Live Stock.
For the Indiana Farmer.
IMPROVED  BREEDS  OF CATTLE.
Tbat Morgan County Granger made me
use tbe word " scrub " repeatedly where
I used the word "common." This
makes no difference; the word scrub
is simply used by Short-Horn men in
derision of native or coinmon cattle.
In the beginning God created all cattle
after their kind ; when he finished his
creation he looked upon his work and
pronounced his work not only good, but
verygoed. We cannot believe that any
Granger or any Short-Horn man has the
impiety to say God created any inferior
animal. All cattle at the beginning must
have been entirely perfect, more so than
the beit Short-Horn in the State of
Indiana.
What we want to know is, in what
way the degeneration came, and how it
happens that there is claimed to be bo
many distinct breeds at the present time?
If all of these changes have not been
produced by the neglect and cruelty of
man—then .what is it? My brother
Granger says, from fourteen to sixteen
hundred in the fall after being two years
old, looks pretty big. A little further
along he says he'weighed a Short-Horn
in the fall after being one year old, and
his weight was over sixteen hundred.
This sounds big also.
NOW FOR THE FACTS.
In August, 1873, I sold Mr. James
Williams, near Danville, in Hendricks
county, two two-year-old steers, bought
expressly to compete with Short-Horns
at the County Fair. They took the first
premium over all two year old bullocks,
and weighed 3,210 pounds, after being
driven fifteen miles on a very hot day.
On the fifth day of this month (April),
I weighed to another Hendricks county
man sixteen young steers—six twos and
ten short threes, which brought seventy-
five dollars on an average and five dollars
over, short ten cents. This bunch of
cattle had only two grades iu the lot,
and they were snort threes.
They were fed but once a day during
the winter on shock corn, without any
protection whatever, except a thick piece
of timber, and had not been fed for
nearly twenty-four hours previous to
being weighed. I had one steer weighed
separate, that was two years old March
2d day, and weighed 1,404 pounds. If
any person doubts the veracity of this
statement, all he has to do is to call
on Mr. Wesley Daugherty, in Hendricks
county, three miles south of Danville,
on the gravel road leading to Cartersburg, where Mr. Daugherty will take
pleasure in showing the cattle referred
to. He will also explain how it was that
they had not been fed for such a length of
time previous to being weighed.
The brother says 1 advanced the idea
that common or native cattle are as good
as Short-Horns. My bad language might
make it sound so, but I meant nothing
of the kind. I know that Short-Horns
are fine animals. Because they are fine
is no reason why they should be overrated. It is claimed by their owners that
they are worth irom one dollar to one
dollar and fifty cents more per hundred
for beef than any other cattle. Let me
say I am personally acquainted with
more than a dozen shippers in Hendricks
county, and two or three in Boone.
They all tell me a good common steer
or grade, well fatted, that weighs fifteen
or sixteen hundred, is worth just as much
by the pound as any full-blooded Short-
Horn, Calvin Fletcher says Short-
Horns stands second in price for beef in
England. He says there are three or
four other kinds that bring a better price
by the pound. He further says the best
cattle he saw was from Portugal. They
were of a more uniform sixe, and better
fatted. Every Granger, and every other
person who reads the Indiana Farmer,
knows what he said about their origin.
Now, Brother Granger, I shall not live
to see it—for I am near seventy—but
predict that in twenty years from this
time, there will be some other breed in
Indiana that will be as far ahead of
Short-Horns as they are ahead of all
other breeds at this time.
Boone County. Granger.
IOWA PUBLIC 8ALES OF SHORTHORNS.
Editor Indiana Farmer:
One of the most interesting and successful public sales of Short-Horns ever
made in the West, took place at the
farm of S. W. Jacobs, near West Liberty, Muscatine county, Iowa, on the
14th of April, 1875. A cordial invitation had been extended to the public
generally to attend the sale, whether
intending to be bidders or not, and full
assurance given tbat ample accommodations would be made to entertain all free
of charge, from the time of arriving at
West Liberty until they should depart.
