CHAPTER XIII. 



LIVE STOCK. 



Live stock is more or less important to the farmer, according 

 to the circumstances under which his business is carried on. In 

 extensive grain-growing regions, where the poHcy is simply to raise 

 the largest possible crops, rather by extent of cultivation than by 

 excessive production per acre, and where it is intended either to 

 trust to luck for the fertility of the land or deliberately to exhaust 

 and abandon it, live stock forms no important part of the farm 

 machinery, it being necessary only to keep such teams as are 

 required for plowing, cultivation, and harvesting. 



In other extensive regions, where the chief, almost the entire, 

 business of the farmer is confined to the grazing of large flocks 

 and herds on natural pastures, he cares for little else than Hve 

 stock ; but, at the same time, his animals live almost in a state of 

 nature, require scarcely any attention beyond the annual branding 

 and the annual selection of droves for market, and he needs to 

 know almost nothing concerning their management as understood 

 by skillful husbandmen. 



Live stock becomes an important element in the economy of 

 the farm only when our object is to raise fine animals, to raise 

 beef for market, or wool, or dairy products, or poultry, as a means 

 for converting the production of the land into a marketable form. 

 And in these cases its management always is, or alwavs should be, 

 attended by a full appreciation of the value of manure. 



" No manure — no grass, 

 No grass— no cattle, 

 No cattle — no manure." 



