The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-12-17
TIL STOCKMEN'S MEETING.

When the stockmen of Missouri
come together Jan. 10Th, at Sedalia,
We shall expect to develop a great
deal of very valuable infor-
nation of practical use to
the agricultural interests of the en-
tire state. 1t will not be meeting of
one interest as of cattle or hogs, horses
or sheep, but gathering of men rep
resenting all interests, and of repre-
sentative men at that. 1t is to be a
practical meeting of experienced men
come together TO take comprehensive
view of things in which they are In.
terested, and with the intention of
discussing one thing at time exnaus-
lively, and not touching another until
the first is concluded. The idea is
that agriculture is to-day at low ebb,
that many crops do not pay to pro-
duce at the price they are sold for,
that some pay better than others, that
we do not know what crops pay and
what do not, because We keep no &C
counts, that some Of our methods
have outlived their day of usefulness
and need changing, that other meth
DDS might be introduced In their place
by which the farmer can make more
money at less expenditure of time,
labor and means; and that, as farm
ers, we do not come together in a
practical way, as practical men, in
search of practical results often
enough.
1t would be impossible at this time
to formulate a programme so as to
indicate the subjects to be submitted
to the meeting and discussed by it,
but it is the determination that it
shall be for business, and that no side
issue will be introduced or considered.
By the time the cattle situation in all
its bearings has been exhaustively dis
cussed, it is hoped new light will have
been shed on that subject uppermost
in the minds of so many thousands of
breeders and feejers, buyers and ship
pers, and that they will see their Way
more clearly to solution of the prob.
lens which beset them. In this
matter of breeding and handling cat
tie will be found many interesting
questions, not the least of which will
BE- that of proper and economic rations
for different ages; the propriety of
grading cattle by breeding emily to
thoroughbred bulls, and entirely
ignering the scrubs, and leaving them
to be produced on the plains and In
Mexico, thus securing better feeders,
earlier maturity, more economic pro.
auctions and greater weights; the
question of transportation and the
identity # interests subsisting be-
tween thu abroad companies and the
farmers;s .problem of distributing
center. and the undesirability of ship
ping too many to one destination !;
how this is to be avoided, and com.
peting points discovered. The relation
between what is known as the big four
and the Chicago stock yards, and the
railroads ought to come in for full
discussion, as also the question
whether this modern innovation is of
legitimate origin based on purely bust
ness principles and within the pale of
law, or combination of INSCRIPTIONS
monied men dominating the markets
contrary to all law and to all justice.
When all that pertains to the cattle
industry has been discussed and set
tied then it will be time to introduce
the sheep breeding and wool growing
problems. Here, the reader may sup
pose, will be an opportunity for in
Producing the tariff question and of
listening to the oft repeated stories
based upon the theories of those for or
against, but the sheep breeding and
wool growing business can be dis |
cussed on its merits, irrespective
altogether of the tariff question, and |
when all has been said that will be |
said, not one-tenth of what could be
told will have been presented TO the |
meeting. There are many very inter
esting problems that might be con.
sidered in this connection such as the
relative profit in breeding for mutton
and wool, the best lamb for market |
and the most economical method of
preparing it in he right time so as to
secure the best prices, the best meth
DDS of handling sheep in winter, the
same In summer, how to avoid dis
ease incident to sheep and how to
treat and cure them, the best grass or
grasses, the right soil, the iay of the
land, other feeds than grass in summer
and dry feed in winter, can we grow
roots profitably, and dozens of other
topics may be discussed having bear
ing on the successful prosecution of the
sheen breeding and the wool urnuinn