Arrangements had also been made for
reduced fare ori the B., C. It. k M. Kail-
road. Trie day was very fine, and a very
large concourse of people were early in
attendance. A ring some 40 feet in
diameter, in which the stock was let to
be sold, was surrounded by scats amphi-
theatrically arranged, sufficient to accommodate from 1,200 to 1,500 persons. A
stand-had been erected on one side of
the enclosed space for the auctioneer,
clerk and reporters, backed by seat provided for and filled by a number of
intelligent and interested ladies, some of
whom were among the most spirited and
sensible bidders of the day. The stock
was not over fat, butwas in most excellent condition, and, for so large a number,
showed most excellent care and handling.
After a good lunch had been served, to
which all were made welcome, the
sale opened at a little after 12 o'clock, M.
One remarkable feature of this sale was,
that all the animals sold were taken by
"Hawkeyes" except four. The result
of the day's sale is as below:
COWS AND nEIFERS.
Forest Queen, red. 7 years old, J.  ty.
Hahdley, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. S 1,500
3rd Lonan of Slausondale red, 7 years old,
George Chase, West Liberty, lowa    1,130
Louan of Wapsle, red, 3 years old, Mrs.
Klmberly, West Liberty, Iowa      SOO
Bettie Stewart, red, 3 years old, Moses
Bunker, Tipton, Iowa    1,42.",
Princess Lou 5th, roan, 2 years old, C. W.
Carl, Tipton, Iowa      300
Minnie, red, 8 years old, C. S. Barclay,
West Liberty      500
Maude, red, 4 years old, D. S. Pratt, Brat-
tleburg, Vermont    7,200
Princess Maude, red, 1 year old, Westly
Warnle, Cynthiana, Kentucky._    2,800
Iva 5th, roan, 6 yrs. old, E. ty. Shepherd,
West Liberty, Iowa_      600
Iva 6th, roan, 5 yrs. old, J. E. Logan, Lln-
vllle, Iowa_      600
Lydia Thompson 2nd, roan, 2 year old, L.
p. Dlnsdolc, Traer, Iowa      400
Iva 8Ui, roan, 3 years old, Robert Miller,
West Liberty, Iowa       300
Iva 9th, roan, calf, B. F. Williams, Vinton, Iowa       285
Cherry 8th, 1 year old, Cookson st Son,
Downey, Iowa      300
Lyndale Lady, roan, 2 years old, Daniel
Qanoe, Wilton, Iowa._      460
Lady Star 2nd, red, 3 yrs. old, T. L. Moore,
Sugar Creek Mills, Iowa._      50"
Bloomer 5th, red, 6 years old. Dan. Ganoe. %jo
Bloomer 9th, roan, 1 year old, John Wilson, Traer, lowa„       275
Bloomer 10th, roan, 1 year old, 8. FUn,
Boonville, lowa.      420
Imp. Royal Booth, roan, 2 years old, Mrs.
Klmberly .-.    1/176
3rd Gem of Eryholme, red, 2 years, Mrs.
Klmberly _....    2,050
Royal  Booth, red,   calf, West  Wilson,
Creon, Iowa.      250
Molly Austin 2nd, red and white, 6 years
old, Nelson Cone, Eddyville, Iowa      2_
Lady Belle 5th, roan, 2 years old, Wm.
Lltzenburg, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.._      4*5
Red Princess, red, 7 years old, David Wilson, Round Grove, lowa.
Indiana Farmer Family.
Onr Postal Card Co__wpo_deno»».
MAZURKA 36th.
Owned by 8. MEREDITH & SON, Cambridge City, Indiana.
IIITLLF.
Master Alrdrle Snd, 18,12, A. C. Williams,
Vinton, lowa t   368
Red Cloud, 1__>  red, 4 year old, John
Collard, Deft.Moines, Iowa      316
Boron or  Wnpsie, roan, 1 year old, N.    ,
Bhoap, Muscatine, lowa..  "   270
2nd Huron of Wapsle, 1 year old, Robert
Atkins, lowa City. Iowa       330
3rd Huron of Wuiit.lt, roan, 1 year old, E.
 -'-  "   '-lie       '-■-
NellieGrant, roan; 2 years old, William
Pieper, Mechanicsville, Iowa	
Strawberry 2nd, roan. 9 years old, G. ty.
Demlng, Durant, Iowa	
Lady Duke, roan, « years old, Mis. Klm-
Prlncess Julia 2nd, red and white, id yrs.
old, Cornelius Miller, Waterloo, Iowa....
