Vol. IX.
INDIAMAPOLIS,'INDIANA, NOVEMBER 21, 1874.
Ijyg Stock.
SHORT-HORNS	
Annual Convention of the Indiana Association of Short-Horn Breeders.
The Short-Horn Breeders Association, met in the rooms ofthe State Board
of Agriculture, November llth, President Stevenson in the Chair, and Claude
Matthews, Secretary.
On motion of S. F. Lockridge, of Putnam, a committee of three was appointed
to arrange the oriler of business. Messrs.
S. P. Lockridge, Charles Lowder and
Thos. Wilhoit, were appointed.
On motion of Mr. Lockridge, a committee of three, consisting of Mr. Cravens, D. C. Hammond and Dr. Bice, was
"appointed, on thc revision of the Constitution.
Thc Convention then adjourned to
1:30 p.m.
afternoon session.
At 2 o'clock P. M., thc Convention was
called to order by the President. The
committee on the order of business, reported, and the report was adopted.
President Dr.   A. C Stevenson then
; delivered his address.
PRESIDENT S  ADDRESS.
The first part of the address was devoted to the cattle interests of the State
in general. Although Indiana has not
as many cattle as-some ofthe States, yet
in quality we have as fine stock as can be
feund, a fact demonstrated frequently
where they have been brought into competition with the very best show-herds
from adjoining States. "We have every
requisite for the production of good
stock. The soil is admirably adapted to
the growth ofthe cereals and grasses-so
essential to the production of stock of
superior quality. But with very great
natural advantages of fold, water, and
health, wj are producing far less than
we should. In 1870 we had only 618.-
360 beeves and store cattle; 393,736 cows
and 14,048 working oxen. The number
might be increased with great profit to
the State. Beef is increasing as an article of food; it is more ■ generally relished, and is the most healthy of all
meats. As an illustration ofthe quanti-
tyused, we will give the estimated value
of that used in the city of New York in
the year 1872: Beeves, $31,800,806;
cows, $4*4,250; calves, $1,150,300 ; total, $33,205,356. Add to th's the amount
consumed in all our towns and villages,
we may realize that the total amount is
very great. In the United States in 1870
the number of beeves and store cattle
was 13,566,005; milch cows, 8,935,332;
working oxen, 1,319.271. On the authority of the report of the Secretary of
the State Board of Agriculture we learn
that there is a decrease of two per cent,
in the production of calves in Indiana.
The average increase in all the States has
been but one per cent, during the past
year, or at a rate considerably below the
relative increase in population in the
same time.
The sales of short-horns for the past
two years have greatly exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine. It was
thought by many breeders that too many
were being forced on the market, and
that a decline in prices would he the result; but their predictions have proved
untrue, and prices have advanced instead.
The legitimate conclusion is that the
supply is still greatly below the demand.
The prospects, therefore, for another
year of good sales are all that short-horn
breeders could desire.
One of the most important movements
ofthe times is the association of "the various interests of the country in sepa-
arate organizations for self-improvement
and self-protection. _ Association and
consequent investigation enable those engaged to better understand their callings
or professions, to better appreciate their
wants and to defend their ritrhts. The
breeders may expect like benefits from
association. It will be a saving of time
and money to all who intend becoming
breeders to attend both the State and the
American and State Associations of
Short-Horn Breeders. He will not only
become acquainted with the men who
breed them, but he will learn more of
the history and pedigree of short-horns
than he would otherwise acquire for
years.
Thc committee on revising the Constitution, reported that Article III be
so changed as to read two dollars, instead of one, for membership fee.
Mr. S. F. Lockridge moved that the
report be so amended, as to fix thc annual meeting the lst Tuesday in November.
Chas. Lowder thought the time fixed
by the Constitution, the best; Indianapolis, the best possible shipping point in
the country, and he proposed an annual
• Stock-Sale at Indianapolis; that it would
j be a matter of the greatest possible in-
! terest to breeders, and that if the same
is held in connection with this Convention, it would be of the highest importance to farmers and breeders, and he
believed the fourth week in May, the
best time. The amendment was withdrawn, and the report concurred in.
