The farmer and mechanic., 1913-11-04


only to a point where 1T has value |
Of many thousands Of dollars more |
than it was when he came here, but |
what is far better, he has put North |
Carolina beef cattle on wholly diff |
ferent plane. |
Pure-Blood Cattle.
1t is instructive now to notice the |
advertisements Of pure-blood cattle |
offered in the agricultural papers Of
the State. Jerseys, Herefords, Hol-
stems, Durhams. Angus, indicating
that men are breeding on many a
farm, and the excellence Of the pedi-
gree is significant Of the results that
have been obtained.
So we draw the inference that North
Carolina is, safely started on the road
to cattle breeding and cattle raising
in a more advanced and profitable
way than when the scrub stock of the
old days seemed to fill all the require
ments. The program that has been
made is apparent. The progress is
wholly satisfactory. Then we come
to the place where the conjecture
takes the place Of the fact, and that
is where we undertake to deal with
the future. 1t is easy to advise the
farmer to broaden out in cattle rails
ing but the farmer has better ad-
wiser in himself than in the theorist
who suggests what might be done, for
the farmer is applying to his own
place and to his own individual needs
and facilities the experience Of others,
and if it shall prove profitable to the
North Carolina farmers to raise beet
or dairy cattle they will likely raise
| them. That they can is pretty well
| determined. That they will depends
| on what inducements are held out
| for dairy and beef products.
Becoming Cattle State.
The indications are that North
| Carolina will become considerable of
a cattle State in the future. Several
things join to indicate such a likeli-
| hood. That the best cattle can be
| raised is one of the Indications The
| increasing market for meat and but
ter is another, and the advancing
prices of beef and dairy products is
| another. Then there is the question
of farm fertility, which is maintained
better in stock farming than in any
other form Of agriculture.
A little attention to the gOvernme ent
census bulletins will show beyond a
doubt that the day of cheap beef and
| dairy products has gone forever in
this country. 1t is reasonable to ex-
pect higher prices rather than lower
prices for population is increasing at
the rate Of a million or two a year
while the cattle in the country are
5 decreasing each year.
: Meat Supply Shattered.
/ Our meat supply in the United
States has gone to pieces, and the
} present year has pretty near put the
2 finishing touches on it. The failure
: Of the corn crop in the West has led
e to the slaughter Of enormous mum
, bers of animals that should have beer
r carried over. At the beginning o.
S this year, the number Of beef cattle
n on the farms was less than the mum
n Der twenty-three years ago. Since thu
n beginning of the year the decrease ha
continued. In the twenty-three year:
e the population OF the country has in
" creased by thirty million people
o Twenty-three years ago the countr,
e had some meat to export. Now i
2, has none to spare. Nineteen year
r ago three hundred cattle were ex
y ported for every one imported. Las
6 year three times as many cattle wer
II brought to the United States as wer
= sent away.
g The fact is that no country excep
South America and some Of Austria
liza has cattle to sell in any quantity
South America has been helping tn
is United States to feed Europe. NO.
le it must do that alone, and divert som
g cattle to this country The world
n. short of meat The short corn crop
is and the slaughter Of American cat
~ tie this year will make the wOri
le shorter Of meat next year.
ce 1t is a safe prediction that whe
s. the price OF meat is an inducement
IN North Carolina farmers to raise ca
f. tie, they will raise cattle. The pioI
O. GERS along the lines of cattle raisir
m have shown that the best breeds ca
til be raised in the State, and the on
It. thing that will keep North Carolir
ng from becoming a cattle State is II
tn price farmers will realize for the
ck products.
rst High Living Cost Unescapable.
e1 1t may be assumed that if me
goes too high, the people will tul
he to other food products. But o.
be thing is overlooked in that argumer
n Turning to other products will NAL
I'm a demand for those other produC
ire that must force MP prices to tho
ng directions. No escape is possible fro
He higher prices for food products, for
it is not beef it will be something els
it | and that something else must cor
ma from the farm. The farmer will ma