The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-08-26
RALEIGH, N C., TUESDAY, AUGUST 26 1902
Grow More Stock.

(Dr. Galen Wilson, in Practical Farmer
1t is a good time now for the farmer
to consider what promising outlook
there is for him to increase his growing
of meat animals; or if he does not now
make it an object to grow only his own
supply, does not good common sense
teach him that there never was more
opportune period in which to push ahead
and grow beef pork and mutton to the
capacity of his farm and cOnditlons2
Meats are exceedingly dear and there is
a short supply of meat animals every
where which Will require years and years
to replenish. Prices will probably vary
some from time to time, during few
years to come but for a dozen years
meat prices Will not again be 50 low
as they have averaged the last dozen
years. Conditions point to the contrary.
| Take cattle, for instance. Sufnclent
breeding stock is not in the country.
They must be grown; and then there is
warning element against this. Most
of the commercial beef cattle are grown
on the range; but settlers have so en-
croached upon the ranges that public
grazing lands have been growing scarcer
and scarcer. Cattle and sheep have been
moved from time to time to give place 10
settlers until there seems not to remain
sufficient room for both, and the cattle
men and Sheepmen are battling Win eacn
other as to which shall occupy the public
lands. The catt1emen seem to have the
better Of the contest just now. This
quarrel but proves the shortage Of public
gre zing land The last census report
| $4,000 says in Texas alone over 100000
new farms were settled upon in the last
decade and probably correspondingly as
| large numbers in other States and Ierr-
tories. Seven million head of sheep
| meantime have been driven back into
the ranges to make room for the land
settlers, and this is what causes the
sheep and cattle ''onplea asantness Il
is very easy to see that in time not
very far away, all beef and mutton in
| this country must be grown on farms.
Stock growing on the ranges is fast pass
! ing away Stock growing enriches land,
while so much grain growing as now, i'm
/ poverishes it. Grow more stock, and
more grain can be grown With it. And
/ while meat animals have largely de-
creased in numbers human mouths to
/ consume them have increased with the
/ increasing population. The drought of
4 last season in the swine belt reduced
the hog crop and the output of pork
very seriously. 1t Will require 4 long
time vet to get back onto the old basis.
| The Beef Trust first drove out beet raio-
| ing on the farm by putting their prices
on slaughtered meats so low that there
! was no profit in growing beef on the farm.
! When this was done and the Trust had
got hold of all the range cattle. they
forced retail prices up sky high where
they are at present. But the ''sizns CT
/ the times" Indicate most surely that the
Trust viii not control the meat supply
more than about two or three years. il
that long. BY that time farmers can
if they will, get well stocked up Win
meat animals Live stock and tillage OF
the soil were designed by the Creator to
go hand in hand. Neither Hourishes
alone. never did and never viii long at q
time The soil OF England is very
fertile because of the combination OF
these two forces-live stock and thorough
tillagc.