USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo County, Wisconsin > Part 32
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372
AGRICULTURE.
Oxen, at that time considered indispensable for breaking up the new land, to which the name of prairie was given more by compliment, as we may call a model the machine it resembles. Mowing grass was done by hand much longer than harvesting, and the mowing machine was usually at first but a partially disman- tled reaper. All these machines had been invented ten, or even twenty years, before our own first attempts at agriculture, but the. manufacture of it had not yet assumed the gigantic proportions of today's output, and the intrepid agent had not yet taken the name oflegion. He and his brother, the locust, were yet unknown to the Far West, in which our Western Wisconsin was quite naturally in- cluded. The introduction of horses as draught animals, at first scarcely desirable, became so by the improvement of the roads, and the introduction of harvesting, mowing, and especially thresh- ing machines. I suppose that the parties, who started up the first of these machines,-in the Waumandee, I think it was the broth- ers Theodore and Nick Meuli, and they brought their machine from Sauk Co., and took it down there again after finishing here- had to furnish most of the horses, five or six spans, or the few spans then present had to make the circuit through a whole ex- tensive neighborhood. The introduction of this machinery stimu- lated the production of the only staple article considered worthy of cultivation, wheat, almost to exclusiveness. The war and war prices had the same effect. No regard was paid to improvement or even partial rest of any land; it was, or ought to be inexhaust- ible. For years after years the mad race continued, crop after crop was taken and sold, nothing was returned to the land, and - it. came, as every sane person had known it must come; crops be- gan to be light, prices were reduced by poor quality and increased western and foreign competition, debts had accumulated and fail- ures were iminent. Farmers as a class are probably as intelligent as any other class of citizens, but there is one failing which they seem to possess in excess of most other classes of industrials; they do not know of whom to take advice. Philosophic, scientific and philanthropic men,men too, who could not possibly have any selfish motives, had long sounded the alarm against that system of plun- dering and exhaustion, which was practiced by most farmers, but the farmers preferred the advice of the reaper agent, the man that had machinery to sell, whose very business and interest demanded
373
AGRICULTURE.
that the old method of uninterrupted croppings should continue ad infinitum. That the agent, or rather the firm or factory should at length in self-defence be compelled to open the eyes of the blind, to seize upon the securities forfeited by neglect or inability to pay, may not have been to their own taste, but was as naturally the re- sult of the system as the impending or actual bankruptcy of a great many farmers. May be somebody thinks that I have colored this picture too darkly, but let him try and find many pictures of the same subject of brighter colors, and he will soon be convinced, as I have been for some time already, that his task is much more difficult than mine would be, should I try in reality to find still darker pictures. The last ten years have worked a considerable change, not perhaps yet radical enough, while in some cases too abrupt and too radical. Agriculture, begins to occupy that posi- tion of conservative prudence or wisdom, which not only never risks all on one throw of the dice, as we might say, nor wants" the courage to make reasonable risks. Finally there is some venture in every enterprise, courage and calculation are required in any business, failures are possible and not always avoidable, but for agriculture it is safe to say that its permanent success lies in a var- iation of pursuits, without stubborn devotion to one crop or one mode of operation, or blind exclusiveness of any kind.
At the beginning of this chapter I have counted up the pos- sibility of diverse pursuits in the agricultural line as one of our decided advantages. I still think the same way, but this divers- ification can only be brought about by making live stock, that is, the useful domestic animals, the foundation of our farming. Breeding, feeding .and fattening, dairying, all may be practiced more or less extensively side by side, or one or the other predom- inating. Crops of grain need not therefore be excluded, and will certainly be none the worse, if the attention is concentrated upon a smaller space, for which assistance can easily be provided in the. way of manuring, or a change of crops, using the one for a support of another and so forth. I will not write of " What I know about Farning," as Greeley did, for the above is merely a train of re- flections, which I give for what they may be worth to each reader. In the following tables I shall give the statistical collections on the agriculture of Buffalo County contained in the compendium or the collections of the Census of 1885, the one taken by the authority
374
AGRICULTURE.
of the state. I call attention to the fact that agriculture is in these tables considered in the extended sense in which I in the above have suggested that it should be carried on. On a farm every- thing should be carried on for which the situation, the soil, other peculiarities, for instance the accidental training acquired by the owner or some niember of his family in some particular pursuit for which there are materials on hand, may afford an opportunity. A farm can not be a factory, but much may be done on it, which differs from some factory work merely in the amount and in the preparation for it. These tables will eacli in its turn be presented, and remarks and criticism will follow directly after each.
