Nevada County picayune., 1888-02-15
AGRICULTURAL.
Cattle Raising in Arkansas.

Much has been written and said, pro and con. upon the comparative profit of cotton growing compared with corn. grain and stock. Without en- tering into dispute at all, or urging that time and labor are thrown away in the cotton field, we propose to record few reflections on the matter of raising beef in Arkansas for north ern markets.
 In the first place. we remember that nearly every farm in Illinois, Indiana or Iowa has from two or three to fifteen or twenty steers which are kept in pastures during the sum- mer. and are fed during the winter on corn and corn fodder and finally sold. at from sixty to ninety dollars apiece. Water for such stock is usually pumped from wells or caught in ponds made by put tino T dam across some hollow in the pasture. The work of feeding is usually done by the farmer and his boys and costs nothing. Now it is n fact which no well informed person will deny. that grass grows in Arkan- sas. Crab grass certainly grows, and that would be good enough, II we had no better. But blue grass grows, timothy grows. clover grows, all grow we'll in Arkansas and our woodland pastures, where the under brush is cleared out, the timber thin ned and the sunlight let in, are beau tiful, and afford magnificent grazing and for longer term of months than do the pastures in the above men, toned states. And every month that the southern steer stays in the pastures longer than his northern brother, he saves his owner one months feeding. Again the north ern steer eats to gain flesh and keep warm. and by every mouthful that he eats to keep warm, more than hls southern brother. he cost his owner more corn.
 In the matter of water, in many instances we need neither wells nor ponds, for cool springs bubble from every hillside, and clear streams meander through groves and mead ows. Not everywhere of course, but usually, and where they do not, art is necessary, we are at least on par with our competitors. In the mat ter of labor. it doesn't concern us. The work on the farm, is good healthy labor and wont hurt anyone. And yet any there is choice between six months splaching around in slush mud and, sleet and winds of north ern corn fields and barn yards and three or four months feeding in the sunny valleys and sheltered feed lots or Arkansas.
 It cannot be denied that the ad- vantages are with the south, and if it pays to raise,big short horn and Dur ham steer in Illinois, it pays to raise them here. It may be a question whether it pays to raise them any where. We only claim that if 1t pays in any state it will pay here, and we have noticed that men who have nice big sleek steers for sale ev- cry fall usually ride in buggies and dress their children well. Does any one ask where is the best part of Ar kansas for stock raising! It is hard to tell. In the northern counties there are some magnificent oppor- tunities in the valleys and hills. The climate and water cannot be surpassed and the wild grass is knee high everywhere. In the southwes- tern counties the same is true. Then there are the prairie lands equal to similar lands in Illinois or Kansas. There are the bottoms of innumera- ble rivers and creeks all over the state, where pastures for thousands, of cattle may be had for nothing. There are no obstacles which may not be overcome, and we long to see these waste places utilized. Let ev- every man own few head of cattle. even though he cannot have bird.
 Ark. Traveller.