The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-07-01

necessity of live stock in the restora-
ton of our depleted soil. 1t is not for
us to say that any branch of live stock
can not be kept with profit within u
borders, but only to emphasize dairy
farming as a work which combines
both immediate and future returns.
OUR NATURAL ADVANTAGES
Our diversity of climate and many
types of soil insure the successful
growing of a variety of feeding stufs.
As far as these things go, we have
the favorable conditions of the most
successful dairying countries of the
world, of Switzerland's mountains,
Italy's plains and Hollands lowlands.
The choicest rations, of grains,
grasses, legumes and roots can be
grown right here, and our comparative
freedom from drought and storms and
pestilence makes North Carolina al
sure of plenty.
Our climate, so mild as to require
little expense in the way of providing
shelter from storm and sun, the adap-
liability of our soil to the growth of
almost endless variety of forage, COM
bined with cheap labor. places the cost
of dairy farming at low figures. If to
these favorable conditions were added
rational feeding, the one great neces-
sity to profitable dairying in so many
places, the cost might be reduced to
a minimum, making it possible for us
to compete in this industry with any
country. If not in North Carolina,
the home of diversified agriculture,
and especially of the cow-pea and cot
ton-seed meal, the great protein feed
ers and sources of beef and butter and
cheese, dairying can not be practiced
with profit, surely it must be a close
business elsewhere. If countries not
so favored can meet their home de-
mand, and contribute to the worlds
supply and make money, certainly the
Old North State can do as much.
MORE AND BETTER CATTLE NEEDED
Thus far we have on our farms only
a scanty scattering of scrub cattle and
a smaller number of grades. A few
pure-breds have been lately introduced,
but these can hardly be said to have
passed the experimental stage. The
grades have been highly satisfactory
over the scrubs and there is every rea-
son to believe that p~ure-breds may be
kept here with increase of profit over
the grades. But profit is the first con-
~sideratiOn; after that is sure, the in
crease. Statistics show that there has
been a steady gain in number of our
cattle during the past decade. In 1900
we had two hundred and forty-three
thousand two hundred and nienty-
eight mich COWS, as compared with
two hundred and twenty-three thou
sand four hundred and sixteen in 1890.
1t is gratifying to note this increase
of live stock, of mich COWS in par
t~icular, but still the shortage is enor-
nous. With a population of one mil
lion eight hundred and ninety-three
thousand eight hundred and ten in the
year 1900, North Carolina averaged
one mich COW to every eight persons,
instead of having as she needed, one
cow to every four persons. In conse-
quence of this shortage there is for the
stock men of our State an almost I'M
trOdden field to occupy, and for the
man who can breed or select dairy or
beef herds with intelligence there are
few occupations more rem~unerative.
WHAT OUR SMALL TOWNS NEED.
North Carolina seems destined to
include in her list numerous small
towns and but few cities. From the
fact that in these towns a large per-