" " 11 year old, C. s. Bar-
A. Hughes, AtaleKsa, Iowa       375
4th Baron of Wapsle, red.l year old, W,
K. Andrews, Now Providence, Iowa.	
5th   Baron of Wapsle, roan calf, A. J.
Smith, Pleasant Grove, Iowa. ........:.     2*5
Baton Boon Srd, 1 year old, Daniel Klinn.      190
lioron Boon 4th, red and white, 1 year
old, Daniel Flinn. _     , 200
Baron Boon Till, red and white, 1 year old,
J. K. Ilosser, West Union, Iowa      SOO
Baron Boon sth, roan, 1 year old, J. E.
Adams, Solon, Iowa	
Iowa Chief, red, 1 year old, John Wilson..
Orphan Boy, red, calf, II. W.  l_.throp,
lowa City, lowa	
Liberty, resl, 1 year old, Charles Preston,
Douahue. lowa	
Lord Lieutenant, roan, 1 year old, C. Ellison, West Liberty, Iowa	
Prince of Iowa, red and white, calf, Geo.
Chace	
Iowa Boy, roan,4yearsold, W. A. Hunter,
Oases, lowa	
Minister's Treasure, red, 1 year old, Wm.
Merit, Tilton, Iowa	
Lysander, red and white, 1 year old, Jacob McVey, Downey, Iowa	
Baron, red and white, 1 year old, L. P.
Hinsdale       335
Master of Arts, roan, 1 year old, L. P.
Dlnsdale        335
Pleasant Duke, red, 2 yrors old, F. A.
Marchant, Danville, Iowa       285
Favorite, red, 1 year old, 8. O. Kelley,
Stockton, lowa      330
405
Z<0
230
159
200
330
150
300
280
310
22 Bulls average..S2S0 87
59 Cows average.. 758 98
82 Lotsavers_re...S824 75
Aggreeate t 6,470
Aggregate....  4,4770
Aggregate .$51,230
could thus be occupied with great profit
The grange or club could select a man of
judgment to attend tbe stock sales and
make the selections and purchases. Cooperation is now the watchword of almost every successful enterprise, and it
is just as legitimate iu this field as any
other. The matter is well worth considering. It will be a great day for the
West, when all her common stock is put
in an advanced process of improvement.
It can be done with united effort. The
principle of co-operation shows that half
a dozen .weak men are stronger than one
strongman, and can do more. Put your
strength into active use and demonstrate
the truth of this in securing good breeding stock, as you have in numerous
other methods. ,
ALDERNEYS.
Kewanee Belle, roan
Saran'Ssiiie,l^d*sindwhite,2 years"old"
W. M. Fields 4 Bro., Cedar Kails. Iowa...      400
Roan 2nd, roan, 7 years old, C.S. Barclay.      400
Snowball, white, g years old, David Wilson  i  •   360
Carlotta, roan, 8 years old, Robert Miller..     260
Lucy Long, red and white, 6 years old,
Milton Briggs, Kellogg, Iowa      425
Mary Ann, roan, 8 years old, David Wilson.       400
Queen, roan, 3 years old^C. 8. Barclay      450
900
230
gle Duke,  red, 6 years old.
Does it Fay to Keep Sheep t
February 19, 1874, I bought of Mr.
Amos Dickson, of Oook county, Illinois,
six head of South Down ewes, for which
I paid $9.30 per head. From February
17 to March 20, they dropped nine lambs,
which they raised.
Sold three buck lambs for U each 124 00
One bnck lamb-   _     6 00
One wether „ _     5 00
Wool _ „     7 20
On hand, nine ewes worth t)J30 each..w_.  83 70
„   Total  1125 90
First cost „.....,   55 80
increase „.__ ,.  fTO 10
I lost one ewe by accident.   My ewes
will drop their lambs again iu a few days.
• I feed one ear of corn to each, once a
.day, with all the bright clover hay they
Bwant.—Correspondence 'of the Western
\RuraL *
McCrokey, Tipton, Iowa...
Mary White 3rd, roan, 5 years old, Mrs.
