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not prepossessing, and a strong repugnance to permit any uncomely mongrel to supercede the noble horse has seriously interfered with their introduction into this county. They were, therefore, slow in gaining a foothold among us. Now they have some fast friends who regard them as indispensable helpmates in the work of the farm-as reliable and enduring slaves, and as profitable stock to raise and feed for market. The slow progress of their introduction, and their numbers and value, will be seen by the following table:

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The quality of the cattle of this county does not compare favorably with the quality of our horses, our sheep or our hogs. The infusion of improved blood, by crosses of our common cattle with other breeds, has not made much progress. More attention to this important branch of good farming has been given within the last ten years than during the twenty preceding years. Although men can be impressed with the fact that the value of our stock would be enhanced in four years fifty per cent. by judicious crossing with the finer breeds of cattle, yet there seems to exist an inveterate repugnance on the part of some, who are abundantly able to expend money for the accomplishment of so great an improvement. There are some who appreciate goot stock, and who feel the importance of setting a good example before those who, from obstinate prejudices and selfish but short-sighted views, are unwilling even to promote their own interests. Progress has been made in the right direction, and sooner or later we shall have good cattle in abundance. The breeds which have received attention from our farmers, are Shorthorn Durhams, Devons and Ayreshires. The former breed has been more extensively used for crossing than both the others. Devons have been purchased by some under the singular delusion that they stand pre-eminent as a breed of cattle for milk. Those who so highly commend the Devon for their milkiag properties, would most likely disparage the Ayreshire cow as a good

milker. Crosses, however, with Devons, even if made under mistaken views, will accomplish good results, and may induce our farmers to consider the propriety of making further experiments in crossing and improving their stock, even at the cost of a few dollars well invested.

As it will be seen, by examination of a table hereafter given, our stock of cattle has been fearfully reduced in numbers within the last eleven years. In 1855 we had 20,914 head of cattle, while now our numbers have been very improvidently reduced to 14,781. This is an actual reduction of thirty-three per cent. in eleven years. This great falling off has very unwisely been permitted to take place, notwithstanding the increase of our own immediate population, and the exceedingly rapid increase of Cincinnati, and of all the principal cities in the country, which are constantly making greater demands upon farmers for beef. The numbers of our cattle should at least grow with the increase of our population. But it has not been so with us. If our cattle had increased correspondingly with our population since 1855, we should now have, in Butler county, 24,716 instead of 14,781.

The above reduction, from 20,914 in 1855, to 14,781 in 1866, is not only injudicious and improvident, but if correspondingly continued, will tend to the serious impoverishment of our soil, and must reduce our position from a first class producing county to one of the second class. The high prices which meats, of every kind have commanded, has unwittingly induced our farmers to sell, not only their aged cattle, but their calves. They have not only parted with the golden egg, but they have foolishly sold the hen that laid it. The places of the aged cattle, made into beef, have not been filled by younger stock, raised upon the farm. On the contrary, a short-sighted and avaricious policy has induced many to destroy their capital, by selling off all their calves for veal, instead of bestowing upon them extra care, to make them more than fill the places of those previously and properly sold. By this cause our cattle have decreased at the rate of more than five hundred head per annum, for the last eleven years.

As a general rule, every good system of mixed husbandry, in order to be profitable and promotive of the permanent productiveness of the soil, should be based upon the amount of manures that may be relied upon from the domestic animals maintained upon the farm. No arbitrary rule as to the number to be kept can be definitely fixed. All such rules would be liable to frequent modifications, depending upon the character of the soil, the climate, the grains grown, the grasses produced, and numerous other important considerations. Besides, temporary circumstances might, for a brief season, justify a departure from any well considered rule which may have proven to be generally correct.

In this climate, with our highly productive soil, alike suitable for grains and grasses, it can not be unsafe to prescribe, as a general rule, that the

number of our domestic animals should bear that proportion to our population which is found to be wise and appropriate in foreign countries, less productive than ours; which proportion to population may be modified by the extent of area upon which such populations, respectively, may be found to exist.

Let us see, therefore, what proportion the cattle of other countries bear to their population, and what proportion they bear to the aggregate number of acres in such countries, so far as we can find the necessary data for giving the proportion.

In Great Britain to every head of cattle, they have

31-5

of population.