In this I am following the sound pedagogical maxim, that the presentation of the object should be the first step in teaching. Be- fore venturing upon the presentation of the tables I consider a few general remarks appropriate.
1. These statistics were collected in each town by the Town Clerk, who had to report to the Clerk of the County Board of Su- pervisors, who in turn had to report to the Secretary of State.
2. The accuracy of each report depended therefore on the proper understanding of the printed instructions, and the necessary diligence and attention bestowed upon the work by each clerk, and in the transmission through all the different hands until it had passed through the hands of the printer.
3. The reliability of the reports is therefore not absolute, nor can they be unconditionally condemned as useless. One objection to the collection of them in the book is the ridiculous arrange- ment, not by subjects or near relation of such, but simply to ac- commodate matter to the page, as for instance honey is not at all in connection with bees and wax, but on an entirely isolated place, because there was just room for that and no more on that page. I have corrected this as much as possible.
375
AGRICULTURE.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
ACRES OF FARM LAND.
PRESENT CASH VALUE
Im- proved.
Wood Land.
Unim- proved.
of Farm Land
of Farm Imple- ments.
Alma
7,253
2,620
14,447
$ 210,950
$ 9,345
Alma, city.
215
145
240
4,350
Belvidere
7,573
2,888
8,716
148,570
9,420
Buffalo.
3,953
854
6,147
121,050
8,605
Buffalo, city
308
288
235
9,475
1,435
Canton
6,363
2,518
8,693
146,980
7,457
Cross
7,210
6,820
12,454
200,650
12,550
Dover
6,914
3,115
43,618
126,045
8,212
Fountain City
695
925
577
28,900
1,900
Gilmanton
7,989
565
9,830
212,045
14,550
Glencoe.
9,838
1,521
15,914
284,245
15,070
Lincoln
6,644
1,452
10,841
153,900
6,870
Maxville
6,587
2,433
7,185
158,700
6,075
Milton
3,428
3,782
3,664
89,600
10,060
Modena.
7,750
5,541
6,707
212,439
11,543
Mondovi
8,549
1,147
10,406
251,625
15,945
Montana
8,925
2,700
14,815
220,075
13,313
Naples
9,677
1,718
8,322
197,150
12,485
Nelson
7,311
15,376
251,411
14,910
Waumandee
10,013
9,856
2,420
285,100 .
21,965
Total
128,585 50,888 200,637
$3,313,260
$210,710
1
376
AGRICULTURE.
Fractions were omitted. There are a great many apparent contradictions in this table, that is, the table does not, perhaps, contradict itself, but is plainly incompatible with facts. The most glaring mistake, or perhaps misprint, is of the town of Dover. This town consists of a regular government township containing 36 sections or 23,040 acres, exclusive of township fractions on the northside and range line fractions on the west side. The first named fractions amount to about 36 acres for each of six sections -216 acres, the last named are insignificant in this case. We may then set down the area of Dover as 23,260 acres. Of these the report says that 6,914 acres are improved, 3,115 acres are wood- land and 43,618 acres unimproved. It is hardly probable that this mistake originated in the town, but where it did originate I can- not tell. Even after a deduction of 30,000 acres the farmland in the report exceeds the surface of the whole town by about four hundred acres. If we. cut off the last figure, reducing the number of acres of unimproved land to 4,361, we find the farmland to amount to 14,390 leaving 8,870 acres to be accounted, more than one-third of the whole surface, which is to my certain knowledge impossible. Of the town of Nelson no " Wood Land " is reported, yet every one acquainted with that town must admit, that there is as much woodland in it, proportionately, as can be found in any town of the county. It being now the largest town, it certainly ought to report most wood land. Other criticisms might be given but as this would make the chapter tedious, I will stop here, hoping, however, that these remarks are studied by townclerks, and aspirants for this important office, before another state census is to be taken.
