THIRD ANNUAL YEAR HOOK — PART VI. 317 



we must have the best improved stock obtainable. We must raise better 

 crops, we must learn to toed these different crops to the best advantage 

 to our stock to obtain the besl results possible. We cannot afford to 

 keep an inferior class of mongrels and scrubs on our farms to feed these 

 crops to. One only needs to look at the difference in prices paid for cattle 

 on the Chicago and other markets to see that the improved cattle are 

 bringing prices that pay a much better profit to their owners than does 

 the plain or common class of cattle. Besides there is a pleasure in feed- 

 ing good animals. I would advise every young man owning 160 acres of 

 land to start raising pure-bred cattle. He should not jump head-long into 

 the business and buy a lot of high-priced fancy cattle to start with. What 

 I mean by fancy cattle are those of fashionable pedigree that the 

 old established breeders hold very high in their estimation. They can 

 afford to keep them as their reputation as breeders are established. The 

 young farmer should not pay attention to fads and fancy pedigrees but let 

 individual merit and quality be ever in his mind when selecting his foun- 

 dation cattle, and let pedigree and family be a secondary consideration. 

 By the selection of a few good females and a good male to head his herd 

 it will not be long until his farm will be stocked to its capacity with a 

 fine herd of cattle. As he continues in the business his herd will become 

 better and better, as it is quite natural to retain good females and let the 

 poor ones go. Also he can from time to time add other females as he 

 desires from the sale of his male stock. In this way a farmer of moderate 

 means can soon possess a good herd that will be a source of pleasure and 

 profit. 



The great secret of success in the breeding of fine cattle is in start- 

 ing with the right ideal and sticking to it. Examine well the merits of 

 the different pure-bred beef breeds and when your selection has been 

 made persevere to the end in the work of their better development and 

 your efforts will be crowned with success. H. J. HESS. 



Black Hawk county, Iowa. 



Replying to your query, I would say that I am firmly of the opinion 

 that a young farmer who has a quarter section of land and is practically 

 out of debt cannot do better than to go into the business of breeding pure- 

 bred cattle. I would not advise buying the high-priced kinds to start 

 with. Get good useful cattle of good breeding. Use nothing but the best 

 obtainable bulls. With proper management there can be no question as 

 to the result. There is always an unlimited demand for a good article 

 and the young man who starts out with pure-bred stock is bound to suc- 

 ceed. N. P. CLARKE. 



Stearns county, Minn. 