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As our population is much less dense in Ohio than in the above named foreign countries, and our ability to feed stock is far superior to their ability, it is apparent that our cattle in Ohio are not so numerous as they should be. The proportion of cattle to population in Butler county, as it existed in 1855, was no better, all things being considered, than that above given for Ohio. The present exhibit, therefore, for Butler county, is reprehensibly low. Our number of cattle ought to be speedily increased, for our credit as well as our profit.

The number of acres of land to each head of cattle, as found to exist in foreign countries, will enable us to determine, by another rule, whether we have a sufficient number of cattle in Ohio and in Butler county.

The following table is therefore compiled, showing the acreage in English statute acres, in the countries named, number of cattle in each, and the number of acres to each head, and showing the same in Ohio and Butler county at two different periods:

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If we rightly estimate our productive ability to sustain a large amount of stock, the great and increasing demand at renumerative prices for cattle in every condition, and their value in providing the most reliable means for maintaining the fertility of our soil, we cannot hesitate to come to the conclusion that Ohio as well as Butler county, has been pursuing an unwise policy, in not maintaining and increasing her stock, not only in number, but in quality.. The population of Butler county was in 1855, 33,301, and is now 39,349; and yet while this increase of population of 6,048 has taken place, our cattle have decreased from 20,914 to 14,781!! We should resolve speedily to regain our former position, and then put forth new energies, to make our county one of the best counties in the West for the production of beef and milk.

No carefully conducted experiments have been made to determine the most economical mode of raising and fattening stock. The general custom of bestowing as little attention upon the stock of the farm as possible often prevails. We have, however, many exceptions where intelligent and well directed efforts are given to increase the number and to improve the quality of our cattle.

The number of marauding cattle found upon the public roads has sensibly decreased. The law upon that subject has had a salutary effect, not only in restraining the wayward footsteps of famished cattle, but in educating their owners to a higher sense of their obligations to their neighbors. Yet there are sore heads who have not yet become reconciled to the necessity of caring for the property, the rights or the comfort of others.

The following table will give the number and value of the cattle in this county since 1843:

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THE BREEDING AND FATTENING OF HOGS

is an important branch of the business of farming as conducted in this county. No county in the United States of equal area has produced so

many hogs of a superior quality as the county of Butler. The breed which is so highly esteemed by our farmers is the result of careful and judicious breeding, conducted by our best breeders in this county, and the adjoining county of Warren, for the last forty years.

The precise history of the method adopted to produce this popular breed of hogs, cannot be given as fully and as reliably as its present value and importance demand. The best information of a reliable char◄ acter which can be obtained, gives us to understand that as early as about 1820, some hogs of an improved breed were obtained and crossed upon the then prevailing stock of the county. Among the supposed improved breeds of hogs, there were the Poland and Byefield. They are represented as being exceedingly large hogs, of great length, coarse bone and deficient in fattening properties. Subsequently more desirable qualities were sought for, and the stock produced by the crosses with Poland, Byefield and other breeds, underwent very valuable modifications by being bred with an esteemed breed of hogs then becoming known, and which were called the Big China. They possessed important qualities in which the other breeds were sadly deficient. At a later period, Mr. Wm. Neff, of Cincinnati, an extensive pork-packer, and fond of fine cattle and hogs, made some importations of fine stock from England. Among them were some Irish Graziers. They were white in color, of fair size, fine in the bone and possessing admirable fattening properties. Berkshires, about the same time, were attracting much attention, and both breeds were freely crossed with the then existing stock of the county. The result of these crosses was highly advantageous in the formation of a hog of the most desirable qualities. The Berkshires had obtained, with many breeders, great favor, while others objected to them, because they thought them too short and too thick in the shoulder. Nevertheless the Berkshire blood was liberally infused into our stock of hogs, but in such a judicious manner as to obviate the objections urged against them, and to secure their conceded good qualities.

Since the formation period of our breed of hogs as above stated, there have been no material or decided innovation upon the breed thus ob. tained. Our breeders have carefully selected and judiciously bred from the best animals thus produced among us. Wherever defective points have been apparent, they have been changed by careful breeding. There has been for many years no admixture of any other breed of hogs. Our own breed is now, and has for nearly thirty years, been the stock predominant in this county. Our breeders believe that they have a well established breed of hogs which is unsurpassed in the most desirable qualities of a good hog. This breed of hogs, although of recent origin, may be regarded as thoroughly and permanently established. They have been bred so long and with such judgment and uniform success, that they may be

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