FARMEKS" INSTITUTES. 491 



The work of the year has been characterized by very earnest work 

 on the part of the Institute speakers, and by increasingly efficient co-opera- 

 tion of many of the local oflicers. There is yet much room for improve- 

 ment in many localities of the State. It is the hope and purpose of the 

 chairmen to give closer supervision, where necessary, in order that the 

 work may become thoroughly effective in every section of the State. 



W. C. LATTA, 

 Superintendent of Farmers' Institutes. 

 Pnrdue University, Lafayette, Ind., June 30, 1903. 



PAPERS READ AT FARMERS' INSTITUTES 

 BY LOCAL SPEAKERS. 



THE? IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVED LIVE STOCK AND ITS 



FEEDING. 



C. N. LIBEY, LIMA, IND. 



[Read before Lagrange County Farmers' Institute.] 



We are at the point of reclaiming the lost fertility of the soil. 



It is quite generally conceded that marketing our crops in the form 

 of grain and hay is in direct opposition to good farming principles, and 

 is not remunerative to a satisfactory degree. 



Grain and hay must be marketed in the form of a more finished 

 product; that is, as beef, milk or butter-fat from the cow, as force and 

 speed from the horse, and as wool and mutton from the sheep, etc. 

 Hence, "improved live stock and its feeding'' is the one important subject 

 above all others. For upon live stock depends the fertility, and upon the 

 fertility of the soil rests the success of all farming operations. 



It scarcely seems necessary to spend the entire time allotted to me 

 in attempting to press upon you the superiority of the pure-bred sire over 

 the scrub. His superiority is quite generally conceded. But for fear that 

 it may not be conceded, I will refer to the live stock market, which is a 

 great leveler, where aU animals meet on equal terms and nothing counts 

 save quality. Note the difference in the prices received for the high 

 grades, or top steers, and those received for others. Look where you will, 

 you will see quotations like the following: Extra prime steers, $6.00@ 

 6.50; fair to medium steers, $3.75@4.40. The simple fact, that there isn't 

 a carload of extra prime steers bred and fed in our county in a year should 

 be enough to convince the ordinary man that an improvement is neces- 

 sary, to say nothing of the fact that a difference of $2.10 per hundred- 



