The Old Time Farm Magazines: Cookies Without Eggs, Improving Live Stock and Feeds

Image Gallery These old farm magazines have a bit of advice for just about everyone. ILLUSTRATION: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF

Reprinted by permission from Successful Farming, copyrights 1909, Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. 

Improving Live Stock

The annual live stock exhibitions each year show many excellent types of animals of different breeds. Did you ever stop to think that many of these fine animals represent years of patience in selection and breeding. The process has not been a rapid one. Especially is this true with horses and cattle. Much clear thinking, judicial mating and careful feeding has been employed along definite lines for a period of years. Many a successful breeder will tell you of disappointments in results expected and that much money has been lost in attempting to accomplish a certain result in the process of breeding. They will also tell you that in many instances the breeder has aimed at a mark when the ammunition in the gun was not sufficient to hit the object aimed at.

A certain line of breeding to be successful must have back of it well known traits in ancestry that in breeding will perpetuate desired qualities in the offspring.

The improvement of our live stock, like farm machinery, has been slow but sure. It has taken years to produce types of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. It will take years more to improve along certain lines, before desired results will be obtained.

It pays to buy well bred stock, even at what may seem to be fancy prices. The farmer may think that the amount asked for a single individual is much beyond reason but if he figures out the capital invested on the ancestry of the animal to be purchased he will find that the price asked is reasonable.

In selecting a pure bred animal, individual characteristics as well as pedigree should be looked to. The breeder who is conscientious should use the knife when necessary and not sell inferior animals because of pedigree and the desire for the profit the transaction will bring.

The time to begin to improve all live stock is now. The demand for better stock is increasing every year and he who would be successful must meet this demand.

Feeding Brood Sows.

A good brood sow may be kept until seven or eight years old with profitable results. They need a great variety of food while carrying their young and a good deal of nourishing food with some milk while the pigs suck. Sows that have not had a balanced ration are quite apt to eat their pigs when they come along. The growing of the pigs has robbed the sow's system and she has a craving appetite. Give a nourishing diet with some animal food for two months before farrowing. Salt the food a little. — W. W. Maxim, Oxford Co., Me.