The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-02-12
CATTLE RAISING.
The Industry Could Easily Be Made
Profitable in North Carolina.
Enfield Ledger.

Enheld Ledger.
A branch of industry which is al
most entirely neglected in the South
is that OF raising beef cattle. This
industry has fuctuated very much
in the history of North Carolina,
and as a matter of interest we quote
the following figures from an article
on the subject III the January num-
Der of the Southern Planfrr:
"NOrth Carolina had in 1850 221, :
100 dairy COWS. In 1870 the num-
Der was 1W.731. In 1890 the num-
Der had increased to 233, 17S. In
1850 North Carolina had 471,711
other cattle In 1870 this number
had been reduced to 324 ,431. In
1890 this number had increased to
}91 $40. In 1880 North Carolina
had J9J,249 sheep. in 1870 this
number had been reduced to 4G3,-
49,. In 1890 this number was 2OS,-
S12. III 1890 North Carolina had
1912, S13 hogs In 1870 the num-
Der had been reduced to 90, 21J.
In 1890 he number had increased to
1900, 1853"
IL II - Itlt'Hl tIiIit tlIt supply VI
beef cattle in the State is now entire
" inadequate to the demand. After
all the home supply is exhausted
the butchers have to supplement it
with beef from the North either
dressed or umdressed. Not only
could IL sufficient supply be raised
for home use which would keep the
money here that is sent away to
other markets. but more than enough
could be raised and exported.
There are large tracts of land, es-
peciaIly in the Eastern part OF this
State which are scarcely adapted
to agriculture on account OF the diff
ticulty and expense Of drainage, but
which would support large numbers
Of cattle without other food for at
least nine months i'll tn" year. If
YOU pass through these swamps you
will find ii large quantity OF green
grass even in the dead OF winter. As
the taller grass is killed by the frost
it forms IL protection for that be-
meath it which the cattle easily find,
and it would be possible for them to
exist the year round on grass. But
this would not make good beef and
it would be necessary to feed them
for ut least Il month before sale on
other more substantial food in order
to prepare them for the market
These swamps could be connected
with shelters for night by lanes 50
that the cattle could 90 to the shell
ter each night and thus the manure
be preserved for the use OF the farm
A necessary incident to the profit
able raising of cattle would be I'M
prOvement of the stock. While the
native breed would make IL good
basis for beef raising it should be
improved by cross breeding with
other stocks. This cross bred stock
would probably be better for beef
than either the native or improved
alone.
That Il fine profit can be made on
beef raising on the lines mentioned
above cannot admit of doubt. 4
writer in the Manufacturers Record
Of last week makes this statements:
''Scientific experiments made III
cattle feeding by our agricultural
stations and various parties in the
Southern States show that n net
profit of 30 to 50 per cent. on the
investment can be made by buying
and fattening steers on our native
forage and cattle food.
The true science of farming is to
make every edge cut, and beef rails
inc would add another item to the
farmers income which has hitherto
been neglected. Let every farmer
whose farm is at I'LL adapted to cat
tie raising consider this matter and
raise Il few beeves this year, keeping
an accurate account of first cost and
expense of keeping, and then he will
know by actual experience if there is
profit in it.