Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-06-12
gn]ndlcious Changes.

WY oioW Ill introducing Improvements
Possibly they are not as quick as manu-
tacturers 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 il shown in their eager
ness to obtain new breeds of animals
and fowls. The fashion in cattle changes
almost as often as 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 great
success. Every few years there is a
generalchange of opinion in regard to
the mostdesirable 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 animals.
After a time, however, there is a
great excitement in favor of some
bresd 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
iished and circulated. Some enter
prising farmer invests in several of
these animals, paying, of course,
''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. Ii no
enterprising breeder starts q "boom"
in favor of another breed the chances
are that there will be q 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 new breed of animals. They
must be acclimated and made &C
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.comparative merits
of the kind CRIMINALS he is thinking OF
substituting for those he now has.
The disposition to change varieties OF
fruit frequently prevents persons from
realizing any profit from the orchard,
vineyard or plantation of berries. Many
non-professional fruit-gTowers 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 descriptions given in catalogues.
They neglect the standard~varieties they
have in thevain hope of finding some
thing better. They hearsof the wonder
full success some persons have had with
variety of apple, pear, cherry, grape,
plum. or berry, and send for supply.
1hey might have learned, had they
taken the pains. that.the variety of fruit
was only successful ina few localities
having very different soil and climate
from those of the place where it was
proposed to introduce 1t. They might
also have learned that hthe variety had
never been. thoroughly tested in any
locality, and that prominent andsreiia-
BILE horticulturists had notS decided on
its merits. The persons who derive the
most profit from any kind of fruit-grow-
ing cultivate but very few varieties
They select them after-the most.diligent
inquiry and the most careful expert
ments. When 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 entirely certain that they