Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-06-08
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE SOUTH FOR LIVE STOCK.
fhe south Peculiar Adapted FOR
the Raising az All Mad.
of live stock.

As a rule, mans endeavor to accu-
mulate wealth is along the line that
promises the greatest returns for the
least labor and his SUCCESS Is meas
ur"d largely. aside from his individual
EFFORT. by the favorable or unfavorable
conditions that surround him.
II climate. soil. the natural growth
OF grasses and forage crops of ali
kinds are essential in growing econ
nomicaliy and successfully. all classes
OF live stock. the south is as peculiarly
adapted for this purpose a. IL IS for
growing cotton and sugar cane. That
u Is the natural home of an the i'm
proved breeds u our domestic animals
Vas evidenced in the fact that the
earliest !mportaiions into this country
u the improved breeds Of our domestic
animals were made by farmers Ia the
south They imported in Old sailing
vessels that required weeks and some
times months 10 make the trip from
Europe into chr southern PORTS Not
withstandiug the losses we're enormous,
yet the increased yaiu-. u this blood
on the native stock mate il a most
profitable business
The first thoroughbred horses were
imported by the south. the frst herd
Of beef cattle. Shorthorus. we're bought
and owned by southern farmers. the
first improved breeds Of swine. the
Berkshire and the old Essex tribe
were introduced into this country By
southern farmers. Perhaps New York
can claim tse distinction Of importing
tn first improved breeds Of sheep. but
It vas only a few years later that
the hest Merino blood N Spain was .
bought and imported into the south. f
AMI from this blood came the fleece .
that in 1880 A. the great Worlds
fair IN London won over The focks OF
the world the grand medal a. the
hnest grade 0f wool From the loins 4
u these imported animals and their
descendants in the south was laid the
foundation n the magnificent srruc-
ture. The great live stock interest OF
the vesr and southwest. as Il stands
TO-DAY and Vet the south. thar portion
OF u east II the Mississippi. Is poorer
TO-DAY IN any u these improved
breeds 10 proportion 10 population
i.an arr section u the United States
WHY j. this,
Previous O. the civil var the south
vaS purely an Agricultural section
making Specially II such crops a.
wsre most pruftabie IN certain local.
tie. s'lch as cotton. sugar. rice. etc
bar even where these CROPS were the
principal staples. the live steek though
grown only go a limited extent. were
all strongly infused with the gno,i
blood that prsdominafed in other 10
calities- When the var closed the
south Nas a financial wreck. stripped
OF all visible wealth except her eli
mate, her soil and a people whose
courage TO disaster or misfortune
could srodue- SioNly but surely they
began 10 rebuild their shattered for
tunes.
Past experience had shown the re-
variable aiaprahility u the south for
sruNiaS al improved breeds OF live
stock ant very naturally a. fas, as
they vere able 70 do 50. Investments
Nere made n thoroughbred cattle.
sheep hogs and horses. and again the
south became the breeding ground ard
the Nursery from vhfch other isSS IA
yorsd seetions of tne eoantry drew
iksi- supplies ~ Thoroughbred blood 4
But the s1ufh Eas rapidly changing
from I purely agricultural section 70
one q mangfac1orses. Tha Iimitless
wealth OF on coal and iron ore lands.
oar hardwood forests and our phos-
phafe hsds wers discovered. naauufae-
turers spruug up a. Il by magic
throughout the land. fortunes we're
made IN feW years thai had required
lifetime To accumulate previous In
the var. Il was a temptation few
could resist-money that had hereto
fore been invested in thoroughbred
stock vas turned in mining or manu-
faesuring stocks the grass sod vas
turned over by the pick and shovel TO
make ruOm for the foundation of a
mandatory building. and the Old
breeders OF fine stock saw the shining
coats and fat sides OF the last OF their
thoroughbreds pass from them forever
AFt-H INV 7aaC ttAEr money tQNN
brought TO ne invested into more hax-
asdous enterprises that promised great
sr returns
Il IS rot the purpose OF this article
TO follow the fortunes Of those who
made this change A few made for.
tunes. many made failures. but the
dstriment TO the live stock interest of
the south vas ineaIeulable. But a
reaction Is at hand The tidal wave
that once carried TIE thoroughbred
stock Of he south on its crest IS com
ing in again. year by year the demand
for better stock is increasing Unfor
tunatsiy the section that once suffered
The vest and southwest-vith founda-
ton stock IS now barren and. with but
few exceptions. the farmer must look
abroad for good blood.
In this connection it IS safe to say
that history will repeat itself. and the
farmers Of the middle and southeast /
ern states who first put themselves in
a position TO supply the inevitable de-
mand for good stock. that is as sure
to come as the laws Of supply and de-
mand exist. will be the one to reap the
greatest Tewards--Southern AgrieuI-
turist.