The county containing 690 square miles or 441,600 acres, there are 64,490 acres, or adding the 30,000 acres of an error in the town of Dover to it 94,490 acres, or more than one-fifth of the whole surface still to be accounted for. These must be distributed into three classes: 1. The swamplands along the Mississippi and Chippewa Rivers, that could not figure very extensively as farm- lands, but might have been booked to some extent as woodlands, at least as far as they are owned and held by farmers or others for that purpose. This class covers a very considerable part of the above amount. 2. United States or government land, to which might be added railroad indemnity land not yet sold or taken
377
AGRICULTURE.
possession of by farmers. This class I consider the smallest of the three classes. 3. Accidental errors, or actual misstatements made by farmers, not often purposely, but unconsciously. Some, who know, or at least pretend to know, every square inch of their land, will sometimes make guesses at the proportions or the amount that would astonish themselves, if they ever would take the trouble to practice a little addition and subtraction in the matter.
378
AGRICULTURE.
GRAIN.
WHEAT.
CORN.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
Acres.
Bushels.
Value.
Acres.
Bushels.
Value.
Alma
3,242
55,416 $ 32,907
605
17,810
$ 5,650
· Alma, city
105
1,945
1,247
20
690
248
Belvidere
3,228
52,890
31,403
447
10,700
3,241
Buffalo
1,483
23,382
15,581
268
7,875
3,067
Buffalo, city
132
2,110
1,329
80
2,635
894
Canton
1,343
24,528
17,164
938
29,575
11,217
Cross
3,007
46,390
28,023
514
14,130
4,220
Dover
2,092
31,887
19,439
599
14,257
4,437
Fountain City
189
3,190
2,220
37
1,810
540
Gilmanton
2,587
38,916
22,969
1,046
26,125
7,766
Glencoe
3,477
49,403
31,996
987
23,842
7,536
Lincoln
3,771
54,122
28,991
414
10,215
3,035
Maxville
873
14,122
10,354
1,160
43,805
20,301
Milton
1,476
22,419
15,640
225
6,480
1,943
Modena
2,258
25,606
22,957
1,131
29,143
8,840
Mondovi
1,392
19,48I
10,921
1,105
26,090
6,739
Montana
4,601
73,476
44,655
641
20,567
6,130
Naples
1,741
26,630
13,287
1,452
38,645
10,249
Nelson
2,161
36,903
24,784
897
30,386
7,981
Waumandee
4,088
64,796
44,450
1,119
34,800
10,486
Total
43,247 667,612 $420,267 13,687 389,580 $125,520
379
AGRICULTURE.
GRAIN.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
OATS.
BARLEY.
Acres.
Bushels.
Value.
Acres.
Bushels.
Value.
Alma
1,120
46,207
$ 9,215
258
7,976
$ 3,111
Alma, city
44
1,635
248
2
40
16
Belvidere
960
39,990
6,558
161
3,703
1,254
Buffalo.
1,075
23,733
5,787
193
5,078
2,357
Buffalo, city ..
79
1,726
561
Canton
1,353
48,926
12,233
107
2,657
1,063
Cross
1,003
35,521
7,173
295
7,423
2,933
Dover
1,404
36,439
8,521
219
4,378
1,652
Fountain City
93
3,240
927
15
412
225
Gilmanton
1,711
50,441
10,169
273
6,602
2,090
Glencoe.
1,676
45,803
11,537
353
8,453
4,230
Lincoln
980
36,498
9,376
291
7,181
3,967
Maxville
1.220
42,102
10,651
84
1,908
748
Milton
416
13,910
4,013
124
1,927
1,292
Modena
1,448
45,486
10,935
280
6,041
2,536
Mondovi
1,914
44,165
8,470
273
4,945
1,947
Montana
1,614
50,785
11,045
336
8,635
3,469
Naples
2,240
62,455
12,526
266
5,634
2,111
Nelson
1,341
44,676
11,016
134
3,006
1,170
Waumandee
1,821
60,961
12,418
520
16,294
6,628
Total
23,622 734,099 $163,618 4,187
101,343
$42,799
380
AGRICULTURE.
GRAIN.
RYE.
Buckwheat.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
Acres.
Bushels.
Value.
Acres.
Bushels.
Value,
Alma
36
665
$ 249
5
71
$ 51
Alma, city
Belvidere
181
2,510
1,003
5
75
49
Buffalo
29
439
185
1
23
18
Buffalo, city
18
361
182
Canton.
