The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-08-12
The Deer Greek Farmers Club.

the bill appropriating 81, 500, 900 to the
Worlds Fair and then adjourned.
The Deer Greek Farmers Club.
The Relative Advantages of Thorough
bred and Grade Stock.
Reported for The IEgis.
The Deer Creek Farmers Club held its
August meeting last Saturday. ut the residence
of Mr.. John ID. Wysong, near Bel Air. Mr..
Wysong's farm, ''The Vineyard contains 800
acres, and is part of q tract granted in 1890 by
Lord Baltimore to James Preston, an ancestor
of Mr.. Wysong. The house, a substantial old
fashioned stone structure, was built in 1904,
the original house, also of stone, having fallen
into ruins.
The President of the club, Mr.. d. C. Wharton
Smith, presided, the other active members pre-
sent being Messrs. K. Harris Archer, Secretary;
Thomas Lochary, James W. Hanna, John
Moores, Edward 7. Moores, 7. E. Swartz. VIM.
D. Lee, Bennett H. Barnes, F. w. Baker and
James F. Kenly. together with Messrs. James
d. Preston, James III. Quinby, Jr., and N. j.
Heron.
A committee, consisting of L. p. Moores, VIM
D. Lee and James +. Kenly, was appointed to
examine and report upon the condition of Mr..
Wyseng's farm aRd premises generally. Their
report was complimentary to Mr.. Wysong as u
farmer. They found everything in good condi-
ton. He has flock of fine Shropshire sheep, 2
good colts, yoke of lurge oxen and other stock
His orchard, which has been planted years,
is very thrifty, the trees being large tor their
age. His farm implements are all well housed,
his fence rows clean and he has a nice field of
corn as well as good garden. The place has
been greatly improved since it came into Mr..
fl.ar,
two-thirds of it were old fields and woods.
Mr.. Wysong last year sold the timber on
go acres Of it for 500 an acre PREVIOUSLY S he
cost him him $4,000 and he has sold $1,000
worth of timber.
The topic selected for discussion was the
comparative advantages of Thoroughbred and
Crude stock OF all kinds.
Mn. Wysong said the average farmer can
hardly afford TO handle thoroughbred or pure
bred registered stock. The outlay to procure
breeding animals is large and they require IL
great deal of care and feed. Ii Il man could
afford to go into the business the raising and
selling of pure-bred registered stock of any
kind might be profitable. He would advise
Il farmer to get pure-bred males, select the best
females possible and by that method he would
soon obtain stock more desirable for his pur-
poses than costly thorough-breds. Pure-bred
sheep however, are not costly and almost any
farmer can obtain them.
VIM. ID. Lee argued that farmer can better
afford to raise thoroughbred stock than COM
mon stock. 1t don't pay, however, to stunt
Almost any man who makes Il speciality of any
kind of thoroughbred stock can make sue
cess of it.
Mr. Wysong considered half or three-quarter
bred Jersey COWS better than pure-bred for
the ordinary farmer because they are not SO
delicate.
Thomas Lochary said farmers should always
use Thoroughbred males. Horses cattle,
sheep and hogs can all be improved rapidly in
this way.
X. Harris Archer agreed generally with Mr..
Wysong but thought pure-bred sheep more
profitable than common stock. At the present
price OF full-bred Jerseys il don't pay any far
mer to make a speciality of them. For milking
purposes grade cow giving the same quanti-
ry and quality OF milk Is us good as full-bred
one. He prefers grade hogs because they grow
larger than pure bred in the same time.
Edward P. Moores said ii he had the means
stock. They look better and sell more readily,
but for the average farmer grades are prefer
able. 1t costs great deal more money and
time than the ordinary farmer has, to show off
Thoroughbred horse properly.
III. j. Heron remarked that it pays a farmer
to raise the best stock they can afford to buy
the best males he can and thereby improve his
stock until they are nearly pire-bred. OF
course he would not breed to the same males
all the time.
T. L. Swartz likewise thought the average
farmer can not afford to raise Thoroughbred
stock but can improve his stock by using pure
bred males. This is especially true with regard
to Jersey cows where butter-making is follow
ed. 1t don't pay 4 farmer to raise thorough
breds for sale. The outlay is large at first and
1t takes lifetime to establish q reputation and
business.
