Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-12-21
Irasburqh Farmers Club,

The Farmers Club IL district No. met
to reorganze and appoint new officers for
the year ensuing, but by vote of those
present, the appointment of officers was
deferred one week, when the club and all
others interested therein are requested to
meet at the red school house, in Geo. B.
Brewster's district, at Is o'clock The club
then called for question, when the fol-
lowing was proposed and adopted:
The Most Economical and Profitable
Way and Manner of Wintering our various
kinds of Stock.
E. B HiA-The first great interest to us
in wintering stock for profit, is to start with
no more stock than we can feed or shelter
well all winter, or at least eight months
here in Vermont, where the thermometer
is liable to freeze up or blow away any day
or night in the year. We are too apt to start
with too much stock for our fodder; when
that is the case we usually have to sell off
part of it in February or March for less
price than we could have got in the fall
for the same animal and then have to
pinch the rest of our stock through until
grass grows, when it will take all summer
to get our stock up to as good standard
as it was the year before. Here is one
years growth lost; also one years feed,
time, and trouble, besides the interest and
taxes on capital invested. This method
cannot be economical or profitable at the
present day. This style of wintering stock
is not generally practiced, though some
stick to the cd school practice.
Geo. B Brewster.-The first thing in
economy and profit in wintering stock here
in Vermont, is good barns and stables to
house our stock and products in, and also
our manure. The next thing in economy
is to start with no more stock than we have
sufficient food for, so that we can make our
stock gain in winter as well as in summer.
We should raise more roots to feed in win
ter; think We can feed most of our straw
to advantage and profit if we will feed
roots with it but we are too apt to try tC
keep too much stock where our winters
are so long. Cows are my principal stock
and cannot keep them too well.
B. F To,cer-I think the ideas which
have already been already advanced OF
this question are as good as any | have, a!
l have never had great experience in stool
raising, though l think the better I keeE
my stock the better it pays me. Ny stool
has been mostly sheep; was raised anC
brought up in sheep country, and my ex
perience in wintering stock has been most
| ly with sheep. I remember when boy
when the neighbors and farmers used Il
meet each other towards spring, they useC
f to inquire, chow are your sheep coming
, out this spring." If each had not lost NOR
than dozen they had been lucl1y-as if
all depended on luck and not on care an,
keeping. Now | have never lost sheeI
by their getting poor in flesh, and gettin
7 down weak; have always made my shee
gain all winter, and think great deal de
/ ponds on care and management of shee
e or other stock. In order to be successful
l think sheep should be kept entirely b
themselves and in warm dry barns or sheds
so that the noise of feeding other stock wi
not disturb or disquiet them, as sheep ar
: very timid.
J, II. Stephens-The better keep my stoc
q the better it pays me. want my cows t
: gain in winter in order that they may b
g profitable to me in summer; have neve
d had much experience in feeding roots, bu
J think on my farm it would not pay to rails
! them to feed stock. / have raised tn
q southern corn for fall and winter feed fe
I. my COWS, and it paid me well. / ker