84 



might be remotely situated, where they may place their grow- 

 ing stock during the pasturing season. 



The subject of fatting cattle is of such importance, that it 

 deserves very strongly the attention of farmers in the interior. 

 Many of them are so remote from market, that they know 

 no other method of disposing of the produce of their farms 

 than by putting it into the portable form of beef, mutton or 

 pork. But the result of such operations is in many cases a 

 serious disappointment and loss. Many of them are satisfied 

 if, without reference to the current market-prices of the arti- 

 cles of produce used in the stall-feeding of their cattle, they 

 find upon closing their farm accounts for the year, that after 

 supporting their families and paying the labor hired in the 

 management of their farms they are not in arrears, or perhaps 

 have realized some small gain. In such case likewise they 

 seldom make any charge either of their own labor or superin- 

 tendence, nor of the interest on the capital invested in their 

 farm and its equipments. This is certainly a very loose way 

 of getting along, and not a little discouraging. Nor can they, 

 under such circumstances, with any certainty calculate that 

 the result may not be a loss instead of a gain. More calcula- 

 tion and more knowledge and prudence ought to be brought to 

 this subject, for losses often occur in respect to it which are 

 very difficult to be sustained, and ultimately terminate in bank- 

 ruptcy and ruin. The foundation of all true practical knowl- 

 edge and skill is experience. But the experience of most far- 

 mers is so loosely recorded, and indeed the facts on which it is 

 grounded are so imperfectly observed, that much less advantage 

 is derived from this source than might be expected ; and con- 

 clusions which may be confidently relied on are seldom reached. 



Various points remain to be settled ; and these can only be 

 determined by extended comparative experiments. As yet, 

 these experiments have scarcely been instituted among us. 

 The importance of a breed of cattle adapted to our climate, 

 condition, and cultivation, is not yet duly estimated. Among 

 different breeds of animals, even of those whose characteristics 



