The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-08-25
BEJJER STOCKMEN
OUR GREATEST NEED
EJna.S You Are Willing to Study AZ
well a. Work, 1t Will Be Best for
You Not to Go Into the Livestock
Buxiness.

.a.ESty. But, c%andidly, I believe this
ss sase solemn truth, and, "for the
VIZ of me-" I can't see how it could
t41e otherwise.
We have been growing cotton for
.-axrerations and have not yet earned
a5r produce "a half-bale to the acre.
VIZ have been growing corn for as
&osg a period and nave not yet reach
sssf an average yield of 20 bushels per
ssSyx In view of these facts is 1t any
xyaraer that, not having given. any
,mzyt7cular attention to. stock-raising,
VIE have not learned that business!
81.beed, if we had under the agrlcul-
guuaI system of the past produced a
nacs of competent stockmen, the
-w~suzaier would pass all human under
standing.
AT the risk of wounding the feel
rrgs of some over-sensitive reader, L
Noasheve l shall assume that we are not
.srod stockmen. ]: is always easier
IN assume that a thing is true tnan to
,sneoxe it, ever though it may appear
Asfevident; but if anyone takes ex-
sssszs5pn to this assumption, that our
aEreatest need in livestock lines is
.Aeater stockmen, let him produce his
Ea.as and arguments and will meet
-aha issue squarely. For the present,
kLst us discuss that question and dis
> sssSs methods by which this need is
tn be supplied. How are the farmers
aE the South to learn the livestock
1-4HSnsss?
Let s be frank, for the truth is al
-xSays best. In my opinion, the pres
eantageneration of Southern farmers
vTxRS never learn to be good stock
H,1x1L If poets r born, not made,
1:a-he same truth applies with about
s+ssaal force to good stockmen. At
least, it is generally necessary for a
,Grnan to grow up with livestock to
,i&eaEm the business. The boy who
starts breeding and feeding livestock
when young has a fair chance of Xix
srg and learning the business; but
.she man VINO takes it up later in life
usually fails to like it and does not
searn it so readily, if at all. But no
t.pe need feel discouraged at this.
The business is a complex and big
<aars and if we make even slow pro-
:grsss and in the course of the next
&Ho or three generations learn to
Breed and feed livestock successfully
NO more should be expected. :
These observations apply to South
oxrD farmers as a whole; but it does
mot follow that many individuals will
urt become good stockmen and make
&he business a success:
In any section of America, proba-
kahly not more than m mar in a hun
snf1ed is by nature fitted for breeding
:gs1re-bred stock and probably a much
smaller proportion of Southern farm
Rrs are suited for such a business;
Euf this need not be regarded as a
~.esErsous matter. The kind of stock
x1sn the South needs is the one who
~sra0 successfully produce more live
stock on his farm as a part of the
sEsgElar farming operations. What
M need is more horses and mules for
EARN work, more pork, mutton, beef,
zand milk and butter to supply our
fans and feed the cities and towns
@E the South. The breeding of pure
erred stock for breeding purposes will
Lake care of itself.
If it be true, as often stated, that
zssss raising of livestock requires more
&~uaDwledge than any other kind of
FARMING, then as our people become
better educated, as our schools are
HNPr0ved and the school terms are
Heightened, a long step will have
&een taken towards the production of
hsatar stockmen.
AT present the greatest obstacle to
assoek raising in the South is the
general dislike for the close and con-
.a3ant attention it requires. 1t is true,
thai if we knew more about it, so that
at would prove more profitable, we
aSould like it better, but we cannot
fsarn it without practicing it and the
pzcgress is, therefore, necessarily
!sNuw.
Those who would learn the bust
must accept and adopt a few
basic facts:
l. That livestock are only profit
liable when we'll fed and cared for.
2. That feed is not grown for live
stock, but that livestock are kept to
and market feeds and
%SR2Ne Or the farm tho nlop+ f.l.