l86 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



to get my money back. And I learned that it would pay me better to 

 buy the older sheep, and the same with my cows. I bought seven or 

 eight two or three-year old cows. Those cows have all paid for them- 

 selves and left me a profit. Another point in which I have made a 

 mistake, and that is in selling stock and not giving the pedigree. Some- 

 times a man buys an animal and don't care anything about its pedigree. 

 Sometimes we have pure-bred stock that we cannot pedigree. I had 

 a little experience in that not long ago, and I think it was detrimental 

 to me. If we cannot pedigree our stock we had better not put it on the 

 market at all as a breeder. When you sell a man an}'thing give him the 

 pedigree, whether he wants it or not. I gave a man a pedigree once 

 and he twisted it up and put it in his pocket, and I guess he lighted his 

 pipe with it the first time he wanted to smoke. That made me feel 

 like I had done a lot of work for nothing ; but sometimes we find the 

 pedigrees are worth a great deal to us. Whenever you buy an animal 

 have him registered ; get the fellow from whom you buy it to have it 

 registered if you can, but if not, get the pedigree so you can have him 

 registered whenever you want to. Another thing I would say in regard 

 to the pure-bred business — educate yourself — know what }ou are doing. 

 Find out whether or not you can depend upon the man with whom you 

 are dealing. That is the first question. If you cannot depend on him 

 don't have anything to do with his stock. That is my theory. In order 

 to know these things you have got to attend these meetings, and attend 

 the shows and get acquainted with the hrceders. Then, you must read 

 the agricultural papers. There is no man who can keep up and not 

 read, and no man can know what he is doing and be posted without 

 knowing who are responsible breeders. 



And then ahout advertising. Even if you don't have anything to 

 sell at the present time, it is a good idea to keep your name before the 

 people all the time. Let them know you are still in the business, and 

 I am sure it will ])ay you. 



Mr. Ragsdale: I would say to any young man who wants lo 

 start in the breeding business lo first find out what kind of animal he 

 wants, and then, when he goes lo the hrceder, just tell him he is from 

 Missoui and wants to sec the papers. Insist on getling the pajx^rs. 



