The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-04-24

/ oCNCNdls El1oCG9 nAA tAAS 1NNAs hSh
our land Is not one-fourth as costly
. and we are right on the theatre of de-
r mand and at the market Of highest
! prices. Let people who think we can
: do nothing but draw breadstuffs from
!. the West, and raise sugar and cotton
wherewith to buy them, ponder this
last aspect of Southern progress, de-
velopment just as feasible as others in
vogue South, stock raising and grass
growing for instance, but not so much
commended to popular commendation,
because in the orbit Of Improvement
Southern development has not pro-
gressed so far. This line is signal
INNOVATION ON oLD-TIME METHODS,
!. and marks the broad spirit of this
company's aims and achievements,
| had nearly forgotten to say that
at this lower hog ranch the food for
hogs viii be cultivated grasses, the ma
tive grasses, sweet potatoes and rice,
rice mill being included in the com
pany's plans.
Returning now to the upper hog
ranch, must not fail to say that the
company has had unusually good luck
with their bulls. They have lost
goodly number, but they are, ! hope,
over the worst, and have not lost over
one-third of them, if SO many. This
is an instructive confirmation of the
position long ago taken BY Southern
stock raisers, that the proper thing to
do is to buy Southern-raised, accli-
mated animals. It has been sus-
peeted position, but it is true. There
will be quite awhile yet before West
ern men viii accept it. A few bitter
experiences. however, will make them
wiser.
But for the excellent management
of this Watkins company the decima-
tion of these Western bulls would have
been far greater. But their fine fore
thought and thorough, though ex-
pensive, business tact, is displayed in
the character Of their employees. Thus,
for illustration, they have as the more
especial guardian Of these fine bulls a
gentleman born and raised in the Isle |
Of Jersey, one familiar with cattle and |
their treatment, who has brought over
several shipments for Mr.. Cooper, the !
celebrated New York importer, who |
was domiciled quite awhile at the
Houghton Farm, and brother-in-law
of Major Alvord. This gentleman's
care has told greatly in helping through |
acclimating fever the aforementioned
herd of short-horns, Herefords and
Galloways.
AS ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION
of the thoroughness of the company's
work they have in their employ as
chief ranch-builder another gentleman
who was the builder of the cattle-
houses on Houghton farm.
Still another Illustration of their fine
Judgment and expensive selection Of
executive officers is given in their offer
to graduate Of Western agricultural
college and competent veterinarian
to take charge Of their horse ranch
an offer understand to have been ac-
copted.
How any better illustration could
be given of wise disregard of ex-
pense, an amplitude of plan, design
Of permanence, a well considered
scheme of management, ! cannot well
conceive.
AS further illustration of the reach
and scope of the eompany's acts and
plans must mentien that they have
built and fenced seven ranches and in
tend to build and fence twenty-five,
The ranches are built six miles
apart Prof. Knapp has devised sys-
tenn Of signals and polices and patrols
the praiFies. The organization help
up weak cattle, put out fires, etc. The
past winter number of cattle were J
saved in this way that else would have
perished.
Prof. Knapp has formulated l.
PLAN FOR CATTLE BREEDING I
that displays much thought and wis
dom. First, be divides his steers into :
two ranks. To each he assigns ranch;
one ranch is for preparation for mar
ket, especially adapted for fattening, :
another is for raising steers. I
Then he has three ranks for his 7
COWS. Those over nine years Of age y
he will not breed, but will fatten and z
lell He says the large percentage Of !
osses are found IN this class Of cattle, q q
~ reason Of winter FigoFs. Then he y
las another rank for breeding under y
,ine years old. Sill another class is P
Il COWS especially selected, from which y
o breed bulls and heifers. This Ia 70 =
% the Foundation Of his future breed .
hg resource, the centre from which '
iis high grades will emanate, TO each
md every class will be assigned an
especial ranch, with competent su-
and a trained corps Of
assistants. The bulls will be allotted
according to the demands Of tho va
rious herds.
The fields viii be divided into i'm
mense ashiftsn for stock, so that there
will always Be fine grass, In various
fields on Zach ranch win be hnilt large
sheltered pens for stock, Scattered |
an over she entire system 81 ranches
win be built sheltered salt-licks, where
Tie cattle can find access u will 70
salt. One of the Fanehmen told me
many cattle die BY being ehoked with
bones, seeking them u their craving
for salt. 9
Ia the pastures iRmense tfoHghs
win be builtfor drinking purposes Of
the stock. These viii be fed from v
immense tanks, into which water will 2
be pumped by wind mills Prof 4
Knabp advances the idea lhst the saF' u
Eaee WAtat IS in1nfiouss laers ~ leas. 4
3 ea.lie
I.an,aTaa ananliliss ~ haV wiII Is I n