Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-31
Stauntots Spectator,
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 81. 1880.
Stuck Farms,

Stock Farms.
Iron and steel and wood and cloth and
leather, &c., are not the only resources
upon which we can enlarge our industries.
We have been expecting to see enterprise
seeking other opportunities for increasing
wealth than in working up the products OF
the mines, and the forests, and the fleece.
We have always encouraged the atten-
tion which has been given by our Valley
farmers to the rearing Of improved breeds
of horses and cattle and sheep and hogs
and fowls, and we can speak for the whole
community interested in such matters and
express the high degree of qualification
resulting from the exhibits on those
lines at the annual shows of the Baldwin
District Fair Association and our State and
other Fairs. In the counties interested in
the Fair Association, there are many citi-
zens who have attained distinction as
breeders, and who possess every requisite
of talent and experience to take the lead in
founding establishments for the continued
progress of the superior industries asso-
ciated with their names.
Along with the men and the capital in
vited to our section of country to begin the
new life in our new progress in these de-
partments of production which are planted
at the growing towns in the Valley of Vir-
ginia another class of superior kind should
be included-the men who are interested
in rearing superior breeds of livestock, and
their capital which is expended freely at
their bidding to make their enterprises
completely successful.
Stock farms are as much adapted to the
proper investment of capital, and the en-
ployment of skilled management as any
other industry, and in this specially our
section of country is most favorably con.
sidered in the light of abundant and
superior opportunities.
On the lines without the area plated
around Stauntcn for the development to
which they are adapted and to domicil in
creasing population, why should there not
be the enterprises of stock farms? Climate,
location, facilities, and growing interest
with many of cur people already directed
that way, and successfully so, would seem
to open channels for the association OF
home effort with all the foreign assistance
which can be properly obtained. Our OPP
portunities and advantages, rest assured,
would not have to 60 begging, and all that
is needed is for the right men-many per-
haps that are not thinking of such schemes,
to take hold of the matter and win fol-
these leading branches of an adapted in
dustrY the fullest success.
The Jersey family of cattle have so en-.
titled themselves to especial distinction as
the best foundation of the dairy interest,
that it claims undivided attention in the
United States through trade organ of the
highest repute and influence. The editor
of that journal, hearing of the dissolution
of the Eastwood" Jersey herd located
near Staunton, from which he had observed
haG sprung the foundations of many Other
herds of the highest order. called to see fol-
himself if it were true that the herd was te
surrender it's famed locality and to disperse
that other development might take possess
sion of it's precincts. He expressed biz
own and the deep regret of Jersey breeders
that Eastwood was to be known nc
more, but at the same time urged and sue
cessfully, too, upon many devoted to the
interest, to draw largely from its dissolvine
%sy nof have another ffeaassffwood' il
fame and for the attraction of expanding
interest, which will never surrender title
won with Its highest trophies.
We have our breeders of other kinds Of
cattle which largely predominant in num-
bers, and several of the best families OF
horses, sheep, and swine, which generally
sweep the deck in premiums whenever
they enter the contests of merit.
The present is fitting time to increase
our interests in rearing livestock. There
is no reason why they should not branch
out to much greater extent and be planted
upon a scale commensurate with the largest
designs of future growth.
Fine horses, superior cattle, the best
sheep and hogs and fowls, always com
mand purchasers and win reputation for
any country producing them. Often we
have written and rewritten of our resour-
ces and opportunities in the developments
which belong to the workshop, and pro-
duced by artizan skill and trained labor,
and glory in the success we are achieving,
but we have not been unmindful of our
other resources and opportunities as they
spring from the farms and the mixed in
dustries that specially owe their existence
to men engaged in flaming pursuits. The
stock-farm Gun be part or it can be a
separate interest to the farmers of this
Valley, which, fortunately, is possessed Of
so many and valuable advantages.
Whilst the public mind is so deeply and
properly engrossed in making the strongest
effort possible for the practical solution of
questions of the most vital interest on some
lines leading up to great prosperity, we
should not be neglectful of other interests
of equal value for large and advanced
progress
Look over the field and observe the vast
number and kinds Of development in which
our people can engage, and compare our
opportunities With other sections of coun-
try, and it will be found that in varied
interests we hold the supremacy. Not the
least, nay among the first, is the degree to
which we Can arrive as the growers of
blooded live stock. Having made SO fine a
beginning, let US press on and claim for that
interest new share in the expanding de-
velopment of all.
James Wall was instantly killed Friday
near Crewe, in Nottoway county, on the
Norfolk and Western Railroad. Itappears
that he was with some other men On their
way to dance, when one of them named
Philip Banks accidently discharged his pis-