Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-12-24

fords, take drive from the Ohio river on
the east to where stock raising in the south
west, eliminates in warmer climate you
would certainly pronounce our stock men
void of every sense Of humanity if not 100
wears behind the tmca in point Of comfort,
for their stock will briefly describe our
mode here Of wintering stock, then offer an
apology for it.
Stock raising is essential here on large
scale because corn and grass are the staple
productions of all our farms with of course
all kinds of mixed farming thrown in) grain
or corn say is raised in abundance which as
a rule is low, sold in the market. These i'm
men>e corn crops give us great crops OF
roughness or fodder to be fed out during win
ter to cattle and horses On many farms Of
from 100 to 500 acres are kept on about this
average, for the 100 acre farm s head of hor-
ses and colts 10 head cattle, IS sleep, while
on the larger, almost five times Us many OF
each Our fodder when husked is set back
in shocks loose, two together and tied, from
these, each morning, with a sled and team,
when frozen, and with wagon when not, a
generous feed of fodder is hauled and scat.
tered over some sod field when all get an
abundance but always taken IN the open air.
Even majority of all native born residents
now stable milch COW. Why have you no
barns9 Yes, but over our plains no such
large bank barns, and If we had, they never
would use them for all their stock. Yet none
but those of US who were raised to see all
kinds of stock sheltered, really know the
value Of barns or how they are appreciated
by stock.
Blu; there are many good reasons why hui,
little stock could be prGfitahly and sheltered
through the Missippi valley. Whenever
there is no snow our stock find good graz
ing on our blue grass pastures; feed over
these generously your hay and fodder and
the grass comes all the better for it in the
spring. But my better nature rcvol.s AT the
distressed picture of wretchrdness some poor
mans he rise or COW presents, when only an
unchinked old log stable empty of all forage,
stands with door, fastened and they on the
outside, with snow foot deep on ground
and still falling, and the little shelter the old
stable might afford defined them. Truly
there are many ways of the world we are
unacquainted with.
Our great cora crop is briskly being mar
ketcd or fed to cattle. Most of the hogs here
already been shipped and the price realized
was from S. IS per hundred in Oct. to $J.Gt
present date. Cattle put into market from
a short grain feed have brought from $4.5C
to $475, while thousands yet are being fed
through to Grass, with two objects in view
To proftaDlv get into market the surplus
of this great corn crop and in hopes of bet
ter beet market.
Don't imagine our corn crop about al
cribbed or marketed. Indeed there is more
yet to husk in Fayette co than ever So"
grown in Frederick or Carroll counties,
Wheat looks promising, while blue grass
pasture affords plenty of grass yet for graz
ing.
Blythe announceme nts in our local paper
we have the promise of unusual gay Christ
mas festivities and any considerable drive
over our country would convince you, tho
turkey crop is fully up, to the average, ia
deed it is matter Of note, that no such
crop has been raised for years our people
are generous, and good cooks as well rs good
livers, hence We may reasonably look for
ward to Christmas as time Of an unusual
feast of fat things.
1t is quite circumstance of remark among
our turkey raiscrs that fully 80 per cent OF
these tocks are gobblcrs this year. If it was
the chicken crop that was 90 per cent roos'
tiers we might account for it on the theory OF
Democratic National victory, rs the roos-
ter is their emblematic bird, we will just
theorize on the same hypothesis and say
we have the gobblers because Foracre, re.
placed the Democratic r poster. by the Ea-
gle, and of course the Gobbler approximatcs
nearest the size of his bird
Wei in all candor must confess the cleo
ton in my old native Frederick CO., Md
was quite surprise to me, yet when l recall
|, VIC newspaper NdIilc o'oi lhC oPShi hah"SN
waste of your county's funds, by your last
r officials as written up by The CLARION, a
change of political officials might naturally
be expected from people of the average in
telligence of those of your county.
OF one of your retiring officials, am still
ready to swear by as honest, competent and
loyal to his trust. A drawer soldier never
carried q musket A trucr friend was never
confided in. A more deserving "boy" never
missed wearing two bars in shoulder strap
l stood by his side when South of Poters-
burg Rebel bullet shattered his leg
caught him ere he let go his musket or fel
to the ground MANNED for life. helped car
ry him to where strccher bearers carried
him to field hospital, and in "a hours l had
note from him while yet we were fighting
saying, "My leg is off am doing well, viii
20 to City Point in a few days, then viii
write you again" That man 10 your Elk
Sheriff, G. W. Grove, of which doubt YOU
, County ever had better.
| Dec IL, 1885. G. ~ E..
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