328 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



state, but after that season had passed and the summer drouths had put in an 

 appearance the feed became dry and was soon gone, and I found that I had not 

 calculated right. Instead of trying to keep two or three head of cattle on an 

 acre, I try to have two or three acres of pasture to one head of 

 stock, and I find this the preferable way. When it becomes dry and pastures 

 grow little, cattle will thrive well on what grew when there was plenty of 

 moisture, although what was left might be dry. With many there is a feeling 

 that pastures should be eaten down to be profitable. This is a mistake. All 

 will be eaten in the course of the season. Feed liberally and it will pay. Feed 

 poorly, and you will be the loser in more ways than one. Next to liberal 

 feeding should come warm, comfortable stables, properly made and cleanly 

 kept, with plenty of good bedding for cattle to lie upon. Much food is wasted 

 by insufficient and cold stables. The comfort of stock should be one of the 

 first cares of the breeder. Not every man is fit to care for cattle or other 

 domestic animals. A herdsman should be possessed of good common-sense, 

 be faithful, kind hearted, and patient, and should have time in which to do 

 his work well. I think cattle should receive a slight carding every day through 

 the winter. The cattle like it, it does them good and makes them gentle. 

 There are differences of opinion in regard to calves running in the lots with 

 the cows. My practice has been to allow the calves to run in the yards with 

 their dams in winter and in the lots in the summer, and with good success. It 

 saves very much labor in summer, especially if the fields are a good distance 

 from the barns. I have followed this plan for years, and shall continue to do 

 so in the future unless circumstances change my mind. With good feed, good 

 care, and comfortable stables, good water is also a necessity. The purer the 

 water the better the cattle will do. I have no regular time to breed cows, 

 allowing them as a rule to bring as many calves as they are disposed to. As 

 no great achievement was ever made and never ought to be made without 

 study and work, so no man ever bred and improved a herd of Shorthorns 

 without study, thought, and practice. And as a rule the more a man thinks, 

 the more he reads, the more he practices intelligently, the surer he will be of 

 success. A drone in any branch of business is, and ought to be, a failure. 

 The laws which underlie the breeding of Shorthorns are equally true of all 

 breeds of animals of a domestic nature, though differing in the purposes for 

 which they are bred. 



In conclusion, let me say that if we succeed we must be up and doing. Life 

 is short at best and should be well improved. The class of cattle that claim 

 our attention should be of good, substantial families or breeding. Our model 

 should ever be seen before us, and each generation of our stock should more 

 nearly approach our standard. Merit should be sought after. This fashion 

 or that fashion should receive at least a secondary consideration. Good 

 pedigrees together with individual excellence should not be lost sight of. With 

 these objects in view and a close application to business we shall succeed. 



Thanking you, Mr. President, for your kind invitation to be with you and 

 to participate in your deliberations, and sorry that time and ability have 

 prevented me from giving the subject assigned me what its importance 

 demanded, I will close by also thanking the association for their kindness and 

 attention. 



