Seo. 6.] FEEDING CATTLE AND CARE OF FARM-STOCK. 79 



distressed appearance than half-starved animals, and there is nothing about 

 farming that is more unprofitable. Even the manure accumulated from 

 such stock is far less valual)le than that saved from well-fed animals. 



The most important thing in farm-stock is a good team, and that should 

 be the first consideration. Have a team or teams sufficient to do all your 

 work, except some particular things, such as threshing, and for such extra 

 work have a standing arrangement, if possible, with a neighbor to exchange 

 team work. You can not aft'ord to keep any extra team. You may be 

 overstocked in any other kind of animals with less damage than working 

 ones, but you can in no way aftbrd to do without enough of them, and the 

 better they are, the better it will be for you. Farm-stock must be adapted 

 to circumstances to be profitable. "When milk sells at two cents a quart, at 

 or near the farm, milch ci>ws are profitable stock, because if one average five 

 quarts a day, her milkM-ill bring §36 50 a year, and some of the milch dairy 

 cows near New York double that. Tlic average we have heard estimated 

 at $45 for all the cows kept on a farm. We have known the profit of 

 grazing a herd of fatting bullocks through the season often to range from 

 $38 to $40 a head, but we could not recommend every one to go into the 

 business, because it requires skill in buying, keeping, and selling that all do 

 not and are not likely to possess. In all cases farm-stock should be adapted 

 to circumstances, and there is certainly a want of judgment in this respect 

 that is amazing. Men in Mississippi have tried to raise fine-wool shecj) 

 suited to Vermont, and men in Vermont have tried to use mules for farm- 

 work, instead of their own hardy breed of horses, because they had read 

 that they were much the most economical for farm-work in all the Southern 

 States. The pastures of New England are noted for their sweet grass and 

 excellent red cattle ; and the blue-grass fields and fat Durhams of Kentucky 

 are equally noted, and all should know that it would not serve cither section 

 to advantage to exchange breeds of cattle. The adaptability of stock to the 

 farm is a subject that we do not wish to dictate upon, l)ut we ask reasonable 

 men to take counsel with reason, and apply that in all cases to their own 

 circumstances. 



111. Imported vs. Native Stock. — Eobert Purvis, of Byberry, Penn., has 

 a farm in a high state of cultivation, one of the best in Pennsylvania, and 

 consequently, in our opinion, his ideas are entitled to a share of our respect. 

 lie says : 



" For many years I have made it my business, as it has been my pleasure, 

 to do what I could to promote the improvements of farm-stock. My chief 

 attention has been given to cows, hogs, and fowls, though I have not been 

 inimindful to other varieties. Of cows, 1 have raised the Durham, Ayr- 

 shire, and the Devonshire ; of hogs, the Berkshire and the Suffolk ; and of 

 flwls, a great variety. I have confined my attention chiefly to those of for- 

 eign growth or origin. That I have succeeded as well as others, may bo 

 inferred from the fact that at the various shows I have taken a fair share of 

 the premiums. Nevertheless, my success, though encouraging, has not been 



