The Prescott daily news., 1915-03-11
NEVADA COUNTY FARM FRS UNION COLUMN
By J. NJ. Thomas .::::.-, MUST BE SYSTEM
 IN HANDLING STOCE

| farm. This is subject of much in- terest to me and before it is solved it must be studied discussed and experi- mented with to secure a better system for deriving from our live stock the income that is due us.
 "In the first place the state is short. on good live stock, the knowledge and facilities for caring for good live stock are lacking, we lack organiza- tion and cooperation in the buying and marketing of our stock, and. as stated by MT. Fontane, we lack mar kets, unless situated to ship in car lots, under which conditions we are admirably situated. having a reason ably short haul to either For Worth, St. Louis or Kansas City.
 Where Cooperation Pays.
 However, it is my experience, no matter how large the farm, it is diff ficult matter for one man to breed, raise and finish a car of hogs at one time, and have them all of equal weight quality and finish, and these are the points that count for so much in getting top prices. This is where cooperation would pay but in order for a community to cooperate in such matters it needs to begin long before this car of hogs is ready for market. It should begin when the breeding stock is bought, all buying good quality of some good breed, and must be continued through the growing period of the young hogs intended for market, the best process known for growing pigs being used by all, if even quality it to be obtained throughout the community so cooperating
 'If such scheme could be carried out throughout the entire state, the stock producers would be many, many thousands of dollars batter off at the end of each year, and this would act as a stimulus for more and still better stock. Then, when quoting us their markets, our live stock commis- sion merchants would not need to quote prices generally prevailing in their markets and then add: your class of stock would bring from S1.50 to S2.50 under these prices. All Arkan- sas shippers have received such quo tatons, and l must admit that it al ways makes me feel a little ashamed of the live stock conditions in our state.
 Good Foundation Stock Needed.
 This ought not to be, for we know that as good stock can be produced here as anywherel All we need is good stock as a foundation. followed by proper care and attention. or course, if cooperation in marketing can not be had and local markets have to be depended on, then, as Mr. Fon- tainc has found. the returns will usu- ally be unsatisfactory, but, if We sue ceed in improving the quality of our stock, l think, with little more at tenticn, we can improve the quantity also and will be able to ship ir car lots and sell where we please.
 "I may be wrong. but l consider our open range the greatest cure to the advancement of our live stock in- terests. l do not see how any mar ked improvement Is to be obtained on the range in fact, under these condi- tions deterioration is the rule, and especially is it so with hogs, and more so now that our best oak and hickory forests are depleted.
 "It must be admitted that the To- cal market would be the ideal one for the small farmer, but we know that in the states where stock farming has reached a high efficiency that local markets are not depended on to any extent but that the bulk of the stock 20 to the big markets. However, a condition obtains there which we do not enjoy, and the reason We do not IS because of the poor quality Of our stock and our slpshod methods of pre- pairing the market. In our sister states to the North there is in each community fat stock buyers who go from farm to farm buying up the stock ready for the market, for which they pay cash price, delivered at nearest shipping point on set date; quality and finish being equal, the farmer, with one hog or COW to sell, will receive the same price per pound as his neighbor with probably 20 or