GRAZING IN MONROE CO., VA. ANSWERS OF MR. BEIRNE. 163 



to have thus procured, from the fulhiess of the respondent's information and his 

 frank and courteous disposition, a much more complete exposition of the whole 

 subject, for the use or amusement of those who may desire, as I did, a more ex- 

 act notion of the manner in which the grazing business is carried on. 



ANSWERS OF O BEIRNE, ESQ., TO INQUIRIES PROPOUNDED IN BEHALF OF THE 

 EDITOR OF THE FARMERS' LIBRARY. 



I breed but a small proportion of the cattle grazed on my estate — say 30 out of 2.50. I 

 think a larger profit can be made by buying up and grazing the common stock of the coun- 

 try than could be by breeding entire ; and a much larger profit might be made, in my opin- 

 ion, by gi-azing the improved breeds, if they could be obtained. 



I procure my stock cattle from the south-western counties of the State — Tazewell, Russell, 

 Smyth, Scott, &c. (fcc. They are bred in lots of from 5 to .50, by the small farmers of the 

 country, according to the extent of their fai'ms and means. Tliey are fed m winter on the 

 offal of the fann, hay. straw, fodder, &c. ; in summer on mountain range — and are generally 

 fat in the fall when sold to the graziers or speculators. 



Stock cattle purcluised in the fall for grazing tlie following summer, are 3, 4 and .5 years 

 old — five-year-olds preferred, fattening more kindly at that age. Very little difficulty is ex- 

 perienced by the breeders in keeping their slock together m the range. The usual mode is 

 to put a bell on one that was ranged the preceding year ; they soon become accustomed to, 

 and are not apt to wander beyond its sound ; it also enables the owner more readily to find 

 them when salt is required, which he usually gives once a week, taking care always to salt 

 them as near the same place as the nature of the case will admit. The usual quantity of salt 

 allowed to each bullock per week is about half a pint. 



The mountains of Western Virginia generally afford good range for cattle during the sum- 

 mer and fall months. The pea-vine is esteemed the best range ; there ai'e, however, many 

 weeds and shrubs very near if not quite as good. 



I am Sony to say, very little enterpnse has as yet been manifested by the people of this 

 country in the improvement of their stock by the introduction of bulls of improved breed.s 

 or otherwise. As a stimulant I sell my hali-breed Short-Horn calves at tlu'ee months old, 

 for $10 ; and but veiy few are willing to introduce them even at that price. I also pennit 

 my neighbors to bring their best cows to my bull free of charge, and but very few even 

 avail themselves of the opportunity. 



I purchase my stock cattle in the months of September and October, and commence feed- 

 ing on hay, straw and fodder from 15th December to 1st .lanuary ; although it often occurs, 

 when the fall season is propitious for tlie grass crop, and not obstructed by snow, the cattle 

 v>:ill live throughout the winter, and do much better than upon the most abundant allowance 

 of dry food. I cut up my corn and husk it out in November, feed the stalk, fodder and 

 shuck together, and consider it the best of all the dry feeds. Oat-straw is not generally es- 

 teemed, in this country, as good food for cattle. I usually cut my timothy immediately after 

 the blossom falls, which I think the proper time. 



My father has earned through the winter as many as G50 head of cattle ; 525 is the most 

 he ever gi-azed in one 5'ear. I should suppose about 25 per cent, is added to the weight of 

 the stock from the purchase to the sale. They are grazed in lots of from 20 to 50 ; they fat- 

 ten better in small than in large lots. The Durham stock, well handled, at four years old 

 are worth double the common stock. Cattle are never stabled in this country in winter ; 

 the food is scattered out to them on the ground from a wagon in the woodland pastures. I 

 frequently meal my cattle when first turned to grass, for a month or six weeks, at the rate 

 of a gallon to each IduHocIc per day. 



I am not able to say the jirecise quantum of hay necessaiy for each bullock during the 

 winter. Hay cannot be sold in this country, in any quantity, at any price, there being no 

 demand or market. The first of May is the usual time of turning the stock to grass, and I 

 generally sell in August to the speculators who drive to the Baltimore market. I some- 

 times, however, sell to the stall-lbeders on the south branch of the Potomac. $10 per head 

 on the original cost is considered a fair profit ; $12, and even $15, is sometimes obtained. 



I cultivate my lands, on the average, about once in ten years in com or oats. The com 

 land I lay do\vn in wheat and rye, and if designed ibr meadow, sow at the same time iu 

 timothy ; if for pasture, in timothy and clover mixed, sowed in January. The oat land I in- 

 variably lay down in wheat, and sow on it, in Januaiy or February, timothy and clover 

 mixed, for pasture. 



Timothy and clover are the only grass-seeds sown in this country, and they are exter- 

 minated by the blue-grass, (generally, in about five years.) which is no doubt the natural gi-ass 

 of the country, and thought to be the best tor fallowing. I usually cut my meadow land 

 about five years successively, and graze as many more. I have no regular rotation of crops, 

 but am governed in the cultivation of the ditferent fields by their condition and circum- 

 stances ; some of them require much more fre(iuent cultivation than others. I am of opin. 

 ion it would be better never to cultivate our grazing lands after they are well set in lilue- 

 grass — the older the sod the better it fattens. Two acres of our best land is sufficient to 

 graze a bullock. I have never tried the orchard or red-top gi-ass. 

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