A GRADED riERD BOOK.
The Secretary read a paper written for
the convention by Mr. A.F.Matthews,
of Wytheville, V« , on the "Galloway
cross as made by Charles Colling ; was it
accidental? The prices the alloy and
the pure bloods sold for at his sale October 11,1810." These questions, while
of considerable interest to breeders, will
not interest the mass of our readers.
The discussion that followed an address
by Mr. Cravens in favor of establishing
a class herd book, the herd books now
in use being too exclusive for any comfort, was quite warm. Many classos
nearly equal to the pure bloods, and commanding very nearly as high figures, are
excluded from thc herd cook because
they are not quite up to the standard required. While royal blood is desirable,
and should be duly recognized, the lines
should not be drawn so as to exclude
cattle not possessing it in that proportion constituting "pure bloods." By
the graded herd book, both sellers and
buyers would know precisely the standard value ofthe different crosses. The
grades could be established by the convention or by an authorized committee
appointed by breeders. In this we could
unite with the other States or run a little ring of our own. _ The debate on this
subject was quite interesting, though
one-sided, as all seemed to be in favor
ofthe graded herd-book.
Mr. Lockridge asked where the line
would be drawn, between pure blood
and graded animals. Mr. C, would not
have any animal on the grade herd-book,
with less than one-half pure blood._ He
is of opinion that too mueh attention is
given to premiums at Fairs, and not
enough to breeding qualities.1 • - • -— —
Mr. Thrasher said that at the present
price of land and labor, no farmer can
afford to raise scrub stock. He laid
down this as a_ proposition. There is a
certain perfection attained, which cannot be surpassed. When you get a good
animal as near perfection as possible,
the great point is to maintain that
standard. The highest perfection possible, has been reached thirty or forty
years ago. He favors every proper
means.to induce farmers to improve all
classes of stock. Place a scrub or a
three-fourths grade, or thorqugbred on
the same good treatment, till two or
three years old. The grade orfull-blood
will double the scrub in value. The
short-horns are not surpassed by any
others as milkers.
Dr. Stevenson said: Three years ago,
I bought 80 or 90 common calves, and
placed them on the same treatment with
a few unsalable thorough-bred calves.
When sold at three years old, the scrubs
would not have averaged 1200, and the
thorough-breds weighed 1600 pounds.
Mr. Matthews thought that the introduction of grade stock, into herd-books,
would have a tendency to depreciate the
importance of thorough-bred stock.
Mr. Thrasher said that only thoroughbred bulls should be used, as all grade
bulls are unreliable breeders.
Mr. Craven said that no animal should
be admitted into the grade herd-book,
not sired by a thorough-bred bull.
Mr. Thrasher moved that when the
meeting adjourns, it be to meet at 7|
o'clock, which was carried.
At the conclusion of the discussion
the convention listened to an able and
exhaustive paper by Dr. Stevenson on
the subject of "The Science of Breeding/' which was too lengthy for publication, and cannot be condensed with
justice to the doctor or the subject.
After a brief discussion the convention
went into the election of officers for the
ensuing year with the following result:
Dr. A. C. Stevenson, President; Chas.
Lowder, Vice-President; Claude Matthews, Secretary; S. F. Lockridge, Treasurer. Executive Committee, Dr. Bice,
W. W. Thrasher and H. Cravens.
Adjourned to meet at 7:30 o'clock
p. M.
At the evening session, Mr. Thrasher
offered a resolution on the subject of
public sales, after annual meetings,
which was lost.
Mr. Cravens presented resolutions in
favor of a grade herd-book, which after
discussion, were amended by making
them merely a recommendation to the
National Convention, and thus adopted.
THURDSAY MORNING.
At the morning session, Mr. Lowder
made some remarks as to the future success of the Association, and the importance of arranging a full and complete
programme in advance, which were concurred in.
