The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-16
Gen. PURPOSE COW
Conflicting Opinions Of State Agri-
culturists About Her.
cosGRovE FOR NEXT PRESIDENT
LIE Sueur Man to Be Advanced to the
Vacancy Left by MIR.
Cooper.

session OF the state aSrlculLuFlSLS III 81.
Paul yesterday, Prof O. C.. Gregg, superin-s
on Improvement of Minnesota Cattle"
and A. M. Soule. of the Tennessee Agricul-
tural college, on Influence Affecting the
Economic Production Of Beef" Prof w.
NJ Hays, Of the State Agricultural
School, was not present, and his paper
on Breeding Animals For Intrinsic
Qualities" was read by Secretary Randall.
S. p. Childs. Of Blue Earth City, pre-
sided
Professor Gregg devoted much OF his
time to a discussion of 'tThe General
Purpose Cow" an animal which should
be of value both for dairying and beef
purposes. The best animal of this sort,
he said, could be obtained only by judi
cious crossing, and could not be per-
petuated in any other way, animals bred
from the progeny OF such crossing almost
invariably showing bad defects in one
quality Or other. Professor Gregg told OF
an interesting experiment conducted by
himself in crossing Polled Angus and Jer-
seys, the calves being coal black and
showing no trace of Jersey in it's appear
ance. but still proving good mixers.
Hays on Breeding.
Professor Hays paper proved most In
teresting. At the outset he rather as
tonished his auditors by the statement
that animal breeding was one Of. the fine
arts. butte one that could be placed on
scientific basis. In the material results
attained through experiments on plants,
Professor Hays found strong argument
in favor of better things in animal breed
ing when the science should come to be
better understood. The paper compared
the breeding of a cow with the growing
of fax. Three courses must be pursued
to attain three different ends: In fax cul-
tivation the farmer adopts one course It
he wants flax seed, another if he wants
fax fibre, and still another II he desires
a combination Of both. So, in raising
cattle, the breeder must make a distinc-
ton between the dairy animal, the beer,
and the dual purpose cow.
America Mr.. Hays thinks, is destined to
lead the world in cattle raising as it
does already in many lines OF manufac-
ture. Already he said, American breed
ers had produced better Jerseys than
could be raised in the Isle of Jersey it
self, while American bred Holsteins had
many points Of superiority over those of
Holland. Early maturity, power to resist
disease, and fecundity, he considered
points of primal Importance; and with
scientific breeding, calculated to develop
these characteristics, he believed it only
reasonable to expect an increase of 10
per cent in the inherited value of Mime
sofa cattle within the next ten years.
Certain diseases of cattle, he thought,
should be combatted in breeding, just as
farmers seek to lessen the danger from
rust by growing new kind of wheat.
Cattle Raising Problems.
Professor A. NJ Soulle. Of Tennessee,
spoke Of the economic problems OF cattle
raising. He rather doubted the value of
the dual purpose COW; and said that the
breeder who intended his animals for the
meat market should devote his energies
toward producing COW that will mature
rapidly. Good breeds, he said, more than
paid for themselves. as they could be
| fattened more rapidly and with better eff
feet that the common, scrub, American
cattle. ... y. .. ... .... ...y-... 49,. ,,eE
He detailed the results Of a number of
experiments made in Tennessee, all OF
which illustrated this point; and gave it
as his opinion that at present the two
[ year-old was the best paying animal, al
! though he was not prepared to say that
| future developments along the lines sug-
gested would not make the yearling the
| more valuable. He advocated co-opera
| ton among farmers in the matter of Sc
curing good stock breeding purposes.
r Cosgrove Is Slated. ,
! President John B. Cooper will not be 9
! candidate for reelection, and G. N. Cos
| grove Of LIE Sueur will unquestionably be
elected in his stead. Chester R. Smith
| will again represent St. Paul as vice
| president and B. F. Nelson will succeed
Thomas H. Shevlin as representative O.
| Minneapolis.
| On the board Of managers N. S. Gordon
of Crookston, whose term express will
be reelected, and Ebenezer C. Hunting
ton, editor of the Window Reporter, will
probably succeed DR.. J: G. Curryer, who
formerly represented the second district
| but who has moved to st. Paul within the
past year. DR.. Curryer, it is said would
like to retain his position, but Mr.. Hunt
| ington will have the Endorsement Of hi:
district and his selection is PRACTICAL.
certain. 49,.
For the place left vacant by G. N
ECosrove's elevation to the presidency there
are three candidates, J. c.. Mills Of Pres.
ton, who has already had considerable
fair experience in the sheep and cattle de
Ipartment; Charles Kenny of Osceola, ant
L. B. Beard of Austin. All three names
will probably be presented for the place
and the fight will be close one.