Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-10-31
AGRICULTURAL.
Maine Board of agriculture.
Semi-tnnusI Session aud Farmers Com
vention.


s
Mr.. Pereival of Vassalboro', had not
made any special experiments as to the
relative value of hay and corn. bul had
fed to satisfy himself 1t depends very
much on circumstances. Ii depends upon
the animal, the season and how il is led.
Thought as fed generally, fifteen bushels
ot meal equal ton OF hay. but fed by a
man who understands his business. ten
bushels OF meal and one ton OF hay are
equal to two tons of hay Has large herd
OF thorough bred animals. and but very
little hay this year, but while there is 4
huge corn crib in the west, and his credit
and courage hold out, he don't propose
10 sell his ShorthornS at four and half
cents a pound Considering that fifteen
bushels of corn and ton OF good Eng
fish hay will winter Shorthon. and
what will winter them viii keep a Here
ford or jersey.
Nh. Adams of Wilton, had always led
corn and meal in the spring, and consid.
cred it IS cheap rs hay. Fed working
oxen with hay at night, after they are
cool and can eat it At their leisure.
Mr.. Wyman of Chester. ted his meal
wet Thought three quarts scalded equal
to four quarts dry, and fed at night.
Mr.. Lucas of ST Adams. thought our
farmers should in the first place decide
whether it will pay to winter an animal,
and then for what purpose we design the
stock. whether working oxen, mich cows
or young stock. We had better sell young
stock. Ii don't pay for Us TO raise cattle
tor beef, rs we cannot compete with the
west. We can do it only at loss. Our
true policy is to keep milch cows and
working oxen.
Mr.. Perciyal would feed meal wet with
rough fodder and roots. Cut up the tod
der, and mix with roots and meal for
calves. and feed meal TO working animals
rs they arc about TO lie down, and not
just before they are going TO work. Hogs
will eat hay il they are educated to it 10y
eating fresh grass during the summer
Ills breeding swine often eat their bed
ding Meal is the cheapest food Tor swine.
Feeds fifty head. Had fed them lately
on corn fodder with drink made with wa
ter and meal Scaldcd The discussion
was carried on by Messrs. Harrington.
Lucas, Percival and Others. and the paper
laid on the table.
IMPROVEMENT oF PASTURES.
The mex, paper was by Seth Scammon,
of York county. on the Condition and
Improvement of Pastures Thinks there
is no part of the farm more important
than the pasture, for the basis of all ma.
nure is farm stock. and the foundation of
al good farm stock is the pastures. Wa
ter Is the great bane of New England
pastures. With Us four acres are requir-
ed to support COW, whereas one i sui.
licient, if rightly improved Recommend
Cd several methods Of improvement
topdressing, cleansing, reseeding, plow-
ing, and especially resting the soil.
Mr.. Harrington Of the College Farm,
sid some of the fields there were in
poor condition Last spring, badly water
killed and grass Seed-iimothy, red top
and northern clover-waS sown on the
soil the last OF April The timothy came
up but disappeared during the drouth,
the clover is just coming up. and it the
winter IS favorable will 30 good, but
there was nothing cut but white top OF
OK exc daisy.
Mr.. Perciyal believed that an animal
well paslured is halt wintered. We are
too apt TO neglect our pastures. Wanted
to know how lac can improve his, and
thus feed his herd next summer. Years ago
portion Of his pasture was badly bound
out, rs the saying i. aud covered with
moss knolls. lie plowed and planted 10
potatoes with plaster, seeded with oats
and moved two years, then turned back
to pasture, and it is now better than be.
fore plowed, and no fertilizer was used
except plaster.
Mr. Gilbert OF Turner. saws the conclu-
sion reached by all seems to be. in re-
gard to pasture improvement, don't
know what TO do Feared that in twenty
Years most Of our mature animals must
be fed at the barn. ii the ratio of deteri-
Grafton during these years goes ON at
present. Our cattle DO too much work
now in The pasture to get their living to
grow fat. More cattle in Maine 90 hun.
cry in summer than in winter. Thous-
andS Of acres OF our pastures can never
be improved because it costs 80 much
Pasture lands that have been once plowed
and have run out, must be plowed again.
Mr.. Thing said his opinion was that
close feeding Of pasture lands is prefer
able 10 not feeding enough.
Nh. Gilbert differed; thought the cattle
will pull up the plants by the roots
Mr.. SWEET of Paris was in The dairy
husiness-butteI and milk Ills pastures
were deteIiorating, and he was obliged
TO do something to improve them Pas
lures which are knolly and unplowed
produce the most feed. He had moved
the rubbish Of the knobs, and burnt it,
and spread on manure and grass seed, and
it does well. Would not pillow Il pasture.