The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-27
BREEDERS OF SHORT HORNS.
The State Association of Fat-Stock Pro-
ducers Hold Their Annual Session.
Peculiar Advantages Possessed by Short Horns
Over Other Breeds of CattIe-Discussion
Over Several Interesting Papers.

The annual meeting of the Indiana Short
Horn Breeders Association began yesterday
morning. The attendance is quite large, and
very spirited interest il manifested in the discus
sions. The president Of the association is Rob-
ert Mitchell, of Princeton who delivered his an
nual address at the morning session. In briefly
reviewing the history Of the association, which
was organized in 1872, he expressed the opinion
that it had not done all that it should in promot-
ing the interests of shorthorn cattle breeders.
The breeders Of Herefords and Jerseys have pub
locations specially devoted to advocating the
merits of those breeds, while there is no paper
published in the interest Of short-horn breeders.
II more money should be expe nded on printers
ink, he believed it would stimulate the breeders
OF short-horns to greater activity. He suggested
that an effort should be made to induce the
county papers to give some attention to live
stock interests aud that the Secretary of the
State association should be paid to devote one
day each week to preparing such articles for
some representative agricultural paper. The
Indiana shorthorn breeders had neglected to
make anything like such an exhibit as they
might have made at the Chicago fat-stock show,
which, he thought, was mistake from which
their interests would suffer. "Are the Herefords
better, that we are not meeting them in the
race for superiority" he asked. And
in answering the question he said,
the seeming victory of the Herefords the past
two years may be accounted for in two ways:
First, the great perseverance of the Hereford
breeders; second. the Hereford is fresh from the
rkoip hoe bxvx bnA &1.%k
but lately left the hands Of the English breeders
where great care and sound judgment have been
exercised in the selection of breeding animals
He did not think that the fatstock show had
settled the question of merit between the Here
fords and the short-horns, for the reason that it
was admitted that large per cent. Of the white
face steers exhibited there were from short-horn
cows. The fact that shorthorn stock
as in previous years the president attributed to
several causes, principally among which he
mentioned the pleuro pneumonia fright. The ad-
dress was referred to special committee, which
later in the day presented a report indorsing the
suggestions of the president In the AFTERNOON
the finance committees report on the treasurer's
statement of receipts and expenditures was
presented and approved. The balance on hand
amounted to $l9.75. Thomas Without, of Middle
short-horn breeders in the State, read a paper
describing a standard of excellence Of short-horn
cattle 1t was referred to a committee of
hve w, with instructions to report
nual meeting. Professor Latta, of the State
University, suggested that the committe should
give the subject very careful consideration, and
endeavor to get up reliable standard. reso-
luton introduced by Mr. Lock,ldge, was
Breeders Association to adopt standard
An interesting paper on '.The Value of Local
Effort" was read by Judge Buckles, of Muncie.
He said the mission of the short-horn breeders in
Indiana embraces more than the act of raising
They should work for the advancement of the
several interests of farming as we'll
as for individual profit There are about
GOO. 600 COWS in Indiana and about
cows and heifers to be bred during the coming
year. By proper breeding of this stock, the
wealth Of the State may be increased to an
amount sufficient to pay for the building and
furnishing of the new State-house, as well as
the pay ment OF the current expenses of the State
government for one year He estimated that
the thoroughbred and high-grade short horns in
Indiana would not exceed 10 per cent. and many
well informed persons think that the per cent
will not exceed "a or g. However, he thought it
quite possible that within fifteen years good
breeding could remove every scrub cow from the
State. He urged members Of the asso-
citation to exert themselves in every proper
way to accomplish this object He suggested
the organization of county associations, and
urged that efforts should be made to induce
county papers to devote department to live
stock matters.
In response to an invitation, Governor Gray APP
peared before the association at o'clock and de-
livered brief address. He commended the
work OF the association, and referred to the
progress which had been made in Indiana during
the last forty or fifty years in the development
of stock as evidence of what might be expected
in the future. In speaking of his quarantine
proclamation, issued at the request Of Indiana
stock dealers, although there was no law sup
porting it, he said that there is urgent necessity
for legislation which will provide live stock
commission to protect the cattle Of the State
from diseases imported from neighboring States
An unusually well-written paper by Mrs. Vir-
sinia Meredith, the widow of the late H. G. Mere
dith, was read by tho secretary OF the associa-
ton. Mrs. Meredith said that never had there
been SO many sales of pure bred cattle in Indiana
as during 1885, and never were prices so near
satisfactory to the seller. Farmers, she said,
have long heard the cry Save the timber and
the equally venerable injunction "Feed all you
produce" No ingenuity could, she thought de-
wise reason for saving beech trees with dead
tops A calculation would astonish if it told
truly how many profitable acres could be
added to every farm by the removal
of the worthless beeehes Scientific invesfgas
ton may il time disclose that beech leaves sour
will promote the growth of blue grass, will
sweeten its flavor and will enrich its fattening
qualities. AS blue grass is not damaged by frost,
it is available every day in the year. The ordi-
nary woods pasture is an absolute expense
tax on the rest of the farm. 1t is superficial
view that if an animal eats what is given it moth
ing more is needful. Digestion and assimilation
are the great factors in profitable feeding. Elk
perience proves thar hay must be cut fine and
meal mixed with it to get the best results
N. ID. Goddy. of Lovett, read paper on sThe
Social Relations Among Breeders Necessary to
Advancement" in which he said that through
these social relations breeders gain more correct
ly a knowledge of the caprices of fashion con-
corning form. color and blood A violation of
the rules of fashion is not infrequently followed
by severe financial loss No number of resolu-
tions alone can control fancy, but fashion has
the power to subjugats fashion
In the evening paper by S. r. Quick, on
1.-The Management of Breeding Herds ELECTED
the most spirited discussion Of the session, in
which nearly every person present participated