IMPROVEMENT OF STOCK. 19 



E. J. JEFFRESS, 



MARINE, MADISON COUNTY. 



Breed Nothiiig hut the Very Best Stock Horses and Sheep — 

 Pastures and Hay — Poultry — Self Feed Rack — Hay 

 Shed — Hennery. 



STOCK. 



The subject of improvement in stock with very many 

 farmers, if we may judge by their actions, is a matter entirely 

 unworthy their thought. They patronize a cheap horse, 

 simply because the terms of service are clieap ; get a cheap 

 colt, which grows up into a cheap horse, and, except his keep- 

 ing, always remains cheap. Things of small cost, usually, 

 prove to be of small value. There is such a diversity of opin- 

 ion relative to the most valuable stock of horses, that I hesitate 

 somewhat in expressing myself, lest I oppose the views of 

 some who are considered standard authority. For general 

 farm purposes, I would not select the Norman, nor the fine- 

 boned racer as the coming horse, but a clean-limbed, well- 

 formed animal of about one thousand or one thousand two hun- 

 dred pounds, that can take a buggy, without injury to himsell', 

 twelve miles per hour. The St. Lawrence, Addison, and Ham- 

 bletonian, are horses of this type. What I have said in rela- 

 tion to the raising of horses, applies with the same force to the 

 raising of cattle, sheep, and hogs. The cow that will give two 

 gallons of milk per day, bring a calf worth five dollars, 

 and at last surrender up a carcass of nine hundred pounds, 

 gross weight, is to some entirely satisfactory, though a very 

 expensive animal. The farmer may say, " I am unable to pur- 

 chase the best class of stock, but must content myself with 

 such as I can get." To a certain extent this may be true, but 

 as his highest interest demands the procurement of blooded 

 animals, he should never allow his ambition to slacken until 



