No. 5. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 161 



of the United States is from 35 to 40 inches while that of the middle 

 section is 25 to 80 inches and the Far West 15 to 20 inches. This 

 shows that the East has practically double the rainfall of the extreme 

 West and 50 per cent, more than the Central West. This gives the 

 farmers of Pennsylvania an advantage that is not enjoyed by the 

 farmers of the western section of the United States. Climatic con- 

 ditions are such as to make it possible to feed any time of the 

 year. Our winters are not severe enough to interfere with cattle 

 feeding. 



Another important factor is that of markets. Proximity to desir- 

 able markets is essential. Nearness to market means the paying of 

 less freight as compared with the central and Far West, when it 

 comes to getting our meat products to the consumer. People in 

 Pennsylvania have a market that is unequalled for taking things 

 that are produced. There is a ready market for the fancy steer as 

 well as the common cutter and canner. This does not mean that 

 everything produced is done at a profit, but it does mean that the 

 market is ready to take a saleable product from the hands of the 

 farmer. 



Another feature that should be kept in mind in making use of our 

 rough and hilly lands is that it will equalize our farming opera- 

 tions. It will be easier to till the farms in the State. If more farm- 

 ers would devote their time to cultivating the level or sloping lands 

 and getting the rough land in a permament pastuie the net returns 

 from the farms would be increased. The tillable lands could be 

 more intensely cultivated where livestock would bring in the re- 

 turns from the rough and hilly sections. It will also make it pos- 

 sible for the average farmer to work his farm with less labor than is 

 the case at the present time. 



In the production of beef cattle it is important that we have 

 animals of the beef type. We have two distinct classes of cattle, 

 one that is bred for milk and the other for beef. If you are going 

 into the beef busines and expect to do it at a profit go at it in an 

 intelligent and business like manner. Get a foundation of good 

 beef blood. If your means will not allow the purchase of all pure 

 breds get some good grade beef cows and purchase the best pure bred 

 sire that is obtainable. The farmer who takes hold of this proposi- 

 tion in a business like manner cannot afford to waste his money 

 on scrubs or mongrels. If our farmers can be induced to dispose 

 of these "star boarders" it will mean more money to them and a 

 better class of cattle on our farms. Many farmers feel that they 

 cannot afford to pay |150.00 or |200.00 for a pure bred bull when 

 they have only 15 or 20 cows on the farm. If such is the case it is 

 desirable for two or three farmers to go together and purchase a 

 pure bred sire for their service. Such an investment will be one 

 of the most profitable ever made in a community. 



In breeding beef cattle, the cost of production is an important 

 item. This is possibly one reason why many of our beef breeding 

 herds have been reduced during the past 10 or 15 years. The ques- 

 tion that now confronts us is whether it pays to keep a cow, for 

 the calf which she will produce. It is possible to do so if the cow is 

 economically fed and if breeding cows of the desirable type are 

 fed. In order to do this it will become necessary however for the 

 Pennsylvania farmer to feed his cows almost entirely on roughage, 

 11—5—1914 



