26 The Bulletin. 



After using this barn for one year, experience seems to indicate that 

 the large openings in the south side of the barn, as shown in Fig. 5, 

 page 25, should be partially closed to give greater protection from 

 the cold winds which occur during the winter in that section. 



By reference to Fig. 4, it will be seen that each section of the 

 barn is 15x20 feet, and has attached a lot 20x60 feet. The shelter 

 afforded by each of these sections of the barn was ample for five 

 steers weighing 1,000 pounds each, and six might possibly have been 

 accommodated satisfactorily; but the lots, during wet weather, did 

 not remain in a satisfactory condition. We are convinced that firm, 

 dry lots are of importance in determining satisfactory results, and 

 pains should be taken to select the best location for the feed-lots and 

 everything practicable done to keep them in good condition. 



MARKETS. 



The absence of a convenient market from which a sufficient supply 

 of satisfactory feeders can be obtained is further aggravated at the 

 end of the feeding period by unsatisfactory markets for cattle of good 

 quality. One reason that we have no nearby market for first-class beef 

 cattle is because we have had no first-class cattle to sell. Complaint 

 is commonly made that our markets will not give the full advance 

 which good cattle command over the lower grades in the large markets 

 like Chicago and Kansas City. In a measure, this is true. If the 

 cattle are real good they will not bring the full advance which extra 

 quality commands on the best markets ; but fairly good cattle will 

 bring a reasonable advance over the lower grades. In fact, even our 

 local markets will pay an advance of from one to two cents per pound 

 for good cattle over what is paid for the common sorts. As more good 

 cattle are fed the butchers will also learn of their value and reason- 

 able prices will be paid for quality. On the other hand, Philadelphia 

 and Baltimore are not as far from ISTorth Carolina as Chicago and 

 Kansas City are from large numbers of the cattle marketed there. 

 Our freight rates are much higher, but these will come do"\vn as the 

 number of cattle shipped increases, and probably not until then. 

 When possible, we believe the feeder will find it more satisfactory to 

 sell at the farm, instead of shipping, but this must be determined by 

 each feeder after a full knowledge of all the conditions involved. If 

 as many as a car-load are fed there will be no difficulty in getting a 

 buyer from the markets of this and adjoining States to inspect the 

 cattle and bid a price for them. 