: James H. Quinby, Jr., agreed with the views
OF the other members that it will not pay the
average farmer to engage altogether in raising
thoroughbred stock, but the better the blood
the MORE profit there is in the stock. Farmers
shouM improve the quality of their stock as
rapidly as they can by making careful choice
of breeding animals. His experience is that
grade Berkshire and Chester hogs are more
growthy than any other kind. He had one hog
htoh riaxad
pounds when dressed He has grade cows in
his dairy herd which give almost twice as
much milk as the full-bred Jersey but the milk
IS not as rich. The average test required for
milk Is from Ia to 16 per cent. of cream, but
he has three Jerseys whose milk shows % per
cent. of cream. 1t is almost always necessary
to have some pure-bred Jerseys in O herd to
keep up the average test of the milk.
John Moores said it seemed to be the unani-
nous opinion of the club that it is important
to breed to thoroughbred males, but farmers
fear the expense of buying Thoroughbred fe-
males. 1t costs no more to raise thorough
bred than q half-bred, and Il farmer, by Judi
cious crossing, can secure stock that is practi-
cally thoroughbred and adapted to all his pur-
poses, but not, perhaps, entitled to registry. He
owned the first pure-bred Jersey bull ever
brought into Hartford county and for 40 years
he has never been without full-bred Jerseys
Sgt had Sns Jer
binary stock. He would advise farmers to get
pure-bred males and get into thoroughbred
stock as soon rs possible. He prefers thorough
bred horses, even for the plow, provided you
can get them large enough. You can get the
size by feeding.
stock, improving it by using thoroughbred
males, rather than by commencing with tho
rough-bred stock. The latter will do for stock
farmers but it is too costly for the general far
mer. If farmers have well-bred mares they
should breed them to standard horses
Thorough, bred horses If handled quietly, viii
bred horse will pull as much as a large horse
of common stock; From 100 to !, 900 pounds
with cattle and hogs. He prefers full-bred
Berkshircs to any cross. hog that will weigh
200 at II months ought to weigh 400 at %
months.
James F. Kenly said every farmer should
try to improve his stock of all kinds, from
horses to chickens. There are so many good
males i'll the county that any farmer can OBJ
tain their services at Il moderate price. There
is no excuse for breeding to common stock.
he considered. There are many welI-bred
horses in the county but some of them are too
small for breeding purposes for the farmers
uses. There is no advantage to the far
mer in attempting to raise trOtting horses at
the expense of size. Ii a colt happens to de-
velop great speed, so much the better, but if of
good size without speed he is worth something
TOR other than track purposes.
Bennett Ii. Barnes said that at the present
time the value of horse is based largely on
its pedigree, and it is not good policy to breed
to any but pedigreed animals. At the same
time In selecting such he would take into con-
sderation the SIZE general STYLE action, &c. 1t
horses to obtain horses for general utility
Cold-blooded mares, however, should be bred
to thorough-breds, provided you can get good
size, which should always be an object. 1t is
also best to use thoroughbred males for cattle
and hogs, rather than to buy all thorough
breds, as Il less expensive way of getting into
good stock A farmer can start with thorough
bred sheep, which can be bought at Il reason
able price. He also prefers pure-bred hogs
because their meat is better than that of com
mon stock.
The President, Mr.. Smith, closed the Discus
son the object of which, he said, was to find out
what is best for the farmer. While the prices
of pure-bred and registered COWS, hogs and
sheep have declined, the same can not be said
with regard to horses. This is especially true
since the trotting records have been broken. A
farmer, however, must consider his purse III
buying breeding animals, and get them as
nearly pure-bred as he can. In breeding he
must not only consider pedigree but the gener-
al symmetry and form of the animal. A finely
formed horse, cow or any other animal is not
only attractive and pleasure to its owner but
1t is more saleable. A man might begin in
small way with thoroughbred stock and if he
has taste or talent in that direction could
make q success. Farmers, however, must be
guided by circumstances. 1t don't pay to
raise horses for speed, but if symmetrical and
stylish, even if not speedy, they will sell for a
g,nHi ;irice.
The next meeting of the club will be held at
E.....n .~&A