The People And New Hampshire Patriot

SHORT-HORNS
On the Farm of C. G. McAlpine, Henniker.

Mr. McAlpine was born in Concord. He commenced business in Warner in 1847, having since that time had considerable experience in handling ship timber and masts. While in Warner he served as selectman, representative, and county commissioner.

He embarked in raising Short-horns quite early, three years before the boom at the celebrated New York Mills sale, which took place in 1873. Mr. McAlpine was present at that sale, and gave us an interesting and spirited account of the bidding and prices; which cannot be given here for want of space.

He made his first Short-horn purchase of the Winslows. It was Lady Sale, No. 19 vol. 14 American Short-horn herd book. She is red with a little white. Bred by Carlos Pierce, Stanstead, P. Q.—Calved Feb. 10, 1867. Lady Sale has raised a calf every year since she began to breed; having bred three bulls and four heifers before he purchased her, and for him, four heifers in succession, then a bull, and a heifer. She is at present in calf by her own son—Gen. Sale 2nd—the bull now standing at the head of this herd. This famous stock cow is the dam of Mr. Wadleigh's bull, of Meredith, well known to the readers of the People and Patriot. She made a butter record of 16 lbs. in her prime. The Winslows sold about $6000 worth of stock from her while they owned her, and Mr. McAlpine reports sales of her get to the amount of over $3000 and has several hundred dollars worth on hand of hers, and others from her get. Mr. McAlpine sold one calf from this cow for $1600.

His first purchase was a yearling heifer of the Arabella strain, for which he paid $350 from which he has sold about $1200 worth, and has two animals remaining; one of which is a two-years-old heifer which will be disposed of at auction the 18th of this month, with ten other herd book Short-horns, and five grades. (Information regarding sale may be had by addressing Mr. McAlpine, no doubt.) This Arabella is claimed as a milking strain containing a large per cent of Bates blood, running back to Comet, through Kirkleavington bull, and others. He also has in his herd the Yarico blood, also claimed as a milking strain.

The Princess blood predominates in this herd; a very old family, running back in pedigrees to Hubback No. 319, 1st vol. English Herd Book. We have not space to give extended pedigrees of the stock, but will state that the old cow Lady Sale is of pure Princess blood.

A portion of this herd are somewhat out of condition as regards flesh, on account of the dry pastures. The farm on which Mr. McAlpine resides at present is on the hills in the N. E. part of Henniker, and contains some 400 or 500 acres of all kinds of lands; much of it being second growth hard wood. There is probably 40 acres of tillage, some natural mowing, and about 50 acres of swamp land, bordering a pond, some 12 acres of which has been reclaimed. The grass from this meadow is fed, with the English hay, to about 30 head of grade and thorough-bred Short-horns, which comprise the stock kept, with the exception of the family horse. The work is done entirely with oxen and steers, the farm being somewhat stony. The barn, 38x84 is well filled with hay. 7200 lbs. of wheat straw have been sold, and some remains: perhaps a ton and a half. The wheat was affected by the drouth, but the corn does not seem to have suffered. In front of the old fashioned two story house is one of the largest elms in New England.

We had an interesting talk concerning the Sturtevant theory of controlling the sex in breeding, Mr. McAlpine's experience in the practice of in-and-in breeding, and kindred subjects, but can hardly give the substance, even, in this short letter. But we hope to make use of whatever information we glean, from time to time, as we have opportunity.

Will Tell.
Webster, Oct. 1882.