704 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



will reflect on the waste of stored fertility that has been going on in the 

 corn belt for the last forty years; if they will note the condition of New 

 England, much of New York, and other eastern states; if they will 

 think of the vast acreage of land that has been turned out in the south 

 to grow up in trees, because no longer profitable to cultivate, they will 

 be convinced that it is time for the farmers in the corn belt to con- 

 sider carefully the best methods of keeping what fertility they have 

 and increasing it to the extent of their ability. 



We are no longer shipping cattle to Europe. In our recent visit, we 

 noticed carefully the arrivals from week to week— sometimes none, 

 sometimes merely three or four hundred. We notice that London is 

 proposing to sell her abattoirs, because there are no more live cattle 

 coming in. If our readers, will notice what is going on around them, 

 they will be convinced that we are not alarming them needlessly, but 

 pointing out a real danger and a duty. 



We must grow more cattle, if we are going to feed cattle in the 

 future as we have in the past. We must learn how to grow them by 

 adopting rotations, and fencing our fields, by better breeding as well 

 as better feeding. It is only by this process that we may expect our 

 lands to increase in price or even to maintain present prices. For 

 eventually lands will be sold at their value only; and that value is 

 based on the income or rental they return. They will rise so long 

 as they pay an income of 4 per cent on the price, and no longer; and 

 the income they return will depend very largely on the amount of cat- 

 tle that are grown and fed. 



WHY THE SHROPSHIRES ARE SO POPULAR. 



E. S. Leonard, Corning, Iowa. 



(Before Annual Meeting of Shropshire Sheep Breeders of Iowa.) 



I have been requested to write an article giving reasons "Why the 

 Shropshires Are So Popular." I fully realize you have called on a weak 

 member for a good article. However, I will endeavor to give you what I 

 consider from actual experience and observation of many years, some 

 particularly strong reasons of the Shropshires growing in popularity. 

 With all due respect to the other down breeds and their breeders it is 

 only natural for me to support a choice in this most popular of breeds, 

 the Shropshire. 



In the Shropshire you have a good mother, as well as a copious nurser. 

 No one will deny the necessity for these two essential requisites regard- 

 less of breed. And in our choice we have an animal possessing superior 

 worth in these two particular points. 



To the small breeder their prolific tendencies commend them, for in 

 the increase of the offspring lies the greater income. Mutton being the 

 greatest source of revenue, the twin bearing ewe for which Shropshires 

 rank high, makes them desirable. 



Their carcass, of compact form, combined with the well set leg of 

 mutton, and evenly fleshed loin, place them in the foremost rank in 

 superior mutton qualities. 



