No. 4.1 BEEF PRODUCTION. 73 



— can't we improve those pastures much faster than we would 

 by simply keeping cows, and buying our cows on the market 

 and letting them go, just keeping them in the pasture during 

 the day and in the barn at night? 



Professor Wing. It seems to me that that is a question that 

 can't be answered categorically yes or no. It is for each 

 man to discover. That is your business, — to study your 

 own conditions as to whether you can do as you indicate. 

 Now, I think that there are very many localities in which 

 that very thing can be done. Raise more animals than you 

 are raising; utilize your rougher land, bearing in mind all the 

 while that you have got to put something into that land and 

 so build it up; and keep a large drove of animals other than 

 strictly dairy cows. But it may or may not be so, according 

 to individual circumstances. That is what the Englishman is 

 doing; that is what the Hollander is doing to some extent, — 

 not so much, perhaps, as the Englishman. I would like to say 

 one word further in regard to the question you raise in regard 

 to the dual-purpose animal, and put myself, perhaps, in a little 

 better light. I don't believe that a dual-purpose animal will 

 compete in quality or economical production of beef with a 

 special-purpose beef-producing breed. I don't believe that a 

 dual-purpose animal will compete with a well-bred dairy cow 

 for the sole production of milk or milk products; but I do think 

 there is abundant room for an animal to be produced that will 

 produce profitably both milk and beef. 



I don't believe, take it as it runs. New England soil is any 

 less productive, or has any less capacity, than it had when the 

 pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, and I think that the time 

 is coming back when New England farmers are more and more 

 going to be as their ancestors were, — self-contained, self- 

 reliant, and are going to produce more of their food products. 

 They are going to diversify their industries. It is a diversified 

 country. It lends itself to diversified production, — some 

 mutton, some beef, some pork, some chickens, lots of fruits 

 and plenty of vegetables. 



Professor Foord. Professor Wing called our attention to the 

 fact that many of our hill farms are better adapted for sheep 

 than anything else. He has also called our attention to the 



