Oxford Democrat., 1872-02-27

Mr.. l.. l. LUCAS, nieuiSSa VA 'AS DN
from Somerset county, read lengthy
essay on Some Common Errors in Rear
ing Slsck and Farming generally, which
abounded in practical suggestions oil
much value.
In commencing he said be claimed Tor
farming that it was profession equal
with if not superior to the other learned
professions. and he believed 1t required
a much ability TO become successful
farmer rs it did To become a successful
lawyer, doctor or minister; and the pos
session of as much education as they
possess would help HIM very materially.
Farmers have made their business just
what il is, and il WAS in their power to
change it. and make it. not only differ
ent, but decidedly better and more re
muuerative. Farmers ought TO know
from the experience of the past ten years
what kinds OF crops are most profitable
10 cultivate in their particular locality.
profitable TO keep. Since the stock from
Maine has been shipped TO market by
rail great many farmers have had an
opportunity OF going 10 the great live
stock markets of New England who
would never have gone but for this op
portunity. and it would seem that the
personal knowledge thus gained shsul d
have shown to them what kinds of stock
sell best and are most popular in market
and hence what kinds are most proiila
ble 10 raise, ana how to raise and grow
them. But notwithstanding this their
progress has been slow. and the present
wear cleans them out so efectually that
when they start again they can go in any
direction they choose. They can pacA
MP and 90 TO the woods He has never
advised them 10 do so, but has advised
them to try and get out Of the woods.
lie has said many 1imes that stock can
not DC raised in Maine exclusively Tor
beef purposes. except at loss-t can
be grown and fed in other places cheap
er. While we cannot compete with the
western farmers in this matter. we can
raise our own oxen, cows and horses, and
we can raise better ones than we have
been in the habit of doing; and what we
do raise must be better or We raise them
al = loss. ID won't DO 10 sell them nj
one and two years Old unless they go at
the same price Of Short Horns. We must
breed from pure blood males and raise
only the best a. that. A nice "bang'uP'
COW will bring 500. while a common
one will bring only S25, and there is not
quite that difference in cost OF producing
them The same rule applies 10 oxen.
and sometimes to two and three years
old steers. All stock that We decide 10
keep should be kept growing until dis
posed of-uever allow them 10 stand still
a day. When they cease to gro" except
they arc at work or being MIXED, they
are being kept at loss. Take this ex
ample for YOUR consideration Two farm
ers have each pair of four years old
cattle. equal in form and symmetry. and
sirth 6 feet g inches, and weigh 27oO
pounds the lst day OF November 1871.
Each have the same amount OF work u
do during the winter. simply hauling
their fire wood One feeds his in such a
way as to have them in the same con
di.iou as 10 flesh, size and weight, on the
lst day OF May 1872. as they were six
months before. The other feeds his so
as to grow them to feet inches IN
ghth, and TO weigh $500 pounds in the
same time. The former yoke at 40 per
cent. shrink, weigh 1920 at s cents,
equal to Sl29 90; the latter at s. per
cent shrink. weigh 22l0 at 10 cents,
equal to 1921 90. or S91 40 more than the
others. Now which course had better be
pursued by the farmers Of Maine in rails
ing stock ? Let each farmer answer.
Our farmers have been too much iU the
habit of over stocking their pastures. By
this practice 50 much labor has 10 be per-
formed by stock 10 sel a living that no
growth has been had that might and
otherwise would have been had with
plenty OF good feed. The result has
b.en poor stock, and when put into mar
ket, like the negro's preaching, it has
brought poor price-all tor the want oi
better iced ana more of ii. They come
10 the barn poor. and are put though tho
winter on corn stalks and rough fodder
with no proyender.
One OF the greatest mistakes OF our
farmers is in keeping their stock in cold
open stables. Few farmers realize how
much they pay annually Tor this right.
An estimate shows that the extra expense
OF keeping ten head of grown cattle
sixty days in extreme cold weather. will
frnish up the stable large enough TO &C
eommodate them, and make il as warm
as all ordinary sitting room without q
fire. Farmers are not aware how inhu-
man Is the treatment OF stock kept in
cold st ables If they were they wonld
begin at once and make them warm and
comfortable, the expense is sure to be
saved in fodder every winter, it is saved
again in the improved condition OF the
animals, and also in the thought that the
stock is warm and comfortable whether
they have anything to eat or not.
Another error is in the manner in
which rough fodder. such as corn stalks,
sirau nnsahnw (swalal hay is fed out