Evening journal., 1902-12-19
IMPROVING LIVE
STOCK ON FARM
Effects of Grain and Album
dant Pasturage in Main
tanning Efficiency
breeding COTSWOLD SHEEP

Native Cow Can Exist Where Pure
Bred Starves But This Is Because
Former Does Not Furnish AS Much
Milk
Before securing pure-bled stock the
value OF the pasture must be taken into
consideration. Foor pastures make
poor stock, no matter how careful the
breeder may be. II will not do to en-
deavor to bring the stock or herd up by
breeding unless all the conditions are
favorable The razor-bacl1 hog is the
result Of poor feeding, and though man
compelled the animal to resort to scanty
heritage. nature fitted him for the pur-
pose by gradually changing his form,
tnus adapting him 10 the surroundings.
We thus know that climate, soih and
the growth indigenous thereto, are inn
portant factors to be taken into the
account and in the breeding of live
stock we should consider well as To
what We need before making the effort.
The Cotswold sheep. so famous for
! its long combing fleece has been bred
| to a large size In securing size il has
lbeen fed on rich pastures, where every
thing favorable for improvement has
been in its favor, and it has never ret
regarded during a single period, but
progressed without difficulty. Hence,
if the Cotswold is to be an agent fOrs
improving the common flock we must
take a look over the feeding grounds.
The lambs from the cross will be
lushered into the world with the conn
bined characteristics OF both sire and
dam. The ewes must give a greater
lsupply of milk, for the lambs will
grow fast, and after they are weaned
the pastures must be the best, in or
der to supply the demands.
Poor Blooded Cow Best
so with the cattle. The native cow
can exist where the pure-bred animal
starves, but this is bscause she is not
required by nature 10 convert a large
quantity Of food into milk. Scanty
herbage has dwarfed her milking
Qualities and this has been handed
down from ancestry. Scanty herbaga
will not do. The change is upward,
land the conditions must be changed to
. suit the demands Of the animal. The
Berkshire hog would starve to death
if he were compelled TO compete with
the landpike variety. He could not eX-
list under the same conditions. for he
has been bred away from that sphere,
and he is Of no use unless adapted to
the place which is to be his habitation.
AS man has adapted different ami
mails to different uses, it does not infer
that they are not subject to natural
i IN, ~ h.n.
3 is more complete than before, and as
man has been the foster agent in
. changing the characteristics of most
domestic animals, so must the hand OF
man be ever ready to render that as
sistance so essential to their well-be-
ing. The pasture, shelter and care
must be suitable for the accomplish
ment of the purpose desired. and no
neglect can be allowed. Not only must
the utmost care be taken in selecting
the animals that suit the farm best, but
the farm itself must also conform to the
animals One should not attempt to
Improve unless prepared for it, as fail
ure will be the result, but the prepara-
tion is easily made. Better stock
means better farming. larger crops
and greener pastures. With each
year the crops become better because
the system forces them to be so. But
those farmers who do not possess facil-
tides for certain breeds Of animals need
not be discouraged. as all can have a
privilege with some kinds that do come
up to the requirements needed.
improvement should be the watch
word. He who lags behind viii be left
4 far in the rear, and be compelled TO
camp on the same ground that others
long before occupied, but who have
left it for something better. Keep pace
with the time, and keep the flock to the
best by breeding with thOroughbreds
and always culling from the bottom.
Value of Waste Material
If farmers would take the trouble to
\ ascertain the value OF that which is
more or less thrown away at this sea
; son they would perhaps make better
use of much that is considered worth
n less. Vegetable tops make excellent
q addition to the compost heap from time
& to time, and such material is really
n valuable Beet tops are very rich in
q nitrogen, and those from carrots, pars
3 nips and turnips are well supplied will
n plfosphates. Potato vines contain q
large quantity Of potash, and there il
= nothing more valuable for composing
B than the refuse from the potato crop
+ The vines from sweet potatoes affor,
4 the beet mulching material for cover
Y ing strawberries that can be used an,
B when out of use can then be compOsted
IS The fact is, all the tops OF vegetable
n should do service as a mulch bafore be
ing carried to the compost heap, and /
is in such capacity that they rende
comstalks valuable The best metho
for muiching with the wastage fror
vegetables is to cover the vines intend
ed to be mulched and lay rows of corn
stalks on the top Of It, in order to pre-
vent disturbance from winds. One &
the most serious losses is ccrncobl
n which contain in the ash nearly on
q fourth potash. When we consider ths
/.