Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-04-16
STOCK RAISING.
Satisfactory Progress Made In
That Direction.

Z bdtVst s7tdaiSACS On INC 8sN1le1t ShVN
This Great Amount OF Blue Grass
in West Virginia Have More
Than kentucky Mon0ngalia up
] Front in Number " Cattle Raised.
I Stock raising has always been inn
portant branch of West Virginia
agriculture. The State is naturally
so well adapted to grazing purpose
that the practical farmer can not
1 fail 20 see his vantage. In public
! speech during his lncumbeney as
as the Chief Executive of the State
ex Governor Fleming once made the
remark that, while he did not want
/ to detract from the just pride which
every kentuckian feels in his State
/ it was his information and belief
that there are more acres OF blue
grass sod in West Virginia than
there are in Kentucky Governor
Fleming was one of the best posted
men in the State on it's resources
and was not given TO extravagant
statements. West Virginia has, in
fact, grazing lands which are unex
eelled anywhere. These lie chiefly in
the mamons blue grass region of
Greenbrier and the adjoining coan-
ties-Monroe, Peeahontas, and Mich
olas famous throughout the coun-
/ try for their grass lands Other
counties noted in this respect are
Harrison and Lewis, and it is note
/ worthy that these counties are
among the leading cattle producing
sections in the State.
GOOD PAsTURAGE EVERYWHERE.
But though the blue grass is the
/ predominant variety it is not the
chiet reliance. Glover hourishes
everywhere; timothy grows in lux
urianee on the limestone and other
soils, and on the light lands orchard
and mixed grasses afford excellent
hay and abundant pasturage. In
addition, meadow feseue meadow
grass and Perennial rye grass have
been found profitable wherever
grown. There are also numerous
wild or native grasses, which afford
more or less pastnrage in their nat
ural state In the older parts of the
State many of the tame .sgrasses"
have been found to be very profta-
bic as pastures or meadows. Pas
lures have been found to be more
profitable on lands which cannot
be titled in regular rotation on ac-
count of being rough, billy or stony,
or otherwise not easily plowed, than
on the river and creek bottoms and
rich tillable uplands. The hay crop
of the State for one year covered
620,7 acres, yielding 6S2, 1875 tons,
valued at $S,996,637.
1t is because of these natural re
sources as grazing State that West
Virginia ranks high, though not
among the highest, in comparison
with other States in cattle produc-
ton. The total number of cattle In
the State, according to the last of
fetal reports, is $4,000, the value
of which is estimated at $l4, 1926, $50
PROFITS YET TO COME.
In spite, however, of the exten-
siveness of the cattle trade, it has
not brought the pecuniary profits
which have been realized in other
States less favored naturally. The
best grades of beet cattle have been
selling for from Al to cents
pound, and the common grades have
been selling for from 3 to cents
pound, at the same age, difference
OF only about $40 ahead Estimat-
ing that there are 100000 head of
beef cattle sold bv the farmers of
the State annually the loss each year
is above $2,000.000 This loss is oc-
casioned by the fact that the West
Virginia farmer has not given suf-
/ ficent attention to the market. Still
another cause for the failure to real
/ ize pecuniarilv is the fact that up to
about few years ago the farmers Of
/ this State had not given proper at
I tentlon to feeding and breeding 1t
( has cost about as much to raise and
| feed common steer that sells for
from $50 to $40 as it has TO raise a
good steer that will bring from sos
to SIS, different of about $25
head
SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES MADE.
Under the direction, however, of
the State Board Of Agriculture large
strides forward have been made in
this respect in the last few years.
Better breeds have been raised and
scientific steps have been taken to af-
ford some idea as to the extent OF the
! Improvement. Among other things
has been the appointment of veteri-
nary to the board, whose duty it is to
see that there is no spread OF conta-
/ gious diseases among live stock. This
official investigates any reports as to
the existence Of diseases among either
/ cafffa ar horses and if he finds them