Transactions of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois with Reports from County and District Agricultural Organizations for the

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 edition. Excerpt: ...is about $2,000. Our Fairs are largely patronized by some three counties in Illinois, and some four counties in Indiana. This being considered the best Fair in Eastern Illinois, it is patronized by stock raisers for thirty or forty miles in every direction. The officers of this Association have always endeavored to influence the patrons of the Fairs to raise the best quality of the useful kinds of stock, and have not, to any great degree, encouraged the raising of fast horses. The result of this policy is, that the most substantial men of the county (those pillars of society, ) are the principal supporters of our Fairs, and stand by the Association through adversity as well as prosperity; and the sportsmen, who cultivate the fast horse, have a very limited influence in the management of the Fairs. Under this enlightened policy rapid strides have been made in the improvement of our stock, as well as in the cultivation of the soil. The neat cattle now raised in the county are among the best raised in the State, or on the continent. A number of breeders of Short Horns annually raise large numbers, and sell them to the farmers at from one hundred to five hundred dollars per head. This stock is dis seminated throughout the county, until traces of it can be seen in almost every animal raised in the county. The beeves annually sent to the New York market from this county, sustain a full share of the reputation which the stock of cattle from Central Illinois has so justly earned. Many of our Short Horns have taken State Fair prizes in this and other States. A few improved Devons have been raised in the county, and are considered a good breed of cattle, taking on flesh rapidly, but are considered too small by most breeders. Our stock ot horses are mostly..