The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15

. conditions were hardly complied with.
The real cause of trouble is greatly due to
the fact that scientists never had chance
to study the buffalo before they were so
scarce it was impossible to do so.
But in spite Of the many failures else
where, { it looks as if the buffalo breeding
experiment Will be a success in California,
and if it is it will be largely due to the mild
and equable climate. The experiment IN
this State has been made by the we'll
known capitalist, Esteban ]. Nolera, and
after nearly six years he feels more en-
couraged than ever. Mr.. Molera has
studied the buffalo, and In his experiments
has endeavored to keep as close to nature
as possible, and at the same time make use
OF all the scientific knowledge he could
obtain on the subject.
Mr.. Molera commenced his experiments
on a modest scale in the autumn OF 1880.
His first purchase was magnificent buf-
falo bull that he obtained from travelling
exhibitor named Gardener. The animal
was in the best of health and Mr.. Molero
knew it must be hardy or it would not
have been able to have stood the discom-
forts and hardships of travel. He had the
animal taken to his Point Sur ranch in
Monterey County and turned loose on the
range. 1t was contented from the start
and soon became fat. Seeing that the
winter climate agreed with the bull Mr..
obtained a buffalo cow, which he also
turned out on the range.
That was in 1891 and in 1892 fine bull
calf was born that has now grown to ma
turity and is in the best of health. En-
couraged by his success Mr.. Molera OBJ
tanned from Mr.. Weaser four more cows,
all of which gave birth to calves that are
now nearly years old. Some of the cows
have given birth to two calves, the last of
which are still very young. Including his
purchase Mr.. Molera's herd now mum bers
fourteen He has not lost single full
bred calf, and the entire herd is in the pest
OF health and spirits, and they should
multiply in the same ratio IN the future as
they have in the past. If they do the herd
will increase to over 100 in the next seven
wears and as they will be all acclimated
animals there seems to be no reason why
the buffalo should ever become extinct
In addition to his experiments with full
blooded buffaloes, Mr.. Molera has also
tried the effects of crossing the buffalo
bull with the Galloway COW. His success
at first was not as encouraging as with
the full breeds. The first season four
calves were born, but three of them died.
The other, however, grew up in good
health, and Mr.. Molera thinks the loss of
the other three was due to carelessness on
the part of the men whoNcared for them.
Since then other calves have been born
from the same cows and all appear to be
in the best of health. Strange to say, all
of the half breed calves were females.
Some of these calves are now nearly three
wears old, and an effort has been made to
cross them again and it promises to sue
ceed. To avoid inbreeding Mr.. Molera
has put the first buffalo bull he purchased
out in Golden Gate Park and taken fero-
cions Ben Harrison down to his ranch.
The old fellow seems happy and contented
on the range and has greatly improved IN
appearance The crossing with the half
breed Galloways will produce an animal
three-ouarters buffalo, and If they prove
strong and hardy Mr.. Molera will obtain
other buffalo bulls in different parts OF the
country and conduct his experiments until
he has produced an animal that is fifteen
sixteenths buffalo. He thinks that when
that stage is reached he will have an al
most distinct breed Of cattle that VIII mui-
tiply without any crossing.
The effects Of crossing IS much more
interesting and important matter than the
simple breeding OF the full-breed bil1aloes,
which is, after all, more matter or science
and sentiment than anything else. Should
the full-breed buffalo be raised IN sutnclent
numbers to warrant its being killed, only
email portion of each animal makes good
food and the skin can only be used for
robes. On the other hand, all OF the hai1-
breed makes good meat. The SKIN makes
the best KIND or leather anu dlSo Htts HnSl
and thicker growth of hair than the full-
breed buffalo, Some of the cattle, IN fact,
have fur that is almost as fine as seal
skin, only the hairs are much longer.
In conducting his experiments Mr.
Molera has made an effort to keep all OF
his buffaloes contented. AS soon as he
detects any signs of restlessness he has
them moved to another ranch. The AMI
mails have hassed their time between Point
Sur ranch, below Monterey, and Moro