Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-06-09
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE SOUTH FOR LIVE STOCK.
The South Peculiarly Adapted Fer
the Raising OF All Kinds
of Live Stock.

conditions that surround him.,
If climate, soil, the natural growth |
OF grasses and forage crops of all |
kinds are essential in growing econ
nomically and successfully, all classes
Of live stock, the south is as peculiarly
adapted for this purpose as it is for
growing cotton and sugar cane. That
1t is the natural home of all the i'm
proved breeds of our domestic animals
was evidenced in the fact that the
earliest importations into this country
Of the improved breeds of our domestic
animals were made by farmers in the
south. They imported in old sailing
vessels that required weeks and some.
times months to make the trip from
Europe into our southern ports. Not
outstanding the losses were enormous,
yet the increased value of this blood
on the native stock made it most
profitable business.
The first thoroughbred horses were
imported by the south; the first herd
OF beef cattle, Shorthorns, were 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 the distinction of importing
the first improved breeds of sheep, but
1t was only few years later that
the best Merino blood in Spain was
bought and imported into the south,
and from this blood came the fleece
that in 1880 at the great Worlds
fair in London won over the flocks of
the world the grand medal as the
finest grade of wool. From the loins
of these imported animals and their
descendants in the south was laid the
foundation Of the magnificent struc-
ture, the great live stock interest of
the west and southwest, as it stands
to-day, and yet the south, that portion
of it east of the Mississippi, is poorer
to-day in eny Of these improved
breeds, in proportion to population,
than any section of the United States.
Why is this?
Previous to the civil war the south
was purely an agricultural section,
making specially of such crops as
were most profitable in certain locali-
ties, such as cotton, sugar, rice, etc.
but even where these crops were the
principal staples, the live stock. though
grown only to limited extent, were
all strongly infused with the good
blood that predominated in other To-
calities. When the war closed the
south was financial wreck, stripped
Of all visible wealth except her eli
mate, her soil and a people whose
courage no disaster or misfortune
could subdue. Slowly but surely they
began to rebuild their shattered for.
tunes.
Past experience had shown the re-
markable adaptability of the south fol-
growing all improved breeds of live
stock and very Naturally as fast a:
they were able TO do So investment
were made in thoroughbred cattle
sheep, hogs and horses, and again thu
south became the breeding ground ant
the nursery from which other less ia
yored sections of the country drew
their supplies Of thoroughbred blood
But the south was rapidly changip;
from purely agricultural section I,
one of manufactures. The limitles
wealth of our coal and iron ore lands
our hardwood forests and our phos
plate beds were discovered, manufac
turers sprung up as if by magi
made IN a few years that had require
q lifetime to accumulate previous t
the war. 1t was temptation fey
could resist-money that had hereto
fore been invested in thoroughbre
stock was turned in mining or manu-
featuring stocks, the grass sod wa
turned over by the pick and shovel t
make room for the foundation OF
mandatory building, and the oil
breeders of fine stock saw the shinin
coats and fat sides of the last of thei
thoroughbreds pass from them foreve
through the sale ring, money the
brought to be invested into more ha,
taTdous enterprises that promised grea
er returns.
It is not the purpose Of this artic
to follow the fortunes of those VII
made this change. A few made TO
tunes, many made failures, but II
detriment to the live stock interest
the south was incalculable. But
reaction is at hand The tidal waV
that once carried the thoroughbrt
stock of the south on it's crest is con
ing in again, year by year the demar
for better stock is increasing. Unto
tunately the section that once suffert
the west and southwestern found;
ton stock is now barren and, with b,
few exceptions, the farmer must loo
abroad for good blood.
In this connection it is safe to S,
that history will repeat itself, and Il
farmers of the middle and southeas
ern states who first put themselves
a position to supply the inevitable d
mand for good stock, that is as su
to come as the laws of supply and q
mand exist, will be the one to reap t,
greatest rewards. Agricl
turist