GREAT QUESTIONS. — ECONOMY. 67 



profit in many sections to a greater extent, at least, 

 than formerly, and it becomes a matter of great practi- 

 cal importance to our farmers to take the proper steps 

 to improve them. Indeed, the questions, what is the 

 best breed, and what are the best crosses, and how 

 shall I improve my stock, are now almost daily asked ; 

 and their practical solution would add many thousand 

 dollars to the aggregate wealth of the farmers of the 

 country, if they would all study their own interests. 

 The time is gradually passing away when the intelli- 

 gent practical farmer will be willing to put his cows 

 to any mere " runt " of a bull, simply because his ser- 

 vice may be had for twenty-five cents ; for, even if the 

 progeny is to go to the butcher, the calf sired by a 

 pure-bred bull, particularly of a race distinguished for 

 fineness of bone, symmetry of form, and early maturity, 

 will bring a much higher price at the same age than the 

 calf sired by a scrub. Blood has a money value, which 

 will, sooner or later, be generally appreciated. The 

 first and most important object of the farmer is to 

 get the greatest money-return for his labor and his 

 produce; and it is for his interest to obtain an animal — 

 a calf, for instance — that will yield the largest profit on 

 the outlay. If a calf, for which the original outlay was 

 five dollars, will bring at the same age, and on the same 

 keep, more real net profit than another, the original out- 

 lay for which was but twenty-five cents, it is certainly 

 for the farmer's interest to pay the larger original out- 

 lay, and have the superior animal. Setting all fancy 

 aside, it is merely a question of dollars and cents ; but 

 one thing is certain, and that is, that the farmer cannot 

 afford to keep poor stock. It eats as much, and requires 

 nearly the same amount of care and attention, as stock 

 of the best quality; while it is equally certain that stock 

 of ever so good a quality, whether grade, " native," or 



