The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, February 8, 1917, Page 12

This is a new department of the Leader devoted to news, facts, in- formation and opinions of interest to farmers and farming as & business, Dual Purpose vs. One Purpose Cattle Minnesota Association Sends Hot Shot Into Camp—Is There a Come-Back? Breeders' association has just issued a broadside in the shape of a booklet in defense of dual charac- ter cattle as opposed to single purposo breeds. The booklet is a hot shot from the camp of those who maintain that cattle should be bred both for heef and milk qualities, not for beef alone or dairy purposes alone; “Cattle of a dual character,” says the argument,. “able to produce a copious flow of milk and fatten rapidly THE Minnesota Red Polled Cattle and drop calves that economically grow ™ into the best quality of veal or beef, are the best and most profitable cattle —the ideal breed. This proposition is self evident, needs no argument; to deny it would be absurd.” This is certainly throwing down the gauntlet to advocates of certain breeds for dairy purposes-and certain other breeds for veal and beef. It will he interesting to see the comeback of the other side. The association referred 10 goes on to say: “The claim advanced in apology for the development of special purpoze breeds (milk alone or beef alone), namely that dual character breeds are" an impossibility, we denounce as an iniquitous false theory, contrary to rea- son, science, nature and fact, and a theory which has worked and is work- ing to agriculture and live stock hus- bandry incalculable damage. This de- nunciation rests not on opposing theory alone, but upon that supplemented by actual results accomplished by breed- ‘ers of cattle of the dual character.” OUGHT TO AROUSE OTHER BREEDERS This ought to, arouse the single pur- pose breeders. What have they to say to that? - Continuing, ,the Minnesota association says: “First—All species of animals and plants (all organic life) tend to vary, that is to produce offspring differing in one or more particulars from other in- dividuals of the species. This fact is a matter of common observation. No two animals are exactly alike. “Second—The variations thus pro- duced tend strongly to be inherited by succeeding generations. Like pro- duces like. And furthermore (an im- portant fact), when variations occur the tendency is strong to continue te.. vary in the same particulars until the variations become perfected and fixed in the species. “Third—Natural selection in wild species, and unconscious of methodical selection by man in domesticated races, preserve, through the force of heredity, in future generations, those variations which are an advantage to or an im- provement in the species. We select for breeding the best males and the best females for our purposes, and if we select wisely we improve and de- velop our stock; and such {improve- ment and development may be continu- ed indefinitely, Fourth—The increased use of organs of the body tends to strengthen them, disuse to weaken them. Continued use or disuse of organs produces rapid and marked effects, and these effects are ordinarily inherited. Special purpose breeds are the result of continued neg- leet or disuse of certain organs or funec- tions of the animal body, and the in- creased use of other organs or func- tions, and selection in breeding along the same lines. Thus through inherit- ance the one set of organs becomes ab- normally developed, the other set ab- normally underdeveloped. Such one- sided development {is unnatural, and inevitably leads to deterioration of the breed. And, where those organs which nourish the tissues and put flesh on the body are weakened by continued dis- use in this manner generation after generation, the result must be a breed of weak constitution, involving great susceptibility to tuberculosis, barren- ness and other diseases. DARWIN QUOTED : - FAVORING THEORY “Fifth—The mistaken . theory of special purpose advocates is based on the erroneous supposition that the or- gans of nutrition and the milk produec- Ing organs work in opposition to each other, and upon the principle or law of compensation or economy of growth, by virtue of which the development of the milk organs is imagined to be made This is “King 22072,” champion red polle:i steer, type of dual purpose cat- tle, said to be equally good for dairying purposes and beef and veal. at the expense of the development of flesh production. - The fundamental error of this theory lies‘in this: The organs of nutrition and the milk pro- ducing organs are co-ordinate, not opposite. Or a more correct way to express it would be this: The situation is three cornered. The organs of nu- trition supply nutriment to the mijlk organs to be transformed into milk, and they also supply nutriment to the tissues to be transformed into beef. Now, firstly, these separate functions or operations of the organs of nutrition are not antagonistic to each other, they will and do work together at the same time if sufficient nourishment be fur- nished the animal to supply both these natural demands of its body. Of course- cattle can be selected and bred to turn: all the nourishment one way or the other,-but-that is an unnatural and “harmful procedure, which should be avoided. And, secondly, the law of compensation or econémy of growth does not apply to domestic animals properly bred and fed. This fact knocks the bottom clear out of the special purpose theory, and if anyone doubt the truth of it he is referred to Vol. IL. Darwin’s “Animals and Plants Under Domestication,” chapter XXIV. and XXXVI; Darwin’s “Origin of Species,” chapter V.; also ' “Cattle Breeding” (1890) by William Warfield, sometime staff correspondent of the Breeders’ Gazette. ; “Sixth—The milk producing func- tions and the beef producing functions operating co-ordinately and not an- tagonistically, it necessarily- follows _that both functions may and will be - developed to the highest possible de- gree in one and the.same breed by continued: and proper selection of breeding stock with that object in mind. Such selection is in line with nature (always the best-guide), and Long Time Lodn the Best How to Take Best Advantage of Federal Act (By DR. JAMES E. BOYLE, Field Agent In Marketing, N. D. Experi-- ment Station, in Co-operation with U. 8. Office of Markets.) HE farmer in the Northwest is accustomed to the five-year mortgage, and hence may be a little unwilling to mortgage his farm® for a long period of time, such as 30 or 40 years, as he may do under the new Farm Loan act. But a little care- ful calculation will show that the 40- ‘year loan will be better for him than the five-year loan: First, however, consider the actual situation today. Our average farmer borrows for five y8ars at eight per cent on first mortgage farm security.: At the end of five years he usually has to renew,\and this involves some extra expense, as well as trouble and worry. ‘Worse yet, if he happens to have two poor crop years in'succession, he has a hard time to make his interest pay- ments. If he does make hig interest payments, he generally has to ‘run several heavy store-bills or borrow at the bank to pay current expenses, Now such a farmer will probably - apply for a loan under the new loan act. 