Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-08-06
agricultural.
tYsA Ofal as Food for Stock.

Fish OIal as Food for stock.
Now kind reader don't turn up your
nose at the very thought OF the idea Sug-
gested by the above title-don't say fudge!
and humbugl and pooh, pooh! but read,
accept and be convinced, that is if the facts
presented warrant a conviction. There
is nothing impossible in this nineteeth
century.
Among the new ideas advanced and
facts elected by the essays and discussions
before the last session of the Board oil
Agriculture, were some valuable and
somewhat novel ones in regard to the use
of fish as food for farm stock and ami
mails. | will admit at first thought 1t
seems to be ridiculous idea that sheep
or cow could be fed on fish, and that
they will not only live but thrive and grow
fat and fond of it. In fact when the sub
ject was first brought before the Board,
many of the members were disposed 20
ridicule the idea, and to consider it un-
worthy of being brought up for discussion,
but such discussion and the testimony OF
those who know whereof they speak, from
that best of teachers, experience, has
proved that not only is il a subject wor-
thy of notice, but it is fact which cam
not be gainSaid Several years expert
ence by the farmers of the sea shore
towns in the eastern section of the State
has proved beyond doubt or cavil that
sheep may be wintered, and well winter
ee too, by feeding them on fish, adding
Just enough straw or poor hay for cud.
The liSh is usually fed in the form of chum
or the refuse of porgles or herring, from
which the oil has been expressed by the
FISH oil manufacturer
There is large business done in many
of our SCaShoie towns in manufacturing
this oil from these FISH. especially porgies,
which ut certain seasons OF the wear swarm
in myriads in the bay, along the coast and
are very fat. They are caught in ScineS
and nets. taken to the mandatory. steam
cd and the oil removed by pressure, and
the residue known : Chum j. barre led
up and sold for feeding sheep or f,r u an-
ure for the fields | is fed while flesh
and green, and applied 10 the So. if .er-
mentation has set in. Ii is very vllu. Die
as a manure, producing heavy continued
crops
Ii seems from analysis that this chum Is
very rich in heterogeneous materials which
are 80 necessary to sustain animal life
during the cold season. Sheep are said
TO eat il greedily after once becoming
accustomed to it. and COWS are fond oft
II is especially valuable Tor poultry. hens
fed upon 1t, producing more eggs than
from other diet. Some experiments viii
be made and reported al the next session
Of the Board in regard to its value for
neat stock. especially mi'ch COWS. 80
far it has been mo,'l fed 10 sheep and
poultry.
Fish are not always ted in the form of
chum, bat often The whole fish have been
fed ont, especially to sheep, and they 81,
them with a,idi,y, The manure from
stock fed with this article j. said To be
very valuable as it i rich in those cle-
ments which 20 to make up our most
costly AMI popular commercial manureS
and special fertilizers 1t increases The
fat forming capabilities otthe animalvery
materially when fed cut literally.
A. it comes from the press in the form
OF chum or pomace it brings about q
dollar barrel. Ia this form it is tit for
feeding to stock Aher it Is dried and
pulyerized it is in condition 10 be used FOR
manure. and by the way. parties acting
Is agents Tor Western manufacturing
companies have been along our coast
purchasing the refuse fish ofrl and pay
Ing from ten 10 twenty dollars ton forit.
II is sent to the factories, worked over,
and changed into suPer-pho>phates and
special manures, tor which farmers pay
from fifty to seventy-ive dollar, OF more
per ton.
Feeding fish to herbivorouS animal, is
one of the new thing under the sun and
judging from the results of what expert
ment, have been made The plan Will be-
come common and lie found TO pay in
those sections of the country where the
fish can be cheaply obtained know it
seems to be in opposition to the laws Of
nature for our farm stock to take on
carnivorous habits, but such seems to be
the fact There may be mole in these
things. brother farmers. than has ever
been deamed ofin our philosophy
Belfast. 1869. Gro. +. b.
FoHaHidaia ia Horses.