The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-11-27
AMERICAN ~BUFFALOES.
Their Demonstration Not Only Conn
menced. But Practically Accomplished.

menoed, But Practically Accomplished.
All that now remains of the once
countless wild herds Of butfaloes are
probably the few scores in the Yellow
stone Park-liablc TO be destroyed at
almost any time by lawless hunters
and the wood butfaloes, said to be COM
mon yet in the Peace River valley.
Nevertheless, we may indulge in the
hope that, after all, this grand species
is not doomed to total extinction, for
at the eleventh hour its value as a
stock animal has been recognized. and
is domestication not only commenced
n earnest. but practically accom-
plished. Although attempts in this
direction had been made, many years
ago, among the farmers OF the SOUTH
ern buffalo regions, after having once
tanned the animal Il the owners were
at a loss to know what use to make OF
these huge, woolly additions to the
stock-yard. Therefore, the expert
mentors gradually disposed OF their
wild stock, and the scheme of domeSti-
cation was considered a mistake. and
almost entirely forgotten, until recent
iy it was again attempted in the lar
Northwest; a region whore the climate
was such that no bovine could brave
he winter unhoused ard unfed, and
where the buffalo robe is not merely a
luxury but a decided necessity of lie
during one-third of the year. Thus it
was that at length the feasibility and
l~csir4bility of the undertaking was sat
sfactorily demonstrated by the do
n~estication of the buffalo at Stony
Mountain, in Manitoba. This herd
started in 1873 with four heifer calves
and one bull, numbers now siXty-one
head, the greater number pure batla-
10, the rest half breeds. When | saw
them in January all were sleek and
fat. and vet they were then living on
the open prairie, feeding on the pralrle
grasses covered by snow. AT this
time the snow was deep and the ther-
mometer had, for long, registered
twenty or more below zero. When a
blizzard comes on, the animals lie
down together with their backs to the
wind and allow the snow to drift over
them, 50 that under the combined pro-
lection of their own wool and the
snow they are quite warm. Not one
of this herd has ever exhibited the
slightest symptoms of disease, although
the only care that they receive is occa-
sional watching to prevent them from
strayir~ away. Thus winter and sum-
mer they i've and thrive on the bare
prairie, with numbers undiminished by
any OF the ordinary cattle scourses,
and with expenses for care reduced to
4 minimum.
Once a year the great fleece, weigh
ing from ten to fourteen pounds. is
she'd, and its manufacture into 4 thick,
warm cloth was at one time a regular
industry at Winnipeg, until it was dis
continued by the e]xtirpation of the
animals in the adjoining region. In
its market value, the buffalo is not be-
hind lis smoother relative. for even if
the quality of meat is inferior, the diff
ference is more than made up by the
great weight of the animal and by the
value OF the robe. which usually brings
from ten 10 fifteen dollars. As draft
animals they have proved a success;
tor, notwithstanding their great
strength. endurance and activity, they
are as easily handled as ordinary oxen.
In Il particular only is the builalofar
inferior to other species Of cattle, and
that is as 4 mixer; but to the ranch.
man milk is really OF no consequence.
Mr.. Bedson, the owner Of the herd,
after experimenting with crosses, is
we'll satisfied with the hybrid, as it is
II shape more like the domesticated
.0w, and is also q fair mixer. Yet we
loubt that this gain is sufficient to COM
1cnsatc for the deterioration Of the fur;
While, also, it would be a matter for
endless regret if, in the prosecution of
these experiments, the original pure
.ace were lost. The rate vi increase
If the buffalo, though theoretically the
same as with other cattle, is really
much higher, on account of the lower
rate OF mortality.
When the present herd is sufficiently
increased, it is intended to divide it
among several prairie ranches in To-
.~aIities where once the wild buffalo
iound its choicest pastures. This
amounts almost to a restocking of the
buffalo rcgion.-E. E. Z. Scion. IN
american Agricuturist.