Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-09-01
STOCK IN The SOUTH.
How Wool Might Be Made Valuable
Adjunct of Cotton.

How Wool Might Be Made q Valuable
Adjunct of Cotton.
Among the causes which retard prog
ress in southern agriculture and prevent
the increase of stock doubtless the ten
ant system and the crop mortgage sys-
tenn are among the principal factors.
These methods have doubtless been nee
essary in the progress of the change
from the plantation to the farm, but the
sooner these methods cease to be neces-
sary the greater will be the progress of
the several states. In Arthur Young's
well known treatise ON the condition of
agriculture in France just before the
French revolution he constantly re-
marks on the evils of the great holdings
of land then abused by privileged classes
beyond anything we have ever known
in this country, even under the slave
system.
The pocket nerve is the most potent
factor in promoting improvement and
will ultimately work better methods
but if at present Through the combined
action of the skilled farmers, who are
very numerous in the south, even if
they bear but small proportion to the
whole number, and the press the sheep
eating dog cannot be suppressed and
the progress of agriculture in diversity
and value cannot be promoted, then all
progress must wait until the schoolmas-
ter of hard times or Of relatively poor
conditions shall arouse the people to
a recognition Of the fact that the old
darby was right who explained to me
very beneficial change in the govern
ment of one of the southern states,
eyer can't put ign 'ance ON top of 'telli-
gence and make it stay dar. !" This is
true in politics, but i'll agriculture it
is rot true. The ignorance and inca
pacity which tolerate the cur dog will
stay the progress of agriculture, the me-
chanic arts and manufactures until they
are surmounted by industrial intelIi-
gence.
In the treatise on "Woot Growing In
the Cotton States" called attention to
the contrast between the state of Texas
and the Atlantic and gulf states. There
are many indications of greater progress
in a true method of agriculture in
Texas than in the upland cotton section.
Texas is taking the lead in the produc-
ton of cotton. 1t has long start in
the production of wool, both ON the in
tensive and extensive methods. Sheep
are being carried in large numbers on
the refuse of the cottonseed oil mills,
even ON the cotton seed itself, which is
less desirable. The staple of Texas cot
ton is, as rule, longer and stronger than
the staple of the upland cottons. The
long cottons necessary for the manufac-
ture of fine fabrics, both from Egyptian
and American seed, are being raised in
increasing quantity in Texas 1t is very
plain that unless equal force and intel
ligence are applied to agriculture in
other sections Texas will control the
production both of southern cotton and
of southern wool. Its fields being, SO
far as cost is concerned, nearer to New
England than to the Piedmont plateau,
where most of the southern mills are,
the competition of Texas and New Eng
land combined may hereafter be very
severely felt both in the agriculture ard
manufactures of cotton and cotton fab
RIGS in the Atlantic cotton states.-Ed-
ward Atkinson in County Gentleman.
Ages of Breeding Stock.
The age at which mares and stations
should be put to the stud sometimes
gives rise to diversity of opinion. A
stallion should always have few mares
at 2 years old, not more than 10 or 10.
We are thus enabled to form some idea
of his value as breeder when years
old, and this is important The best
young mare the writer ever bred was
from filly served at 2 years old, and
this mare is now nursing her fifth foal
at Z years old, and all reared, and
where there is sufficient size would
always put mares to the stud at this
age. They are helping to pay for their
keep, and if their produce is of excep-
tional quality they can be kept breed
ing. 1t is a remarkable fact that when
old Prince of Wales was serving in
Stranraer district when over 20 years
old) several 2-year-old Darnley FLIES
were put to him, and such was the ex
cellence of their produce that, as year
lings, they captured all the prizes in
their own district, and at many of the
leading shows in Scotland as we'll. Will
liam the Conqueror became the sire of
Hitchin Conqueror, Prince William,
Blue Ruin, Staunton Hero, Electric and
Endymion, when he was over 20 years
old, and believe many instances can
be adduced where stations have left
their best produce in their old days.
would much rather use ain old horse, a
tried, good getter, than an untried
young horse. Old mares that have been
worn out by hard work are seldom sat-
isfactory to breed from. Start the mares
young and keep them at it if good
breeders.