Klmberly       450
Lily Dale, red, 5 yeais old, Mrs. Klmberly     750
Scottish Lady, red, 3 years old, Mrs. Klmberly „    1,425
Lady King, red, 1 year old, Daniel Flinn,
Boonville, Iowa..   2,025
Lettie, red, 2 years old, Michael Shoep,
Muscatine, Iowa      3l5
Lettie 2nd, red and white, 4 years old, C.
L. Murray, Marlon, Iowa.      330
Lettie 3rd, red, 1 year old, S. T. Spangler,
Winthrop, Iowa      255
Lady Wapsle, red and white, 2 years old,
. RobertMlUer      410
Countess 4th. red and white, 2 years old,
Mrs. Klmberly      390
Prairie Flower, roan, 9 yrs. old, C. T. Bar-    •
clay...u.» L ••    350
Prairie Flower Srd, red, 1 year old, J. C.
Tfayer, Vinton, Iowa      225
Bourbon Princess 3d, roan, 4 years old,
GeorgeChace ,      425
Bourbon Princess 4th, roan, 4 years old,
GeorgeChace      375
Bourbon  Princess 5th, red, 1 year old,
George Chace „...      225
Fanny Levy 4th, red and white, 3 years
old, Milton Briggs      330
Qneen of Iowa, red, 6 years old, Nelson
Cone -     500
British Baron's Gem, roan, 2 years old, C.
8. Barclay _  1,000
Imported Sylvia, red, 7 years old, Daniel
Flinn..- -    2,500
Rnssie Pierce, red, 4 years old, Mrs. Klmberly- -     IrSOO
Fannie Pierce, red, 2 years old, Mrs. Klmberly    1,100
Flora Pierce, roan calf, Mrs. Klmberly—.     625
MILTON BRIGGS' SALE
was made the day following that S. W.
Jacobs, near Kellogg Station, Iowa.
The herd was a' large one, numbering,
with those in the supplement to the catalogue, 41 males, and 183 females. The
pedigrees were generally good, and many
of them first rate. The cattle, too, were
a good lot for purchasers, but entirely
too thin in flesh to command anything
like a good price. The herd with few
exceptions, showed that they had been
very badly treated—nearly all the bulls
were suffering with mange. Though the
crowd present at the opening of the sale
was large and showed some signs of
spirited bidding, yet it was soon evident
that the sales would run low. The day
was exceedingly unpleasant, there, being
a very strong, cold wind from the northwest the entire day. Many of the persons present had been upon the cars the
night before and had lost sleep and did
not seem disposed to hid against the
wind. Below are some of the prices obtained:
Anna Clark, (a Miss Wiley), 8 years old
Silas Corban, Paris, Ky. t 1,075
Lady Clark, fa Miss Wiley), 1 year old,
David Lowman,Toulon, 111 „     575
Queen of Oak Hill, (a"Miss Wiley), 8 yrs.
old, C. S. Barclay, West Liberty, Iowa...     800
Making an average per head of J816.06.
Seven straight Louans sold for J4,-
075; making an average per head
of... I     .582
Jubilee of Spottswood, 1 year old, sold to
ty. M. Blair, Inland, Iowa, for	
Oneota, ri_, 9 years old, (a Nannie Williams), H. G. Little, Greenville, lowa...
Oneota 2d, red calf, (a Nannie Williams),
to W. F. Andrews, New Providence      255
Eighty-three other females sold at prices
varying from _K)lo      525
The whole 96 bead of females sold,
brought an aggregate of $31,415;
making an average per head, of....S327 24
Twenty-six bulls out of the 41 in
catalogue, were sold  for   15,933,
or an average, per head, of.  228 19
The whole sale of 122 head brought 137,-
S18, or an average per head, of. 1306 13
W. D. Ward, of Kokomo, who drew
our second premium, a yearling Alderney Bull, furnished by J. B. Poyntz, of
Maysville, Kentucky, returned last week
from Maysville with four head of full-
blood Alderneys, one bull, one cow, and
two heifers, having exchanged the premium calf for an older animal. Mr.
Ward deserves great credit for his enterprise in this matter, first in winning the
prize by furnishing the second largest
list of subscribers for the Indiana
Farmer ; and secondly, for promptly
introducing a herd of this valuable butter stock into his county. We shall
watch with much interest the success of
this enterprise, and hope, in future to
be able to chronicle highly satisfactory
results.
a    »    .
