The Forrest City times., 1901-07-05
No greater mistake is made bv the

No, greater mistake is made by the average farmer who grows cattle than the little consideration that is given 10 adaptations; with the many, the paramount question is, which is the best breed? It ought to be, which is the best breed for my conditions? It may be possible for man to chang, or modify adaptation in breed, buv to do that will take generations of careful breeding and feeding. But why should the energies of a life time be thus expended on the notifications of breed, when one of the many breeds now in this country will ex- actly meet the needs of the farmer? Life IS too precious to waste it thus. Wherever the land is level in char acter, the soil rich and fodder and gram production is abundant, the large breeds of catle can be main- ! tained under such conditions with the highest profit. 1t may not be so easy to verify such an assumption by the facts of actual demonstration. That large breeds, however, are usually kept under such conditions is at least a presumptive proof that the farmers have found them more profitable than | the small breeds. It is also highly probable that large animals, under the conditions named, can be relative. ly more cheaply maintained than small ones. For instance, suppose one cattle beast large in size produces as much as two small ones of an equal combined weight, it will be main- talned more cheaply than the two small animals, especially in a cold cli- mate, since more food will be con- sumed in driving the machinery of two living organizations than in driv- Ing the machinery of one with equal capacity to the two. A large breed will be the best, therefore, for such conditions, other things being equal. whether the farmer seeks meat, milk or the two combined.
 Suppose, however, that the farm is mainly composed of rugged land, sim liar to that which forms the bluffs along the Mississippi, and that the soil IS light. The production on such land will not be nearly so abundant as on the level and high prairie farm. It would be mistake to introduce a ponderous breed on such a farm. A light breed, such as the Devon, for in. stance, could readily climb the bluffs and gather food, whereas a ponder ous breed, like the Shorthorn, could succeed only in carrying their heavy bodies over such land by labored ef- fort; while, therefore, the former. a small breed, would almost certainly sccceed well under such conditions, the large breed would not prove a success.
 Then again, there are farms that are intermediate in character. They have pastured lands upon them that are undulating and in some instances hilly. They also have upon them lev el stretches, where plentiful food SUD- plies may be grown with which to sustain them in winter. Here. then. are conditions suited to the main tenance of the intermediate breeds. as for instance, the Red Polls or the Ayrshires.
 Where protection can not be fur nlshed, the natural hardihood of the animal is an important factor. But under farm conditions, it is not so important relatively, since that meas ure of protection can usually be fur nished, suited to the needs of the breed. It is not to be understood. however, that hardihood in breeds, even on the arabic farm, is not an inn portant consideration.-Prof Thos. Shaw, in Texas Farm and Ranch.