73
1,124
562
10
167
83
Cross
2
32
16
13
198
86
Dover.
89
963
390
15
174
95
Fountain City
4
60
30
Gilmanton
96
1,045
413
14
205
65
Glencoe.
91
1,329
658
44
193
166
Lincoln
39
710
342
Maxville
115
1,212
595
106
1,114
681
Milton
300
4,467
2,222
15
210
95
Modena
18
185
92
24
291
151
Mondovi
18
475
208
34
391
102
Montana.
92
1,444
584
9
77
35
Naples
99
1,082
508
54
416
84
Nelson
26
360
152
33
436
285
Waumandee.
70
1,591
710
Total
1,398
20,054
$ 9,101
385
4,041
$ 2,046
381
AGRICULTURE.
After having given the table of acreage, I think it most nat- ural to let the tables of crops follow immediately, as crops are es- timated by the number of acres devoted to each. The number of acres of cultivated or improved land is 128,585, of which 88,245 are reported to have been devoted to crops of all kinds, leaving 40,340 acres unaccounted for. This number, not much less than one-third of the whole amount, must be credited to meadows, cul- tivated grasses, pastures and clover fields. It is not a bad propo- sition, nor do the crop reports present such very great variations and contradictions as I had to criticize in the reports on the gen- eral acreage. Incongruencies, of course, there are, but not of suf- ficient importance to affect general results. The next preceding tables treat of the grain crops. The number of acres of grain of all kinds is 86,526, while the other crops occupied not more than 1,719 acres. Of the grains wheat occupied 43,247 acres, only 16 acres less than one-half of the whole area. Next to it comes oats 23,622 acres, or 1,999, in round numbers 2,000, acres more than one-half of the wheat area. Corn figures with 13,687 acres, or 729 ares less than one-third of the wheat area, which seems to me somewhat exaggerated, but may nevertheless be true. Corn, as everybody knows, must be reckoned among the risky crops in our climate requiring, as it does, a warm summer and exemption from late frosts in spring, and early ones in fall, to be successful. It is cer- tainly interesting to know, how much was realized, on the average from each acre of the different grains. The following is a state- ment according to the Tables: (Fractions of cents are omitted.) Wheat $9.70; Corn $9.82; Oats$6.50; Barley $10.22; Rye $6.51; -- Buckwheat $5.34. 1
Thus it appears that barley was the best paying crop, while corn was 12 cents per acre ahead of wheat, oats and rye nearly equal, and buckwheat least. But in the emuneration of the last named there is one item, which differs so much from the others as to suggest a mistake somewhere. 44 acres in the town of Glen- coe are reported to have yielded only 193 bushels valued at $166.00. The yield in all other towns shows over 10 bushels to the acre, while in Glencoe it is less than 5 bushels. On the other side the valuation per bushel runs all the way from about one-third of a dollar to about two thirds, in Glencoe it reaches 85 cents. Where the mistake is, I can not say, but the enumeration of the value
382
AGRICULTURE.
must be nearer right than that of the bushels. Both, however may be wrong. I have already expressed my opinion, that these tables, and consequently the averages derived from them, are not absolutely reliable, yet they are the latest to be had, and must answer our purpose for want of better ones.
ROOTS.
POTATOES.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
Acres.
Bushels.
Value.
Acres.
Bushels.
Value.
Alma
17₺
99
$ 244
754
7,406
$ 2,248
Alma, eity
5
355
142
Belvidere
23g
700
70
110}
8,830
2,640
Buffalo
24
215
45
84₴
10,583
3,929
Buffalo, eity
151
2,092
699
Canton
80毫
8,463
3,285
Cross .
86
9,063
2,741
Dover
27
1,448
302
445
5,318
1,593
Fountain City
Not stated
365
129
Gilmanton
9
1,700
245
76
7,202
2,313
Gleneoe
13₺
556
202
98
9,107
2,585
Lineoln
21}
909
182
70₮
5,910
1,893
Maxville
2
200
30
434
5,047
1,262
Milton
12}
714
148
474
4.710
1,343
Modena
.00
Not
stated.
Not stated.
97₺
8,115
1,527
Montana
5
180
29
77₺
5,670
1,721
Naples
15
360
57
76
6,612
1,679
Nelson
94
865
140
71₺
7,759
2,632
Waumandee
74₺
8,012
3,214
Total
168₺
9,205
$ 1,796 1308₺ 126,272
$39,307
..