The Best Yet.
1.025
480
Whatever merit there may be in the
claim of our correspondent for the common breeds of cattle, it must be admitted that for beef the Short-Horns arc
the best in the country, Thero aro exceptional cases where the common cattle,
such as he mentions, have proven well;
but we need to act upon the rule; and
not the exception, in the important matter of breeding profitable stock, and it is
too well known to admit of controversy,
that as a rule the Short-Horns, for beef
cattle, have proven themselves far superior to the common breeds. We cannot
afford to fritter away our time and
strength on common breeds with only a
promise of an occasional success, when
uniformity in this respect is insured
with the other valuable breeds. This
ought to be considered a well settled
rule of action.
BROWN COUNTY.
The late cold weather has killed all the fruit.
Wheat badly damaged.  Oats all sowed.
Jas. a. McKinney.
BLACKFORD COUNTY.
Wheat looks well; owing to the severe cold
winter peaches are all killed; stock hogs are
scarce. B. F. S.
RIPLEY COUNTY.
The frnit Is all killed. Peaches wonld have
been ln bloom ln a few days, but the oold snap
literally froze them on the trees. Wheat Is all
killed, some farmers having plowed theirs up
and sowed oats. Oats all sowed. Some are
plowing for corn. Geamqsb.
6REENE COUNTY.
Wheat looks well. Corn plenty and worth
45c per bushel ln the pen. Stock hogs scarce
and worth 5 to 5'.; and 6c. Stock of all kind-
looks well. Grass has made Its appearance at
last. There are four Granges In tbe township,
(Washington.) J. J. H. ■
DECATUR COUNTY.
We have had a severe cold spell, freezing the
ground several Inches deep. It ls feared that
the potatoes that have been planted are frozen.
Clover and wheat is badly winter-killed.
Young caterpillars are abundant.
S. Harlan.
BENTON COUNTY, MO.
This ls a good county of lands, but the crops
failed here last season, and there ls no feed for
stock.and little more forthe people. Corn is selling at fl_5 per bushel, and hard to get at that,
as money ls also scarce. Some corn has been
sent here for the Buffering, but not enough to
do much good. Thos.Gant.
HOWARD COUNTY.
Wheat looks very bad ln this part of Indiana.
The lice ln the winter killed it out in the low
land, andlthe cold snap ln April gave lt a back
set. Peaches all killed; cherries abont half
killed; apples all right yet; flax and oats all
saved. p. d.
SPENCER COUNTY.
Fruit ls all killed, without doubt. Wheat ls
considered, by many farmers, badly Injured.
The cold weather checked plowing to a considerable extent. Stock hogs scarce. Horses
plenty. Plenty of cattle, but of the scrub
stock. Wheat ls worth Jl per bushel, corn 65c,
oats 60c. John T. Kerb.
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY.
Spring ploughing Is progressing flnly, the
ground being in the finest condition. Wheat
Is looking better than was expected after the
severe winter. We all, except a few fogies,
drill our corn here. Continue to keep the Tilton and Beecher out of your paper and it is a
welcome visitor. M. M. Jackson.
MONROE COUNTY.
Wheat looks bad; frnit all killed; weather
very cold for the middle of April; Mercury 18
degrees above zero, on the 17th. Hogs and feed
scarce.   Grass late and cattle thin.
A. T. Almas.
another.
Feed scarce, stock very thin, pastures—none.
Wheat that was sown early, and ln good order,
looks well, with plenty of chinch bugs; late
sown badly frozen out. Horses, mules, and
cattle, plenty and very low. Sheep and hogs
scarce and good price; stock hogs very
scarce and worth 6c per lb.; fat hogs scarce and
worth 6>£c per lb. Wheat II to 11.10 per bash.;
oats50c; corn50c to60c; hay 75c per hundred;
Irish potatoes very scarce, worth Jl_5 to »1_0
per bush. Patrons a little lukewarm. The
Indiana Farmer is highly appreciated by
those who read it, ond recommend it to all who
do not. W. Meads. '
59
Co-Operation in Buying Stock.