The question of coIot being suggested,
Mr. Thrasher said that it had much to
do with establishing fashion in short
horns; that color raged higher in this
country than in England. His objection to red, was that frequently, a bull
of that color was retained [in the place
of a superior one that happened not to
be that color: that red ones are not,the
"handlers" that lighter colored ones
are.   He defined the importance ofthe
INTERESTING STATISTICS.
Abstract from the Report of the Auditor of State.
The current report of tho Auditor of
of Sftite, is a very full and interesting
one, and we make the following abstract
of the most interesting features of it:
RECEIPTS BY/THE TREASURER.
Cash on hand Nov. 1st, 1873 'IS'Shot
State Revenue 1874 ; ?fi'lib°l
Common School '""laSmm
College Fund:  iJn'sww
Public Institutions  ilS'ajoaa
Miscellaneous  rfis.84J.ua
Total $3,072,19508
DISBURSEMENTS.
Ordinary Expenditures ^u'SH?
Office Expenses   «,?,'SS"S
Benevolent Institutions   ?4X'7iIo>
Reformatory Institutions   ^VSMH
Educational Institutions '  W-.vi?-S"
College Fund       20,2^1.2.5
^"I1CKC * unit.....  .ufl,7o aa
Common School l,4£J'Sir!X
Refunded Revenue..;      'S'Si'X,,
Industrial Interests      ^CS-Sl
Military    „JHLy?s
Public Indebtedness    %SH5
Miscellaneous     2l,Ji)a 42
Total   82,827,991.28
Balancenowon hand      i •,'««#)3-78
School Funds disbursed »l,489,17d.6B
Making expenditure of the State
proper JI,338,8I7.W
CONDITION   OP TnE TRUST FUNDS.
Remaining in the treasury Nov. 1,1873,
$244,203,78. The following balances
were due from the general fund: To
the surplus revenue fund, $2,007,52; to
the estates without heirs, $4,512,85; to
the three per cent fund $32.13, in all
showing an excess of $237,651,28. There
is due to the general fund from the College fund, $1,953,33; from the swamp
land fund, $829,80; from the common
school fund, $10,291,94; totaK $13,07507,
making a total excess of $250,726 35.
VALUE OF PROPERTY.
The total value ofthe real and personal property in the State during the last
eignteen years, together with the increase
or decrease each year, are shown as follows :
,/
SCHOOL   ARCHITECTURE.
} The log cabin school houses ofthe West, of twenty and thirty years ago, are vivid enough yet in the memory of many
of us who used to sweep the puncheon floors, and ache out the days on the backless slab seats, with dogwood legs, and
" parse out of Kirkham."   The above cut exhibits something of our progress in school architecture, that is very instructive.
touch, or "handle," and what was meant
by theterm ; that he seldom ever saw
red animals that were good to handle.
In cows, a good handler was most frequently a good feeder and milker.
Dr. Bice said that the dark reds, like
the Devons, did not sell well, and there
was an idea that light colors did not
ship as well.
Mr. Williamson did not believe that
the red wou)d run into black, and that,
red would outsell all others.
Mr. Meredith thought that the very
dark reds were caused by in-breeding
reds, thus intensifying color, but thought
that whites were as bad handlers as reds,
perhaps roans were better. He thought
the graded short-horns superior to
either the pure bred or native cattle, as
milkers.
Mr. Lockridge said he had no prejudice as to color, thought all prejudice
absurd. Some thought whites would
not stand wintering so well, but the
colder the regions, the whiter are the
animals.
Mr. Lowder thought we were breaking
down this prejudice and returning the
glorious old original color. He said
there were exceptions to all rules, that
nature is very uniform in her work. If
she starts out to make something very
nice, she selects nice material, snd in
short-horns she covers a fine tissue
with fine flesh, and this with a fine hide,
and does 'not put there many coarse
hairs. He further believed, that as a
rule, white cattle, philosophically, and
physiologically considered, are better
than any other kind, and believed that
in five to ten years, whites and roans
would be regarded as the best cattle by
the majority of the people, because so
many inferior red bulls nad been and
are being reserved for use all through
the country, simply because they are
red.