368
92
75%
5,653
1,732
Mondovi
383
AGRICULTURE.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
BEANS AND PEAS.
SORGHUM.
Acres Bushels
Value.
Acres ¡Gallons.
Value.
Alma
27
$45.00
Alma, city
Belvidere
1
10
10.00
14₺
890
$253.00
Buffalo
ส
45
65.00
Buffalo, city
5%
787
424.00
Canton
1 {
45₴
45.75
12
706
282.40
Cross
27
11.00
Dover
105
122.75
563
184.00
Fountain City
Gilmanton
64
105
203.00
39
4,655
1,390.00
Glencoe
Lincoln
41
14.00
Maxville
7}
50
89.00
16%
770
318.00
Milton
1
46
46.00
59
30.00
Modena
14}
109}
141.00
23
118
44.00
Mondovi
Not
Not stated.
144
1,292
351.20
Montana
6층
52₺
49.65
8
549
257.00
Naples
22%
362
382.50
40毫
2,190
905.00
Nelson
Waumandee
Total
71월
921 꽃
$1,080.85
158% 12,647 $4,463.60
This concludes the enumeration of field crops, or such as are estimated by the acre. A careful examination will show that the tables on Beans and Peas, on Roots and on Potatoes are capri- ciously contradictory, so that a digest of them is not worth while. Something similar we must say of the table on Sorghum, when
stated
384
AGRICULTURE.
we find that 5} acres in one town yield 787 gallons, while 12 acres in another yield only 706 gallons. Differences there are and must be in the yield per acre, of this or any other crop, but for such glaring ones we can not account by anything reasonable, hence we refuse to believe them. Taking, however, the reports as they are and for what they may be worth, we find that the greatest amount for any town in the different crops is distributed as follow:
CROP.
TOWN.
BUSHELS.
Wheat
Montana 73,476.
Corn
Maxville
43,805.
Oats
Naples
. 62,455.
Barley
Waumandee 16,294.
Rye.
Milton
4,467.
Buckwheat.
Maxville
1,114.
Beans and Peas
Naples
326.
Roots
Gilmanton
1,700.
Potatoes
.Buffalo
10,583.
Sorghum .Gilmanton 4,655 Gallons.
In the next following table we will bring the more important seeds raised in the fields and converted into commercial articles. -
385
AGRICULTURE.
SEEDS.
CLOVER SEED.
TIMOTHY SEED.
FLAX SEED.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
Bushels.
Value.
Bushels.
Value,
Bushels.
Value.
Alma
Alma, city
Belvidere
4
$ 20:00
Buffalo.
Buffalo, city
Canton.
18₺
74.00
30
$ 30.00
Cross
Dover
24
9.00
33}
43.00
Fountain City
Gilmanton.
14
71.00
48
63.00
Glencoe
Lincoln
6
23.00
62₺
93.00
Maxville
2₺
12.50
38₺
54.00
Milton
Modena
144}
772.00
37₺
45.00
Mondovi
9%
35.00
3
3.00
Montana
10
36.00
16
21.30
30
$ 60
Naples
3
12.00
66
68.00
Nelson.
8
40.00
20
37.00
Waumandee
Total
2224 $1104.50
357 $ 457.30
30
$ 60
..
These seed crops, though raised in the fields, are more or less accidental, and can not be considered as regular. There is, how- ever, no reason, why flaxseed should not become a regular crop. It is also to be regretted, that flax should not be cultivated for
386
AGRICULTURE.
its fiber, as well as for its seed, and that there is not in our neigh- borhood any establishment, in which they are utilized as raw ma- terial for manufacturing purposes.
FRUITS.
APPLES.
GRAPES.
BERRIES.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
Bushels.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Bushels
Value.
Alma
60
$ 53
300
$ 21
5
$ 5
Alma, city
Belvidere
200
196
13,510
676
Buffalo.
310
235
4,000
245
Buffalo, city ..
