Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-01-30
AarifnltMral.
IMPROVING LIVE STOCK.

Before securing pure bred stock the
value of the pasture must be taken into
consideration. Poor pastures will make
poor stock, no matter how careful the
breeder may be. 1t will not do to en-
deavor to bring the stock or herd up BY
breeding unless all the conditions are
favorable. The razor-back hog is the
result of poor feeding, and though man
compelled the animal to resort to scauty
heritage, nature fitted him for the pur-
pose Of gradually changing his form,
thus adapting him to the surroundings.
We thus know that climate, soil, and
the growth indigenous thereto, are i'm
portant factors to be taken into account,
and 10 the breeding of live stock we
should consider we'll 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 it has been
fed on rich pastures, where everything
favorable for improvement has been in
its favor, and it has never refrigerated
during single period, but progressed
without difficulty Hence, if the Cots
void is to be an agent for improving the
common 6ock we must take look over
the feeding grounds. The lambs from
the cross will be ushered into the world
with the combined characteristics of both
sire and dam. The ewes must give a
greater supply Of milk, for the lambs
will grow fast, and after they are weaned
the pastures must be the best in order
to supply the demands.
So with the cattle. The native COW
can exist where the pure-bred animal
starves, but this is because she is not
required by nature to convert a large
quantity Of food into milk. Scanty herb.
age has dwarfed her milking qualities,
and this has been handed down from
ancestry. Scanty heritage will not do.
The change is upward. and the condi-
tons must be changed to suit the de-
mands of the animal. The Berkshire
hog would starvo to death if he we're
compelled to compete with the land-pike
variety He could not exist 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 animals
to different uses, it does not infer that
they are not subject to natural laws.
On the contrary, the subsection 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 assistance so essential To
their wellbeing. The pasture, shelter
and care must be suitable for the &C.
complishment Of the purpose desired,
and no neglect can be allowed. Not
only mus the utmost care be taken in
selecting the animals that suit the farm
best, but the farm itssf must also con-
form to the animals One should not
attempt to improve unless prepared for
it, as failure will he the result, but the
preparation is easily made. Better stock
means better farming, larger crops and
etCehoI pdsSuIeh WIN euCu year Tue
crops become better because the system
forces them to do so But those farmers
who do not possess facilities for certain
breeds of animals need not be discour-
aged, as all eau have privilege with
some kinds that do come up to the re-
quirements needed.
Tmpr ovement should be the watch
word. He who lags behind will be left
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. --Phila-
delphia Record.