'Will he borrow for 5, 10, 20 or 40 years? He ought by all means to bor- " ‘row for 40 years, as I will now illus- trate, 3 Of coursé the borrower will always ‘remember that no matter how long the term of his loan may be, he can pay it off in full any time after five years. Hence when he signs up his mortgage for 40 years, he is only tied for five years, if he is able and willing to pay farmer does not and ecannot pay a mortgage in five years, he ought not to count on doing it. That makes the other extreme—the 40-year loan — best, since the farmer has the option of the time of payment in his own hands. The advantage can be illus- trated by the following two causes: (1) Farmer A borrows, under the new law, $1000 at 6 per cent for ten years. His annual amortization pay- ment is $135.87. But he has two bad ~ years-in succession and gets behind in his payment. On his past due payment the government requires him .to pay 8 per cent interest, and may even declare in case of such a default'the whole of sald loan to be due and payable forth- with. . There is absolutely-no need of the farmer in North Dakota being caught in such a fix. Take the next case. - (2) Farmer B borrows, under the new law, $1000 at 6 per cent 40 ~ years. His annual amortization pay- ment is $66.46. Compare this payment, by the way, with the average farmer's present interest payment on $1000, which is $80. And note'that the $80 pays only interest, but the $66.46 pays both interest and principal: Now if farmer B has two hard years in suc- - cession, he can likely raise the small payment of $66.46, which is all that is required of him. Then when his good years: come, he can apply some extra dollars on his mortgage. By careful management, under thel 40-year plan, he ought to retire his loan in ten years without hardship. The correct prin- ciple, therefore, seems to be—sign up for a 40-year loan, and pay up in ten up that soon:. But because the average -years, or less, if possible, i TWELVE ,out by these methods. produces a rugged, vigorous, well bale anced cattle of strong constitution, great vitality and fectindity.” Now, this is putting the dual advo- cates’. position pretty clearly. *“The Farming Business” page would be glad to hear from the other side. Mbre About Game Laws Cooperstown, N. D., Jan, 29. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Having read the letters of Messrs, Quam and Eiltr in regard to our present game laws, I would also like to add a few lines. I certainly agree with them that the laws are in favor of the city and town sport. The present open season is the busiest time of ths year for the farmer. Then there is another reason why the seasom should open later on chickens and that is for the preservation of the birds. I have just finished reading the fourth biennial report of the North Dakota game and fish board, wherein I notice that they . propose changing the opening date on "~ chickens: to September 20, which. is certainly a move in the right direction, By ‘keeping an early ‘date for the opening of the season we will soon have to put a perpetual closed season on them in order to preserve the species. The reason for this is that 'chickens at our present opening date are not fully matured, which causes them to try, hiding from the hunter instead of mak- ing their getaway. Also they will not fly so fast as later in the season and will usually alight before flying very far. These characteristics give the -hunter. a great advantage over the birds, as will be noticed by their fast diminishing ranks. Add .to this auto- matic guns and trained dogs and you have a combination that spells doom. I have seen covies completely wiped And I care not how much money is taken in for hunt. ing permits, or how well officers inforce. our game laws, unless the hunting sea~ s0on on chickens opens later (giving the birds time to mature, becomes cautious and strong of wing) the dogs are barred and automatic guns forbidden, olr state will go the route other states have gone—they will have to close the season altogether, and right here I would like to mention a mistake that is oftimes made. After a state has protected its birds by an all-cloged season until they become fairly num@*. ous, usually through the influenc' ox the kennel clubs instead of the farmers, they allow hunting with dogs auto- loading guns and what not, until they are ready for an all-closed season again. Just a word In regard to the auto- matic gun. I do not call 3 man a game hog because he shoots an automatie gun, but I do claim it makes a game hog a more successful one. No one likes hunting better than T do, but let us give the birds a chance, But some one.says we have a big limit, which is true, but a law that is hard to ine force can be gotten around in-a nums ber of ways. i . 1 also, like Mr. Eiltr, would like to get a chance at -geese in the spring, but as it s a federal law we ‘will'have to let it go at that. But it certainly. gives the man with the fat bank roll the ad- vantage, as it takes time and. money to go to lakes where geese resort in the fall,’ while in' the spring every farmer has a goose pond on his own fields. I would like to say more on this g8ame subject but as the TI.eader has some very {mportant articles these days I'll quit before I get going. 5 OTTO O. HOFFMANN. S s e NEED LEAGUE THERE : Erhar Editor Nonpartisan Leader: % Mlnn On page 8 in‘your issue of Jan. 11, iy - a picture of a new machine built by the people of North Dakota for the people and operated by the people of North Dakota. I am just aching to see the day come when the people of Minne- " sota will- follow suit and construct a machine of the same model* and type and place it in the state capitol at St Paul, by the people and for the Deople, to do some honest and clean separation for the people of Minnesota, which in 80 badly needed. JOHN KOWALSKL