386 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



the making of beef, the making of pork, the sale of milk, the 

 manufacture of butter or cheese, the growth of wool, the pro- 

 duction of poultry and eggs, and the raising of thoroughbred 

 animals for what is called the fancy market. 



Ordinarily he will find it best to select as his main object such 

 a branch of industry as his farm, his buildings, and his market 

 indicate as most desirable ; but to couple with this in all cases 

 some collateral branch of stock-keeping, so that, to use a com- 

 mon expression, he may not have his eggs all in one basket ; and 

 that he may be able to make one department assist somewhat in 

 the development of the advantages of another. For example, 

 in the manufacture of butter or cheese there should be at least a 

 sufficient herd of swine to consume the refuse products of the 

 dairy ; — and in the case of all animals to which grain is fed, it 

 will be found advantageous to have at least enough poultry to pick 

 up the sweepings of the stables and the waste of the thrashing- 

 machine. Again, whatever his business may be, it will be neces- 

 sary for him to keep working-teams, and if the production of beef 

 promises to be profitable, he will find it advantageous to keep 

 several yokes of oxen, working each pair only sufficiently to 

 stimulate their appetites and keep them in an improving condition ; 

 while, if he prefers to use horse-teams, there will be generally a 

 decided advantage in having mares from which one or two colts 

 each year may be expected. 



It is, of course, impossible to say, that, as a general rule, any 

 branch of stock-raising is more profitable than any other branch ; 

 and it is probably true that over the whole country there is, in 

 ordinary husbandry, not very much difference between any of the 

 leading branches. If there were a decided advantage in favor of 

 any one kind of stock, the difficulty would soon correct itself by 

 reason of the neglect of some other branch, until the price of its 

 products brought it again within the practicable range of profit. 

 All that it is proper for me to do, therefore, is to state briefly the 

 advantages of the different kinds of stock, and some of the rules 

 which should govern their management. 



