Litchfield enquirer., 1878-03-14
Another Visit to Echo Farm.

Starr has determined to keep none but ''ful bloods, "-such as are registered in the Ameri- can Jersey Cattle Club herd book. In addi tion to the natural growth of the herd, Mr Starr has increased it by the purchase of some of the best COWS that could be obtained. Two are imported animals, one being the mother of the bull ''Ltchfeld" His half sister and hei mother, an imported COW, are also among the herd.
 This bull, it will be remembefed, took the Centennial diploma and medal, and also the special first prize of $25O given by the Ameri- can Jersey Cattle Club for the best Jersey bull at the Centennial exhibit, and awarded by the Centennial judges. The same year our own State Agricultural Society awarded Mir. Starr l a gold medal for the best herd of Jerseys, and gave 'Litchfeld' their silver medal as the best Jersey bull This animal is in as fine a condition as ever, and nobly heads the herd.
 The demand for s'Litchfeld" stock steadily increases. Not only are those who deal exclu- sively in ''full bloods," purchasing it, but farmers nearer home who have grade, or na- tive COWS are buying the less fancy bull calves of this strain" of blood, so as to improve their stock. Calves, whether male or female, that are not of solid color and ''black points, though quite as good for all practical purposes, and preferred by some-do not command such | price as do those that possess these 'fancy" points, and are consequently sold at prices which all who can afford to keep any cattle, can afford to pay. On the day of our visit a farmer from an adjoining town had just been buying one of these little bull calves-just as good for breeding purposes as the rarer animals of ''solid" color for which fancy farmers are willing to pay such high prices.
 It is a question which our farmers will do we'll to consider whether it is not more expen- sive for them to raise poor stock than that which readily commands higher price. This point is so ably handled by stock breeder from Canada, who has visited Echo Farm and who has published an account of the visit in the Country Gentleman, that we refer our readers to the following extracts, calling at- tention also to the facts stated regarding the light feeding which is one of the special fea- lures of MT. Starrs management of his herd: | EDS. COUNTRY GENTLEMAN-In calling at- tention once more to Echo Farm, 1 am fully aware that ap able article thereon~appeared in your columns some time ago. It has so long been called "a show place." "a rich mans hobby" &c., that by many it is looked upon as something to be admired, but which it is | impossible to initiate Nothing can be more l erroneous than such an opinion.
 The barns are a sight worth seeing, yet | there is very little about them which cannot be carried out on smaller scale by any farm CT. The buildings are painted light shade, much more pleasing and effective than the dark brown usually employed, and more clean and cheerful looking. And the neatness, cleanliness and order are something snch as have never seen before. If any one wants to see how nice stable cG'a be kept let him sand the stalls and gutters, then lay the bedding on the sand. When he comes to sweep out the stable he will need nothing to convince him that the ease of cleansing the floors, far more than compensates for the little labor of strew. ing sand, to say nothing of the better air pre- vailing, and the added cleanliness of the ami mals. Failing sand, any other absorbent would answer, though the sand looks better. These barns possess, in greater degree than any I9have ever seen, the advantages of ven- tilation and light. Not every one can afford buildings as spacious for the same number O1 stock, but the same attention to the rules o1 ventilation would greatly lesson the mortality among valuable cattle. And light has more to do with the comfort, cheerfulness, and con sequently with the health of the animals, thar is generally known. In MT. Starrs stables there are no dark corners. No animal can fall or refuse it's food, unnoticed and the slightest departure from the prevailing law of order cleanliness and health, can be detected at 6 glance, thus furnishing that ''ounce of proven tion," which is, indeed, worth the ''pound o1 cure"
 While admiring the interior arrangements s man approached, wheeling a car that ran SC noiselessly. 1 inquired the cause and l found that the wheels were of rubber. 1 watched the man with some interest," as 1 was deter mined to see for myself the high feeding whicf in butter at dollar pound To my amaze ment, the man took little scoop, holding g quart and placed in the feeding box one scoop ful of dry meal (equal parts of corn and oat ground together) and one scO0pfu1 of dry brar and the others all received the same. Mir Starr assured me that this was their regula evening feed, with all the dry hay they want ed. In the morning they were fed exactly the same, and by eight o'clock, every anima was turned out in the field, to remain in tn, fresh air till evening When snow comes kled upon cut hay, and damped, and, at noon each COW receives quarter of bushel o1 roots, principally mangolds. No warm O steamed feed is ever given.
 If this rigid system be an error, as thinl it is, most certainly it is an error on the righ side Too often we find animals forced anl stimulated beyond nature, SO as to show vel or obtain fine butter record, but seldom, in deed, do we find the very light feeding prac ticed hsre The careful, but liberal feede may, and often will, buy animals, and fine them go hack on his hands, feeling the chang. from their former pampered condition bu any such man, buying COW fed at Mir. Starr's may feel perfectly certain that she will i'm prove with time, and prove better than repre- sented. In fact these animals are without ex ception, in the most robust and rugged health With the uniform excellence of the COWS was much impressed, but will mention only few. Bessie Allen is a perfect type of 6 Jer sey, and her calf, May Blossom, is little prize. Hilbert and Locust, two lawns, are ex quisite, and Filbert's heifer calf is beauty Dash, Nelly, or Norton's Peggy, would grac, any ones herd, and Chestnut is noble cow But perhaps the gem of the whole collection il Pride of the Village; she must be seen to bt | dppTOCldtcu 1t lS Ouly HEN6SA4rY 10 LOOK 3 the daughters got by Litchfeld, SO uniform ir excellence and beauty to know at once that ht is bull of great value. Prince Edward is a. handsome as Litchfeld. I think Mr. Stars cattle excel especially in their uddefs, horni and heads
 Not every one-not many, indeed car have a choice and large herd of registered Jerseys, but there are few who cannot, a least, afford to buy a thoroughbred Jersey bull or bull calf, of the best butter strains, whicl are to be had at prices within the reach of all And, if to this he can add choice heifer calf or yearling, which would cost from $120 t, $500, he would be amazed atthe rapidity witt which he would accumulate little herd worth thousands of dollars. If he chose. in stead of keeping them, to sell the calves o this heifer as fast as they came, he would fine her far better investment than the none, put at 15 per cent, and he could afterward sell her at an advanced price. A registered heifer calf, if from good COW, will alway bring from $50 to $1O0 at few weeks old , Then, as to butter. Take the price of butter | A n0v made hv tha ayarapo <aryoor and af