Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-02-14
HOME OF FANCY STOCK.

The extent to which Polk County
has advanced in the breeding OF thor-
ouphbred livestock of all kinds is not
fully realized by even her own resi-
dents. Very few are aware of the
comparative position this county holds
in that respect. The increase in quail
ity and quantity of pedigreed animals
has progressed so quietly that II was
taken as a matter of course, and little
has been thought, and still less said,
about it. Consequently, it Is interest
ing to note that Polk is the home OF
more high grade, pure-bred STOCK thah
any other county in Oregon. Further-
more. a computation based on the
pages of an agricultural paper, con-
tanning the advertisement of every
leading livestock farm in the state
shows that the breeders of Polk Coun-
ty comprise about 32 per cent OF the
whole number in Oregon.
The fine stock thus included within
the borders of the county, ranks nigh
ly among the best of its kind in the
Nation. and many of them are superior
TO those TalSGu tlStWiitLNI o' A'eN~
proven more than once in competition
The local breeders who have brought
about this condition are almost With
out exception very progressive ana
modern in their methods and IDEAS,
so that they are constantly seeking
means to still further improve the
merits of their herds and tiocks The
mere fact that an animal was register
ed did not, in their eyes, place IL on
so high a plane that it could not DC
improved Registration, of itself, was
not the object sought, but simply the
means to an end. They have realized
the value of strains and of line ano
speciaIty breeding, and have taken aa-
vantage of the opportunities TO I'M
prove the quality where 1t has peer
possible. The results have spoken iol
themselves, and now in many com
Portable farm home, nesting in th'
valleys of old Polk, or sheltered by
the spreading oaks along her hlllslues
there rest priceless trophies won II
competition, not alone with the Uhltet
States, but with the world. Hence !
is that the title, THE Blue RibDoi
County" has not been bestowed mere
without just cause.
OF the various kinds of thorough
bred stock raised here, there are per
haps more Jerseys than any other, bu
the list is a long one, ana lnciudeS
Berkshire, Poland China, and other
breeds of swine; Holstein-Frleslar
cattle; Cotswold, Lincoln, and other
kinds of sheep and the Angora goats
that Polk County breeders nave maze
famous. These are only part of the
different kinds bred, and gave only a
small idea of the varieties and num-
bers. Many features of climate ana
location help to make this county an
ideal location for the rearing of stock,
and the business is destined to grow
until it will become the Mecca OF hne
stock fanciers from everywhere. Thou-
sands of acres of choice land especially
adapted to the business are still avail
able. and the title of THE Blue RID
hon County" will continue to be main
tanned.
AS there is no aNdHdple iS' VI ~
names of the breeders, or of the KINDS
of stock bred in Polk County, the OBJ
server wishes to compile and publish
i'm its columns a complete directory
giving such information in full. There
fore il will be glad to receive IRON
every breeder of fine stock In th'
county statement giving his nam'
and address the name of his farm
and kinds of stock he breeds, together
with list of the premiums they have
won. Everyone who breeds thorough
bred stock of any kind, from chickens
up. should respond to this request
and urge his neighboring breeders L
do likewise. Do not delay, but send II
the information to the Observer "a
once.