234 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



IMPROVED LIVE STOCK. 



BY C. H. SHAYLOR OF LEE. 



One of the most important questions of the present day 

 that confronts the farmer is, how to improve his stock, 

 thereby increasing the income of the farm, and making, if 

 possible, a balance on the right side of the account. 



The hills in the western counties of our State, which 

 twenty years ago furnished excellent pasture for hundreds 

 of head of cattle and sheep, are now in many sections with- 

 out a single occupant. Many of these pastures might, I 

 believe, at the present time, be utilized as grazing grounds 

 for well-bred, thrifty young stock, and the owner receive an 

 income from what he now loses. 



The probable cause of the decline in the number and 

 quality of stock kept has been the opening up of vast tracts 

 of land in the west, and the low freight rates to the eastern 

 markets. Animals could be raised and fattened in the west 

 and placed on the market in our eastern cities cheaper than 

 they could be produced here. I believe that now the times 

 are changing, and that we can afford not only to raise our 

 dairy animals, but that in our hill towns beef cattle can be 

 profitably produced. This is based on the fact that our 

 abandoned farms are now being occupied by families from 

 the west, who claim that land is cheaper here than there ; 

 and our markets, which are constantly growing, are the best 

 in the world. 



Farmers owning good hill or mountain pastures, where 

 the stock could be kept through the summer, and with a 

 well-filled silo to furnish an excellent, cheap and imtritious 

 winter food, may raise at a profit not only their heifers for 

 the dairy, but steers for beef, or, if needed, for working 