Mr. Lowder suggested the following
topics for the next Convention:
1st. The value of Short Horn bulls,
and what are the characteristics of a
breeding bull; to be treated in an essay
by Charles Lowder.
2d. The color'ot Short-horns, physiologically and philosophically, considered ; by Dr. W. C. Bice.
3d. Indiana as a grazing State; by S.
F. Lockridge.
4th. What constitutes a good or perfect model Short-Horn cow; by W. W.
Thrasher.
5th._ Preparation of Short-Horns for
exhibition, manner of showing in rings,
and what are the objections; by J. T.
Williamsson,
6th. The proper age of breeding, both
male and female; by H. C. Meredith.
The Association then adjourned to
meet the 4th Tuesday in May next.
For the Indiana Farmer.
CARE OF LIVE STOCK.
GENERAL NEWS.
It is not unfrequently the case that
farmers are crowded with their fall work4,
such as harvesting fruit, corn, vegetables
&e., and in taking care of their fat hogs;
and overlook and neglect their   young
stock that have been doing well on the
pastures, much later in the fall than they
should.   It is poor   economy  to   leave
young, growing cattle, horses sheep and
pigs to shift for themselves on the pastures until they have lost flesh and become poor.   Such stock   should be so
cared  for  all the year that they would
make a constant increase in weight until
fully matured, or are ready for market.
Pigs that are allowed to become poor in
the fall frequently become diseased, and
more or less of them die during the winter and spring; and those that do winter
over are not so large, and thrifty as they
should be.   Care should be taken during the late fall and early winter months
to see that   they are well fed, and that
they have good warm, dry beds.   If they
are not provided with a well built hog
barn or* piggery, they Bhould at least be
allowed   access  to the dry leaves, and
their  favorite beds should be protected
from the rains, sleet and snows, by good,
if only temporary covers.   With the dry
fall now, and probably a dry winter before us, farmers should see to it in time
that their pigs, as well as all other stock,
have  access to a good supply of clean
water.   By a little neglect on this head,
stock may be allowed to suffer, and the
owner sustain much pecuniary loss.
Sheep and young cattle should be provided with good sheds, with at least two
sides well boarded to protect them from
the driving winter winds, rain, sleet, and
snow.
Colts and young horses should have
at least as much protection and care, but
should not be subjected to the close con
finement in very tight stables as is sometimes the case. Horses require more exercise in the open air, and will probably,
if unrestrained, voluntarily take more
.1MKT.S-.
1857	
1858	
1859	
Total.
 sn,9.ys2,!)r>8
  318,2ei,'.Kll
  4:15,367,862
  455,011,378
  411,562,3.19 .
421,406,9:16
443,455,0:16
  516,805 999
567,381,553
578,484,109
  577.869,079
Increase.
«.....:...-.	
■ < W,<JOO,74t)
272,006
117,162,898
19,613,516
Decrease.
1860	
1861	
1862    ..
13,499,039...
20,155,403
1863	
22,018,100
73,359,96:1
50,575,55*1
11,102,556
10,101,170
67,550,930
6 761,699
1864	
1865	
1867	
015,030
1868	
  587,970,519
1869	
  655,521,479
  662,283,178
1870	
1871	
  653,914,159
653,367,451
950,467,854
.... 981,861,821
8 339,019
576,708
1872  	
1873   ,, ,.
297,100,403
31,393,967
V
exercise in bad winter weather than any
other of our domesticated animals, and
will therefore suffer as little from exposure to it. L-
Probabilities said rain on Monday and
Tuesday, and it did rain all over the
West, and now the drought is broken.
It is estimated that 16,000 poor men
and women are now out of employment
in New York city, and in need of charity.
There has been a falling off in foreign
immigration this year of about one hundred thousand, compared with the figures of 1873.
Lieut. Gov. Smith is asserting his
claims to the Executive office of Arkansas, and the State is again agitated, and
trouble is threatened.
