ANNUAL REPORT—STOCK RAISING. 
29 
the cream of the farmer’s labor, costing nothing for transportation 
on the additional sum received. 
Another important consideration in the growing of stock is that 
one is better able to keep up the fertility of his soil in this branch 
of farming. He is not only saving the transportation of his pro¬ 
ducts to the place where wanted, but he is keeping his land in so 
healthy and fertile a condition that it will continue to bring forth 
continually and abundantly its golden crops. 
SHORT HORNS. 
Forty thousand six hundred dollars paid for a single cow of this 
celebrated breed at a sale the last year in New York. Fifteen 
cows at an average of a trifle less than twenty thousand dollars 
each, prices said to be above those ever paid for cattle in this or 
any other country. It is said upon undoubted authority, that it 
is impossible to purchase any pure bred short horns in England; 
not because there is none, but from the fact that the owners have 
not enough for themselves, and hence will not sell at any price. 
It is also reported that there has been no public sale of short horns 
in England for twenty years, and no probability of one for a cen¬ 
tury to come. It certainly speaks well for the prosperity of our 
country, and particularly for the energy of short horn breeders, 
that we are able to supply the mother country with this valuable 
breed of cattle, and at such remunerative prices. Now I am not 
/ 
going to advise the stock raisers of Wisconsin to all attempt to 
grow twenty thousand dollar cows, or to all go into the breeding 
of short horns, but I do desire to recommend to the farmers and 
stock raisers the importance of growing better cattle of the breed 
they prefer. It costs but little more to keep a cow which gives 
twice the amount of milk of another. It takes less corn to 
it 
fatten a steer of the short horn breed than a common one, the 
weight of each animal being the same, while the former com¬ 
mands often double price in the market for beef. Where 
farmers are not able to purchase this valuable stock at prices 
such as they command, several small farmers can club to¬ 
gether and own a bull which all can use, and by judicious cross¬ 
ing can raise first class grade cattle at a small cost over the price 
of the common herd. Such grades are usually better milkers than 