7
5
Canton
17
8
Cross
1,300
130
Dover
171
118
Fountain City
252
151
17,400
1,090
Gilmanton
260
211
Glencoe
102
102
Lincoln
72
72
Maxville
67
34
Milton
142
116
620
40
Modena
188
105
5
20
Mondovi
115
250
Montana
214
135
Naples
10
9
383
847
Nelson
145
71
2,200
154
5
20
Waumandee
Total
2,217
$ 1,621
39,330
$ 2,356
625 $1,575
112
433
387
AGRICULTURE.
Before I could believe the report in this table as to the amount of bushels of apples, I would insist on accurate measure- ment, although I wish that the actual amount might be a hundred times as large as the one reported. It is one of the well founded objections to our section of country, that the larger fruits are not to be depended upon, no matter what care is taken with the trees. Some few localities seem to be almost created purposely for fruit trees and and apple trees do for a while grow finely, but all at once they wilt and wither, and nobody seems to be any wiser for the experience. The report on grapes is more reliable but seems to be incomplete, as some towns report nothing, that to my certain knowledge produce a creditable amount. So for instance, there seem to be neither apples, nor grapes, nor other berries, in the City of Alma, which is not true especially with regard to grapes.
BEES.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
No. of Colonies.
Value.
Pounds of Wax.
Pounds of Honey.
Value.
Alma.
20
$ 113.00
60
390
$ 49
Alma, city
Belvidere
Buffalo
10
59.00
10
Buffalo. city
Canton
21
125.00
100
Cross
5
25.00
Dover
69
344.00
145
Gilmanton
24
212.00
3,050
413
Lincoln
30
143.00
20
2,400
376
Maxville
140
1,049.00
215
750
215
Milton
6
31.00
6
954
95
Modena
28
140.00
2,700
405
Mondovi
13
71.55
25
40
4
Naples
2
10.00
375
49
Nelson
104
544.00
637
100
12
Waumandee.
4,435
573
Total.
526 $3,169.55
1,230 15,194
$ 2,191
Fountain City
54
310.00
12
Glencoe.
Montana
388
AGRICULTURE.
After the study of Buffalo County statistics I suppose a man should not be surprised at anything not even if the town of Wau- mandee produces 4,435 pounds of honey without keeping any bees, or five towns containing together 159 colonies, do not produce an ounce of honey. But statistics say so! Must be true, then.
I can not close the account of crops in this county without some further reflections.
Among other things I have omitted the table on Tobacco, see- ing that there was only one iteni in it of 2 acres, estimated crop 2,000 pounds, valued at $200. This crop, I understand, is on the increase, and may become profitable in certain situations, and in seasons long enough to permit of its maturing properly. It is, however, an exhausting crop, which requires heavy manuring and a strong soil.
I find a tabulation of the "Value of all other products not hereinbefore enumerated." I can't imagine what these products might be, unless pumpkins, squashes, cabbages and other garden truck is meant, which, I regret to say have been inadvertently omitted on the list. Whatever may be the material, the amount of such products is $4.515 for the whole county, reported from only three towns. Whether there were not " some pumpkins" in the other towns, who knows?
The list of men employed in agricultural pursuits will be found as the last of the tables and its remarkable statements and other merits duly considered. The census, of course, in its bril- liant arrangement, put it close to the table of implements, probably because " men " are only live implements.
The most important branch of civilized husbandry, after the cultivation of cereals, is the care of the domestic animals, be the same for the ultimate use of the flesh as meat for food, or for the purpose of assistance in the necessary work of tillage, or any other work required on a farm, for transportation or other purposes. Neat Cattle including the bull and cow and their offspring, are most important domestic animals, inasmuch as they afford a more various utilization than any other class. Oxen are a very useful class of draught-animals, which, especially during the earlier years of the settlement of this region, were deservedly esteemed. At the present time working oxen are scarce, and steers are only kept three or four years, that is, as long as they grow, and their flesh
389
AGRICULTURE.
accumulates and matures rapidly. Cows are but exceptionally used as draft animals in this country, but in many others it is dif- ferent. Cows we keep for their milk, of which, as far as is not used fresh, we manufacture cheese and butter, and for breeding, converting their carcasses into beef, whenever they do not, or no longer, prove profitable alive. 'Calves are not very frequently sold to the butcher for veal so that even the local demand for that kind of meat is seldom sufficiently supplied. The subjoined table would be more interesting if it would present specific columns in- stead of the gross aggregation of cattle under one name, all the distinction being between those living and those killed.
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