as much, or more, care than the
former, and are worth but little for ser
vice or for market. ..
The owner of dairy should see to it
thai every COW in his herd is up to the
average m every respect. If he dis
covers one or more that are not produc-
iEg their share Of milk and butter he
should fill their places with those that
will. No matter how large 4 number
he may have, it Is decidedly poor policy
10 keep a lot Of worthless creatures on
hand, when good ones may be had. 1t
costs no more to feed and stable the
best cows, than ii does the poorest ones.
Six or seven frst-class mixers, far above
the average, can hardly make up for the
deficiencies of ten or twelve under-sized,
almost worthless animals. Let the point
be made of having erTy animal up tc
at least a fair, seryiceable grade.
And very much the same thing may
be said of horses. 1t is not insisted that
horses for farm purposes should be such
as would take the eve of the fancier,
nor such as would be selected for light
service, but it does pay to keep sound,
gentle, weli-proportioned and developed
animals. They may cost more in the
beginning, but they are the cheapest in
the end. They are more easily kept,
and they do more and better work.
It pays to keep the best breeds of
sheep that can be procured. They re-
qulre To more pasture in summer nor
stable room in winter than the little
nongrel varieties, but their wool is finer
and heavier, and there is so much more
gained in the market when they are
old.
The same rule may be observed in the
Election of poultry. 1t is generally an
Sasy matter to obtain breed of. good
ayers If they are desired. If there is
ay profit in pOultry-raising it is to be
made by having every member of the
soek up to good standard. This is
ltt where a very common mistake is
Tade Te by those who enter this business.
Iaey are not careful enough in individ-
"a selection. They are satisfied for a
sae with fair general results, when
Iat profits might be more than
S'apied by seeing to it that every fowl
Z .neiF yard Is justifying its right to
s,11i.h!enance. ~. Let the rule be, in each
gafua g,5ai'loual case, to keep the best, and
n raising hogs for PORK or for mar
lung alive, it is the most iudicious
Il1u 70 keep those breeds that fatten
.ae earliest, and produce the iueiest,
.JaI .JJaueIeSt pork. A little attention to
,-s selection OF well-known and APP
p.o'ea ts breed will ensure far better re-
t;~. -. nom this quarter than to spend
,-s ana money on small, poor and non
H.. :. may be stated as a general truth
,,A' hoI IN regard to live stock only but
wa.i ~ .li'erythlng that has to do with farm
= ana iarm life, itpays to hep tbs best.