Very lxueh benefit might result to the
farmers, if in their clubs and granges, they
would join together and co-operate in
buying valuable stock in every neighborhood. In this way, where single individuals'felt unable to alone purchase
valuable stock for breeding purposes, the
members of farmers' clubs and granges
could co-operate and secure some of the
very best for the neighborhood, and in
this way our stock could rapidly be improved everywhere. This is certainly, an
important and fruitful field for a thorough
Lotsaverage..__8981Aggregate $44,770 system of co-operation, and we think it
Public Sale of Short-Horns and
Berkshires, at Morristown, Shelby
county, by W. W, Woodyard, administrator of the estate of Qr. H. Woodyard:
short-horns.
White Lily and heifer calf to B. G.
Barnard, Sumner, Rush county, Ind.,
$400.
Emma 20th, and bull calf, to G. S.
Barnard, Morristown, Shelby county,
Ind.,$275.
Miss Booth and heifer calf, to R. H.
Phillips, Beech Grove, Rush county,
Ind., $270.
Red Rose, yearling heifer, to Richard
Milburn, Fountaintown, Shelby county,
Ind., $275. ,
Mass. Rose 3d, to same, $250.
Other Short-Horns and Berkshires
brought fair prices—one sow and six
pigs bringingflOS.
DEARBORN COUNTY.
Wheat in this county is almost a total failure.
The late hard freezing wrought Immense If',
not total destruction to the fruit buds.   This,
of course, is a great calamity.   Inconsequence
of tbe extremly dry fall (necessitating early
feeding) and the long cold winter, a majority
at fanners are about ont of feed.
. Guilford, Ind. R. Collier.
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
There ls but little good wheat in this part of
the county, (about Lowell), lt being much injured by the severe winter. Someare plowing
their wheat up and sowing the ground with
oats. Hogs are scarce and ln good demand.
Poor cattle are plentiful, and in poor demand,
Fat csttle are scarce and sell at a high price.
Potatoes are scarce and sell at Jl.75 per bushel
Corn sells at 65c per bushel; wheat 81; hay $20
per ton. Caterpillars made their appearance
last week, and I think the freeze killed them
They did great damage to our orchards last
ye_\ William H. Lewis.
KNOX COUNTY.
The weather has been terribly cold, and fruit
of every description is all gone. Wheat ls
scorched, and looks like a fire had run over
the flelds. Three days were the coldest I ever
saw ln April, and 1 have been in Indiana
forty-eight years. It ls hard to tell what the
damage will be. Wbeat is badly winter-kill ed
and will not make half what lt did last year.
Taken all in all, we have had'the hardest winter
for upwards of forty years. Stock hogs scarce
and dying with cholera, worth 5 to 6c. Stock
comes out of winter looking well, where lt was
taken care of.  Fat hogs high and scarce.
■ J.D. Cox.
VIGO COUNTY.
The wheat in this county is dying from the
chinch bug and dry weather. D. C.
another.
We have no flne stock ln this neighborhood,
except hogs, bnt farmers are thinking and
talking more on this subject of late. Drilled
wheat looks well here, broad-cast does not look
so well; however, we think our prospect la
good for an average crop. Frnit we think ls
almost all killed by the late oold weather,which
the oldest citizens say ls the coldest they have
ever known for the time of year.
tyM. S. HABPIR.
JEFFERSON COUNTY. ,
The late cold snap was most disastrous to the
fruit, nearly all being killed, and winter grain
not much better. The farmer is well liked by
all; the editorial correspondence from the
South was especially interesting, and has put
some of us in the notion of moving there.
Can we not get np a colony of Grangers to go
to Florida next fall. Let us hear from there.
C. L. Thompson,
ANOTHER.
We are having another touch of winter, cold
wind with frequent snow squalls. The wheat
ls Injured more than was at flrst believed,
though not all frozen out. In many localities
|t ls nearly all killed, and is a total failure, as
well as the barley. The fruit is not seriously
Injured, up to the present, but'we have fears
that the bloom out now will be killed by the
present cold snap. C. L. Thompson.
ANOTHKE.
