Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-05-12
AGRrCuLTunAI.
We published short time since q letter
nom Orland with comments by the Editor
OF the Main Farmer, all taken from the
Farm.r. The discussion is renewed. and
We find the following in the last number.
AYRSHRE W. DuHHANs

Without retainer" I espouse the side
ofyour Orland correspondent IL" in his
defense OF the Ayrshire rs. Durham, even
III the risk OF being punctured by your ed
noriai pen, which l am happy to say, but
rarely sheds its ink for errors growth the
position assumed in reply TO Il" being one
OF its few, - well as one OF its rankest
heresies.
Now, Mr.. Editor, for friendly words thus
frankly written, don't inveigh against me
Thoughts that come like hurricane nor
words that burn like Drummond light"
but In sober earnest say. Do you unquali-
nedly recommend the Short Horns to the
farmers Of Maine as the better mixers?
III gather facts Alright. this breed is es-
pecially priced for its remarkable aptitude
70 take on size. And is ii not true that an
animal consumes food in proportion TO its
slzef Is 1t not likewise true that the
Short Horns, to attain that extraordinary
size which has given to this breed so high
value, that the food must be easy of acces
and unstinted in the supply: Would not
the same breed OF domesticated animal
say the OK for an example, that would be-
come elephantine in bulk on the fat blue
grass pastures ofKentucky. on the frosty
hillsides of Maine be stunted TO steer:
Your assertion that the '.Durhams are
the greatest Mixers" is undoubtedly true
when all OF the perquistes are at hand to
favor the result. In the possession of
fancy farmers who can afford to fill their
bellies without counting the cost, the re
liability of such an assumption is not de-
MED. But 10 the poor farmer with poor
pasture say majority Of the pastures in
the State where the cows must grub for
subsistence. we cannot for moment as
sent TO declaration giving the Durham the
front rank as mixer. Facts. daily OBJ
servation nor experience 20 TO corroborate
such an opinion. or We greatly err in our
premises.
IL is significant fact. that in that re-
nowned cheese manufacturing district.
Herkimer county. \. Y. where science and
skill have combined to give the greatest
mixers. the Durhams have been discarded
because they were i>cuiiicent mixers or
were rot supereminent in this respect. 1t
j. but fair TO say that the Ayrshire cows
are going down The same pathway. and
grades aid natives are being substituted
As the better cheese producers
lhcre was time. when to be indoc.rin
ted in the breeds" was the whole duty
OF the theologist, Such. it seems TO. is the
nd-point of the stock breeders of TODAY
Breed i coming to be regarded not only as
an indispensable, but an only condition.
confess TO deal of faith in the Scotch
proverb. what goes down the throat ILLS
the pail. Not one in a thousand of farmer,
have any experimental knowledge of the
latent milking qualities of their cows, be
they thoroughbred. grade or native. which
only awaits proper feeding TO be developed
and brought into activity. Some breeds
are naturally better mixers than others
much better. | grant. but anv cow will be-
come surprisingly better mixer if prop
criy fed There is a mine of dorman,
wealth in the undistended udder of our
cows. when we have learned how TO feed il
out Sr-ppy