Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-07-22
LIVE STOCK THIRTY YEARS AGO.
What Do Our Eeaders Think of Mr.. Pixies
Ideas?

What Do Our Readers Think of Mr.. Pike's
Ideas?
The New York Sun has been publish
ing some exceedingly interesting papers
written by The late James Shepherd
Pike. One of them describes agricul-
ture and live stock shows in England in
1864. Many of the ideas are as applica-
BILE to our times rs if they had been pro-
mulgated yesterday. But we woulu like
to have our readers form an opinion On
Mr.. Pixies assertion that the Dutch
cow can never be successfully reared
in America.
He visited the great farm of the Duke
of Northumberland and says among 9th
er things:
Some valuable experiments have been
made upon it, among them one to test
the value OF cooked food for animals des-
tined for the meat market. Very elabo-
rate preparations were made. and the ex-
pertinent was thoroughly tried. After
prolonged experience the practice was
abandoned. 1t was found that the cat
tie thrivcd and took on fat, but singu-
larry it was not at the points nor in the
way the butcher preferred. The fat and
lean did not intermix, but rather sepa-
rated, the fat going wholly to the out
side. The result was an abandonment of
the experiment as n failure. The bull
locks fattcd at this establishment are the
Hercfords. They have been chosen as
combining on the whole the most favor
able qualities for beef animals.
1t is estimated that the same amount
of feed will turn out three Herefords
that would be consumed by two Dur
hams.
AS regards the question of stock breed
ing, am of opinion that the true way to
improve our stock is to adhere mainly
to native breeds. improving them by the
occasional infusion of good blood from
abroad, but relying more especially upon
judiciouS selections from among our own
native stock. This is the way in which
all good breeds have been obtained III
tire first instance in all countries. Eng.
land especially has secured hers on the
principle Of selection and not by impor-
tationS.
Importations alone will not answer in
the long run, because the conditions
which created the breed in the outset
cannot all be foand in the new circum-
stances in which the animal will be
placed when transferred to its new home.
Difference of climate, difference of feed,
difference Ct treatment, will all tend to
modify and ultimately to change the
original type. High feeding is especially
requisite to maintain high type Or
binary feed and ordinary treatment will
soon turn first class into an ordinary
animal.
find both in England and on the conti-
ncnt that no business is esteemed so pre-.
carious and Improbable as the raising Of
first rate stock. The most careful efforts
are constantly breaking down, the best
parents producing frequently offsprings
of only an average quality and even be.
low an average. The raiscrs of blood
horses in England can count only on
about ) per cent Of their product as be-
ing of the best quality. The rule is not
wholly inapplicable to horned animals
| In breeding, therefore. we must not eX-
pect better results in the long run than
such facts intimate.
The excellent development Of Dutch
stock in their bodily proportions may be
attributed to the broad, fat meadows on
which they feed. The grass of the low
country meadows is rank and luxuriant
and no animal can be stunted that feeds
thereon.
But if this same Dutch animal were
transferred TO their pastures, Il dry, cold
climate, to Scotland or Switzerland OIL
America, it would undoubtedly lose in a
few generations its leading characters
tics. \ mountain fed animal is neces-
sarily different from one meadow fed.
The Canadian climate in time reduces
the large Norman horse to a pony, and
Il Dutch cow, transferred from her lux.
uriant pastures and warm stables and
! humid atmosphere and treated to expert.
ences of quite another character, such as
an icy climate, exposed hillsides and
mountain feed, would soon sLrivel into
proportions to correspond, both in weight
and milk giving properties. The Dutch
COW. i'll her splendid proportions and pic.
turesque colors. is the product of peculiar
circumstances, and when the circum,
stances change the animal will change
And this must be trneof all exotic breeds
to a greater or less extent This same
Dutch COW is Il constant article of export
and yet the breed will be looked for in
vain either in Belgium or in Germany OF
France or England.