History repeats itself in this our latter day when the ruler of Egypt finds it
necessary to send corn to relieve^ the
famine-distressed region of Asia Minor.
Captain Byron S. Heath, of Chester,
Ohio, died from the effects of rarefied
atmosphere, at the summit of the Oroya
railroad. He was one of the government
engineers of Peru.
It is estimated that there are fifty-
seven women actually editing newspapers
in this country. The female reporters,
general writers, etc., engaged on the
press are numbered by hundreds.
Charley Ross was found this time at
Huntington, West Virginia, with his
hair short-cut, but he had the same
hazel eyes. Mr. Peyton found him, and
his bill for the job is $5,000, he says.
The Portuguese Minister is a victim
to the extravagant living of Washington.
He wrote to his government that he
could not support his family in good style,
and his successor was pro mptly appointed.
Works of art will hereafter be imported
to this country free of duty, when they
are designed for educational establishments. Churches will pay a duty of ten
per cent, on such works as are imported
for their use.
French engineers propose to turn the
Mediterranean sea into the Desert of
Sahara, by way ef a canal, and make a
new sea of the vast depression near the
Algerine coast. That is right, if we
haven't seas enough, let's make 'em.
The total estimated expenses of 1876 ■
are    $1,589,126.99,    including   amount j
necessary to  redeem   temporary   loans ]
falling due.
The taxable property of the State is '
$965,000,000, and there are 265,000 polls, j
The balance in  the Treasury will pay j
probable expenses to March 1st, and the !
settlement iri January will add $500,000 s
to the general fund.    The State will :
receive in 1875 the benefit of a tax of 15 -:
cents on the hundred dollars and 50 I
cents   on   each   poll.   The receipts of
1875 are estimated at $1,775,000.
The Auditor says, on the valuation of j
the real property: j
I am of the opinion that an assess- j
ment of real property once in two years j
is too often.   The enhanced values ob- j
tained by frequent assessment will hardly j
offset the expense and  labor involved ; !
and   besides,   the   sensitiveness of the j
people in regard to matters of taxation i
will alone make it a difficult matter to '
secure an equal and uniform assessment
as often as once in two years. I am of
the further opinion that an assessment
once in five years will be as frequent as
actual values and the good of the State
will require.
THE STATE DEBT.
The condition of the public debt of tho
State at the date of this report, October
31,1874, is as follows :
Foreign Debt.
Including certificates of Btate
stock war and temporary loanR (1,173,766 13
Domestic Debt,
Funded school txrads, from 1867
to 1873 -83,904,78322
Total debt $5,077,638 34
Redemption.
During the past year bonds have been
redeemed as follows:
Five per cent certificates      $500 On
Two and a half per cent, certificates...       775 fin
Internal Improvement bonds     20,000 0O
Total  $21#75<jij
RAILROADS.
The miles of railroad track, and value
of personal property is set forth as fol.
lows:
Miles.
Main track  3,737.12
Side track      457.51
Rolling stock	
Right of way without
track	
'J-    „-
$1
Value.
'A699,:v,S
«.f4a    .
Total $4,191.6:1
t».7H>,ou
Three new school  houses have  been
built in Logansport this season at a cost
of $75,000.   The Journal estimates   the
total amount expended for improvements
! in the town at $250,000.
The Council Bluffs Nonpariel is of
the opinion that "ladies who try to make
themselves look like idiots by cutting off
their front hair, succeed pretty well. A
hat set back a foot or two from the
head, or hung on the end of a horn of
false hair, assists in making up the in-
I sane asylum appearance."
The Maine Farmer learns that tho rij. $£-' /
perimentin drilling grain as conducted "a_^, *
at the State College farm this year. }^% »*•»
proved very satisfactory and sur-rexuf^j '?±?fif
The drilled grain, although put in Y^fj^Jt"
than that sown broadcast, lias rijwfe,] %~tff
earlier and given a heavier yield; f^,, ■%.'' "**
f drilling in ^
strong points in
grain.
savior
favor of
lit'
$i
w
*tt*f%fo.