Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-10-09
SUCCESSFUL Stock Turning.
HERRoN, ME., Sept. LIST. ISL

HEBRoN, Nh, Sept. LIST, 1877.
To the Editor Of the Golden Rule.
| was much interested in the letter
from brother farmer in Norridgcwock.
| have always regarded the Kennebee as
a most valuable farming region. With
such a farm as that man owns, largely
interval land, along the Kennebec River.
placed in contrast with my billy, rocky
farm, | feel like making the comparison
which it is said that good old father
Adams, of Winslow, made in q speech at
the State Conference. When introduced
TO the conference by the Moderator il was
said ale is man who for fifty years
has been . servant Of the missionary
Society, and before we hear from some Of
our leading speakers we want word from
/ the missionaries"
Mr.. Adams said in reply: "a farmer
living on the Kennebec, working one Of
those grand interval farms, visited a
brother who lived on hard, rocky farm
on the eastern border Of the State After
spending few days with HIM, noticing
the contrast between the severity of his
brothers labor on that rough farm, and
that Of his own on his smooth land, he
said to his brother as he came away -
Brother, sell your stony farm, come up
and buy one on the kennebec, where you
can get living without working your
life out Of you The brother replied {:
No sir | had rather stay here, for it
takes man to get living on this land,
while anybody can do it on such soil as
you work"
Now, without any reflection on my
kennebec neighbors, want to tell you
about how | manage hard rocky farm
in this part Of the State | am bust
ness man in your city, and only visit my
farm twice year, besides the eight weeks
spent upon it with my family in the sum
mer. Unlike Beecher, Evarts and other
fancy farmers, have made every invest
ment on my farm to pay me Ia per cent.
per auuum. i employ reliable man a.
farmer, whose family manage the house
hold affairs. Through the summer sea-
son | give him two extra men, aud one
the year round. superintend in person
or by letter, the buying and selling Of all
the stock, and the kind Of seed used on
the different pieces of tillage land.
keep about twenty head Of cattle, hun
dred and fifty sheep, and dozen horses
aud colts, and sell every year some half
dozen head Of cattle, from seventy.fye to
hundred lambs and sheep, and three or
four good colts, besides about thousand
pounds Of wool Ny colts are high-bred,
and nearly all Of them from very fast
trottiug stock, and promise to be very
speedy. But | have learned that there
is more money in selling a colt at three
years old for five hundred dollars than to
keep him at the great expense Of training
and the risk of two or three years, aud
then take the chances Of getting more.
have worked my land into the best
of grass. raise large amount Of roots,
oat fodder and rowen; and 50 | buy but
= very little grain, and sell but lit;'c pro-
duce from my farm. You see | have
what Is strictly called stock farm rais-
ing all Of my stock, nearly all OF my
feed, aud every year increasing, as the
profits will permit, my stock ana the pro-
ducing power Of the land.
Now, Mr.. Editor, have | not 4 ri ,ht TO
claim that farming pays, when conducted.
on the same principles as any other sue
cessiul business B.
We are very glad to receive this le.-
ter from our friend,-giving as he does so
clear and interesting description Of his
t4rm. We know something OF the region
In which this farm is situated. and can
appreciate the point in contrast made by
the incident related at the conference by
Rev. Mr.. Adams. We are sure that the
writer has the gifts Of successful farmer
and stock raiser. We wish him all the
success his skill deserves, and shall be
glad to hear from him often, as we'll as
from many others of our farmer readers.
-ED.