Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-03-18

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BLuEnrLL. March 9TH. co.

To THE Size. OF THE HANCOCK AGKi-
CULTURAL SocIErr:-will you publish in
the Agricultural Department of the Amer
toqa your views h, regard to which are the
best breeds of cattle and sheep for cur
county and obiigs al
OLD FARMER.
1t would give me great pleasure to i'm
part the information desired, cid possess
it. But, am not ambitious to act as UNI |
pire in matters which mighs provoke Bit
ter controversy. Again, there is an indef-
nateness in the Inquiry Of "Old Farmer.
For. to determine the question. OF the "oest
breeds" we must decide. first the purposes
for which such breeds are intended. II
the primary object be for the production of
beef or mutton. that's one thing. but II for
milk. butter. cheese or wool, it will be
very different thing.
Perhaps. "Old Farmer" intended to give
wide range to our thoughts and II So
then. have TO say. that have some de-
ci,ied ..yiew," in relation to this great ques-
ton OF the breeds best for our Connty.
views. fortified bt fac.s, figures and ex-
pcriences OF some OF the best English anu
German farm
believe that our county-as whole
lies outside Of the beef-producin2 zone.
Our winters are too long-our summers too
short. and our pastures too poor. TO grow
beet to pr, fit. we want rich pastures. and
onick growers; breed which takes ON size
with rapidly. The feeding-grcunds must
supply the wants Of the body at the least
expenditure of locomotion. fo- exercise
beycnd given amou i. becomes labor.
which il Il consumer Of flesh. IL larger
the animal. the more ground IL must travel
over to gather its food-the moro 1t must
labor to fill its belly.
Chooslng standard OF Professor Play
fairs for maxim: comparisons between the
weight OF the body AL the m mechanical ell
forts TO carry Ii a given distance. We find
that an animal of 600 pounds weight trav-
cling over two acres Of pasture, meets with
a resistance equal 10 carrying 25.3ol
pounds weight a distance OF one foot. aud
IN feeding over three acres, aus menis it Ia
5000 pounds. And. il an :.nilnal oi Coo
pounds weight feeding over two acres OF
gro md meets resistance equal to 2i.3u2
pounds, an animal OF 1000 pounds feeding
over three acres. meets 4 resistance Of 3l5-
.6ll pounds. II will be seen by these ii =
urcs. that the difference OF 80 per cent.
,hit i, the difference between these two
areas i. equal 10 an AL litionll labor OF oue
third. - that an aniainl iced n. over three
.c. 10 &c. is ill. mas; perform l-3 labor
more thIn A ali.ntl sla,i-l with the
herb tye Of tno acres. aud besides thi- ~x-
ira labor there is los, OF l-]l in tie pro .
dlc. OF beef or b ltter or vol.
A .ain. il has been shown. tina; an ami
mai consumes l.. OF its live weight weekly
ortwo per cent duly. rlI, an amin a
weighing sd ponnd- require, Ill ponnd,
per week or lG IL, OF food every day. while
one wrig Ainy l11) pounds. would consume
li3 pounds each week. or p pounds lfrlc-
lions omi,tcd) each day. hence, how evil
dent, THAI the largc- animal must travel
over IN re pasture, aud labor harder than
the sn al one.
In the ii h pastures of Kentucky and
Texas and eva. in Western New York. two
acres per COW are deemed 10 be sufli .ieat.
while in our oaniy many COW has to
travel miles. up snd down hills in arch OF
weeds and rough and coarse heritage to
satisfy their hunger. Why expend money
for large animals, when our pastures i'll
but barely carry the smaller ones:
There Is q saying among the Scotch farm
ers, that VIVA. goes down the throat mai es
the BREED While this should be taken
with some degree OF allowance, 1t conveys
an important lesson. for, it is Beyond con :
tradict'n. that with proper feeding aud care
our cows. OF some breed. and no brec d,
might be made to double ther quantity OF
milk and butter. But few have any con-
cep,ion of the different nutritivc values {,
food and the value Of such 4 knowledge
Practically applied. A COW cannot be in
duced TO consume the quantity of hay re.
CURED for her maintenance, a-d for fail
yield Of milk. Yet. how many farmer
Instead Of raising roots as food for dair,
purposes, seem ia avoid them.
Again, there Is value in breed. As a
consequence offs variety OF -oil and eli
mate. we have 4 variety Of products in the
animal. as we'll as in the vegetable king
dom. IL this, Nature creates no rivalry
but advantageous harmony. And il Is most
wise for each section 10 grow those pro-
duet, peculiar 10 IT, Butter. cheese and
wool. being then the peculiar products-or
should be-of our county. 10 make them
profitable article Of growth. manufacture.
and export. We must begin At the begin
NM. by sei.-ctiag those breeds tie Gle
ments Of whose food are naturally convert
ed INTO what Is desired.
SIC. ii. A. :.