Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-01-28
Grafton Farmers Club.

residence of Harvey Stoddard on the ey-
ening OF the 10th Of Jan. 1870, and dis
cussed the following topic viz: What
kinds of stock shall We keep?
G. S. WHITE-We must study the
adaptation of our farms. Some farms
are adapted to keeping sheep others to
keeping cattle. My own practice has
been to keep both cattle and sheep, be-
lieving this method to be the more profit
able in the end. During the war while
wool was high and profitable every one
kept all the sheep possible, now sheep
and wool are low while cattle and dairy
products are high. We cannot compete
with the westin raising beefand wool, but
Vermont butter is always better than
western and will always command high
price. If conveniently situated would
now stock up with COWS.
III. S. DAvIs-Upon farm producing
many kinds of feed would keep all kinds
of stock. On farm that produces
large proportion of swale hay would keep
sheep. If most of the product of the
farm were English hay would keep cat
tie and horses. Horses are the most
profitable stock that can be kept. A
horse at four years old worth three hun
bred dollars costs no more than steer
at that age, Prefer the Durham cattle
to any other breed, would keep coarse
wool sheep rather than fine because
they produce as much wool and more
and better mutton. Would also keep
hogs as they eat great deal that moth
ing else will.
J. d. PETTENGILL-A few years ago
when wool was high there was a rush for
sheep now wool is low, and butter high !,
consequently every one supposes that
butter will always bring present prices,
and the great call is for dairy COWS.
Butter has been high in consequence of
the foreign demand accompanied by the
high premium upon gold; il is not prob
able that these high prices will long be
maintained. Do not think it good poll
ey at the present time to stock with
COWS. Would now stock with sheep be-
cause they can be bought low and the
time is not far distant when wool will
pay we'll, this must be the case because
of the greatly decreased number of sheep
kept and also on account of the high du-
ties on foreign wool. Cotswold sheep are
now the most profitable both for wool and
mutton, but like every other breed they
require good feed and good care.
GARDNER UPHAM - Our Vermont
farms pay as well according to their val
ne as western farms. We can compete
with the west in the production of butter
cheese and wool. The situation of the
farm and family has much to do in de
Gliding the question what stock shall We
keep? As our farms are usually situated
a mixed stock is best. Prefer the Meri
no sheep to the coarse wool breeds. Fol
cattle would choose the native or some
small breed like the Devon in preference
to the Durham. Have always though
that if as much money and care had beer
expended on the native cattle as has BEEF
spent on the Durham the natives woulC
have been the more profitable. Consid
err horse raising risky business althocgl
if one has good breeding mare, raisin
colts may be profitable.
j. P. BARNES of Chester = Dair
stock is at present the most profita BIZ
The more cows kept the more the farr
can be improved on account of the larg
quantity of manure which can be mani
featured in the COW yard and pig sly, bu
usually q mixed stock is best. If a farr
is we'll adapted to keeping horses woul
keep them, colt four months old wi
not cost as much as a calf of the sam
age and will sell for much more. Fol
merly kept no speckled stock now ever
creature have is speckled. Prefer th
Durham to the native breed.
FL. EDsoN-W Would not 60 into wo
raising largely at present, do not thin
wool will ever be much higher than
now is. The high prices of wool hav
stimulated the whole world to raise sheeI
South America can produce wool q
cheaply as we can wash, shear and MAJ
ket it. Nothing but heavy duty WI
bring prices up.
S. ID. CoNANT-W Would keep the be
stock whether of cattle, sheep, horses
swine. For cattle prefers the thoroue
bred Durham. Mr.. Conant read col
munication from John Johnston shown
: that Durhams are the most profitable t
beef The best COW for dairy purpos
Mr.. C. ever owned was thorough br'
Durham, the best yoke of oxen were
teen sixteenths Durham. Certain drai
{ of durham blood are the best of all bree
{ for milk.
, The next meeting of the Club will
bald at the residence of Gardner Upha