The prospect for wheat ln this county is very
discouraging.  The plants were not thrown out
by freezing and thawing, as ls sometimes the
case, but were literally frozen to death.   Many
farmers are plowing up their wheat fields and
sowing oats, and others will plant corn.  Fully
one-half will be plowed up, and the remainder
ls very thin and uneven.    Fruit trees of ail
kinds were loaded with fruit buds just on the
point of opening, when the sudden change of
weather occurred on the 16th, freezing sharply,
with snow squalls and cutting winds.   Up to
tbe present, hyacinths and'other early flowers
were ln full bloom, but now look as if passed
through a fire.   Stock hogs scarce, selling at 7
and 7_Jc; corn 00 to 63c; potatoes badly frozen
ln pits, selling from 90c to $1 for small, to {1_5
for large.   The Grange movement Is creating a
healthy rivalry among farmers, each endeavoring to raise better crops than before, snd the
State Agency is.Indirectly Influencing prices
among our merchants and manufacturers.
Delos Wood.
ORANGE COUNTY.
The winter has been one of the coldest for
Borne years with but very little snow.   Wheat
ls badly Injured by freezing.   There was a good
prospect for peaches and early frnit generally
until ths snow storm and freeze on the 16th
and 17th, which killed everything that was
tender and green.   Hogs scarce and dying with
cholera.   Cattle scarce and thin, no sale.   Potatoes scarce, worth from J1.50 to 82 per bushel.
L.H.F.
MARSHALL COUNTY.
I do not notice any correspondence from this
part of our county, so I thought I would like
to belong to the "Family."   We have had some
nice weather and some of the farmers have
been plowing, and some have oats sowed, but
tbe snow ls about six or eight inches deep today.   Some of the wbeat looked well but I fear
this cold snap will hurt it some.   The Order of
Patrons is prospering, and the Farmer is read,
by many, with interest. A. M.
Bremen, Ind.
JACKSON COUNTY.
Tlie weather continues cold. Wheat looks
very bad, much of it Is being broken up for
corn. Potatoes are scarce. Hogs are scarce
and unhealthy. Cattle are lean and feed is not
plentiful. Peaches and apples were all killed
by the late frosts. Extensive preparations are
being made for the corn and melon crop. This
is emphatically a melon county. Grangers
are warming up and are going to build a Hall
and Wareroom at Brownstown. Old fogyism
is dead. P. G.
ANOTHER.
On the nights of the 16th and 17th there fell a
snow about one inch deep, the cold freezing
the young leaves and buds, so that they have
turned black, and the general supposition is
that the fruit ls killed, and young grass and
clover ls badly injured. Oats is generally
sound, and gardens are made and potatoes
planted. Stock of all kind looks bad on account of the severe winter. Stock hogs scarce
and worth irom 5 to 6% cents. The chinch bug
ls beglning to make Its appearance. Grangers
here are making arrangements to ship their
marketing direct to market on wholesale shipments. Grange interest is on the increase here
with a prospect of soon building a hall and
business house, and starting business in earnest.      , D. M. Lett.
Value of a Thoroughbred Boar.
A breeder's circular says that "the
thoroughbred pig, in starting a herd, is
chiefly valuable in breeding the common
stock. By using a thoroughbred boar
upon the common sows, you get a half-
blood that does very well for feeding
Eurposes, which can be further improved
y selecting the best sow pigs, feeding
them liberally, and again getting a thoroughbred boar and using on them, which,
if practiced a few years, will produce
porkers equal to the pure blood. But
graded or impure males should never be
used, as the tendency is to run back to
the scrub. The thoroughbred, if purchased young, can be had from $25 to $30
each. He can be used one season and
sold or castrated and fed, when he will
of himself almost or quite pay for his
original cost.
At first thought, to many, thc price
for a pure blooded pig may seem nigh,
but, really, it is better to pay the prioe
than let your sows go to a scrub for
nothing. Say you pay $25 for a boar,
and breed twenty sows. They will raise,
say one hundred^ pigs, which is a low
estimate. The pigs then cost you twenty-five cents apiece, and will make hogs
that will weigh at fattening time, one
hundred to two hundred and fifty pounds
more than scrubs (which grade pigs will
do on the same feed). You have, therefore, an increase of value, of from $300
to $700 in one year, with the price of]
pork at $8 per hundred, and you have '
your boar left. Can you invest your,
money at a larger per cent.?—American '
Swine and Poultry Journal.
is
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