ly in our own work,
and feel that it has given a most appreciable contribution to the weight
and general quality of our cattle.

In the last few years the Brahma cattle have come into prominence, and
every investigation that I have made shows that they will undoubtedly
prove a great factor in the evolution of Florida cattle. They seem to be
immune to most of the pests and do not require as much in the way of
acclimatization. They show a wonderful growth in yearlings and they mark
their progeny with size and distinct characteristics in a most decided
way. The packers seem to like them; they kill out a large per cent of
beef, and while I have never had any experience with them, all my
observation has been in their favor, and I urge you to go as far as you
can in utilizing them in Florida.

I am, however, convinced that you are going to need both the Shorthorn
and the Hereford to combine with them. I am also convinced that both the
Shorthorns and the Black cattle are going to prove very valuable
adjuncts in your eventual work in the State, particularly as applied to
small areas where the cattle are not asked to live as much upon their
own resources. The experience, however, in Texas has been that the calf
crop is not as great from either of these breeds as from the Herefords.

For your information, on the S. M. S. Ranch we have averaged better than
eighty percent calf crop for the last ten years. I think that perhaps
you will find the Brahma cattle even more prolific than the Herefords. I
think, too, that in every possible way you should encourage the breeders
of full-blood cattle in all of these breeds, and that you give them
every encouragement in purchasing their progeny.

The introduction of good bulls is a comparatively simple matter, because
they can be purchased, but a great cow herd can only be produced by
accumulation, probably by a culling of at least ten per cent of all
females every year during the process of up-grading. The yearling
heifers should not be bred. We always cull them when about eighteen
months old, cutting them ten per cent. Culling should be done both from
an individual standpoint and from the standpoint of "Get." The culling
process is the most important element in beef evolution.

The process of culling will not be extravagant, because looking to the
next few years it would seem that canner cattle will probably be as
strong as any other branch of the industry, and these culls are usually
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