The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-09-12
ADAPTATION IN Aoaloulrvae.


Folly OF Settling Facts whicn Have Al.
ready Been Settled u the Experisnee oil
0thsrs.
While every intelligent cultivator Of
the soil Is doubtless well aware Of the
fact that the same kinds of plants and
animals do not thrive equally well in all
climates or under the same, conditions,
still there are comparatively few per.
sons who pursue this subject further
than what is forced upon them through
dear-bought experience. It lie quite true
that experience is often the most direct
medium through which q man can Oh.
tain the information or facts which be
may be seeking. but 1t can scarcely be
sad in this age that all must travel the
same road in order to secure the same
amount Of knowledge. Accumulated
individual experience may be con-
sidered as at least q fair basis tlpor
which te establish principles that will
not misiead the inexperienced. even II
they do not enable the novice 10 secure
greater results. 1t is waste Of time,
i nothing more, to repeat experiments
just for the purpose of being able 20 say
that you have settled certain facts a
iallaeies by actual individual experience.
There Is still room enough fof expert.
ments without going over old ground,
and agricultural science has certainly
reached stage where some OF the old
and mooted questions may be consid-
cred as decided, and it is worse than
folly to spend more time tn their In
vestigation. We have certainly de-
termined the fact that there afe climates
and soils especially adapted to the
growing Of wheat; and while tia nat
ural limits may, by artificial means, be
somewhat extended, il Is question II
1t will pay the agriculturist to under
take to force nature in such matters
and try to raise crops that at best are
uncertain, and In a majority of in.
stances cost more than they are worth.
To run counter to natural con-
ditions Is. however, one of the fol
lies OF large number 81 agricultur-
lists Id all Civilized Countries, and
perhaps nowhere are the numbers
greater than in the United States, fol-
here we have thousands Of farmers and
fruit growers who seem to be perfectly
oblivious to all principles Of adaptation
as well as to ignore the experience oil
all who have gone over the same field
before them. If hundred or even q
thousand men have utterly failed t1
make any special branch of agriculture
success in a locality. they will not be
Satisfied until they have tried Il them,
selves. They will try to raise wheat on
sol only adapted to rye. and perhaps
winter wheat upon land where 1t Is
almost certain to be thrown out BY
frosts in winter and killed. and do moi
once imagine that the results were due
to their own ignorance or persistent
stupidity Now. It is we'll known thai
we have vast regions Of country where
both the soil and climate are especially
adapted to the growing OF wheat and
oats. others for corn, rye, potatoes. ant
various farm crops; and while thu
farmer may by artificial means achieve
partial success where natural conditions
are against him. we should at least hes
itate to advise others to attempt to dc
the same as a matter of business.
There are natural dairy regions
where oil things seem to combine In
making conditions especially favdfablt
for the production of milk. butter, and
cheese. The pasture and meadow
grasses may grow fully as luxuriantly
in other localities, and still dairy hus
bandry can not be made success, the
reasons for the failure being due tt
other causes than food. Low, mos
soils In warm climates may produc,
more succulent food than high and DIR,
land. and yet that from the former may
be deficient in nutritive properties. Low
lands also produce more food when used
for pasture than high grounds. but they
are never as healthy for cattle, ant
fevers, fo0t-rot, and similar diseases ar,
usually. developed on moist soils. Wha
are called malarial regions are really a.
unhealthy for domesticated as for hu
man beings. and should always b,
avoided by stockmen if they expec
permanent and continued success in
their business.
Large, heavy breeds of cattle. like the
Shorthorns, are not adapted to hill,
| regions, where they will have to clint
for their food; neither are they suited t
the thin pastures of the Western plains
where they must travel long distanc,
to obtain sufficient food and water. TIL,
breeds that are light of foot are best fo
such regions, and the same is true o
horses, sheep, and other stock. TIL
stock raiser should keep these things il
mind when looking for stock farm
and, further, not expect to find any on
breed equally valuable for all purposes