The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-11-12
DOG RAISING IS
PROFITABLE WORK
Prof. Johnson Urges Boys to
Shun Mongrels For
AristOcrats.
By Prof. L. r. johnson.

By Prof. L. R. johnson.
Before long the subject of a State
credit bank that will make long time
loans to farmers at low interest will
be brought before the public and vo-
tiers will be asked to record their judg-
ment as to its merits. 1t is quite GER
tain that the great majority of farm
ers are favorable to the principle of
such a bank, but they should not al
low enthusiasm to run away with their
calm judgment. There are several
kinds of such credit banks in existence
and the question to be determined is
what form of bank is best suited to
the requirement of Missouri farmers
There are many economic pitfalls sur
rounding the organization of such an
institution to beware of and which are
capable of bringing disaster upon it.
Still another subject that deeply con-
Germs the farmers is one which will not
be enacted into law without the eXcr-
else of his energy and political influ-
ence. This is the Torrens System of
registering land title. Under the pres
ent system the abstracting of titles is
in private hands, and every time a
piece of real estate changes hands, a
new abstract is demanded. The making
of abstracts entails heavy tax upon
the land owner and it is tax that is
continually being reassesscd. A sum
large enough to support two firms Of
abstract makers is annually paid by
the average Missouri county.
Nearly all of this annual tax is done
away with under the Torrens System,
and in many other respects it is a far
more satisfactory plan than the pres
cnt one.
We are by far the most wasteful
nation of civilization. Vast quantities
of fruit and other farm produce go to
waste through want of organization on
the part of the producers. In this coun-
try it is come easy, go easy. In Ger
many the potato is made the source
of many kinds of wealth besides food
for man. Much of it is ground into
flour for bread; much of low standard
is fed to stock; much is made into al
cohol for lighting and heating, and
much utilized for many other things.
In this country great quantities of po-
tatoes are suffered to go to waste
whenever the price falls below certain
figures. Countless bushels of apples
rot on the ground while in the cities
the poor crave them in vain. And thus
it is with many other things, which
all go to prove how uneducated we
still are industrially.
=
Why don't some farmers or farm
boys add the breeding of thoroughbred
dogs to their livestock? Here is line
that we feel sure promises a pretty
penny to the pioneers who first take it
up The country is full of scrub dogs.
There are some pure bred bulls, some
collies and some bird dogs, but the
mass are nothing but mOngrel scrubs
without the sign of pedigree. There
is now great demand for Airedalcs,
and always a steady one for fox and
Scottish terriers. Why not breed these
dogs and fill the country with canine
aristocrats? There is a fine profit in
the business; the prevailing prices well
repay the breeder and apart from what
money would be taken in, the COM
munity would be under lasting obliga-
lions to him for banishing the cur.
Let US have some fine dog breeders
in Cape County.
The European war is almost certain
to last for another year or longer. In
that case wheat and all farm produce
including livestock should bring good
price. As long as Russian wheat is
bottled up, that grain cannot remain
cheap. And livestock of all kinds must
surely be in active demand and bring
high prices. The prospect is that the
farmer will be able to sell all his stuff
at good paying figures.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION.