Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-10-03
4arm ann honstbolO.
Sheep c. Gea: s:osk.
Discussion al the Farmers Meet
ing at the state Fair.
Prom the Portland Press

Prom the Portland Press
AT Farmers Meeting on the grounds
the following was the subject for dis
cussiou: Which is 1t most profitable
for the farmers Of Maine TO raise-Sheep
or Neat Stock :"
Peter W. Aver of Freedom said that
it was well known by the farmers OF
Maine that the pastures of Maine would
not carry so much stock as formerly,
and he desired to enquire If feeding
more sheep would not improve our pas
tures. lie was aware that the farmers
OF Somerset County produced and fed a
large number OF sheep, and he desired
to know from them il their farms were
improved or were like those in local
tiles where sheep were not raised 50
extensively. He had an idea that the
pastures should be pastured alternately
with the sheep and cattle.
Hebron Luce Of Bangor said that he
was of opinion that all kinds of stock
should be pasiured in the same pasture
at the same time. Sheep will kill OK
eve daisy, crow-ioot and brush. and
would keep lat on such things as cattle
will reject. He was the first TO advo-
cate this doctrine in the vicinity where
be lived, and his friends and neighbors
had caught the idea, and been much
plaasad with tho prac,i~a IL. t.r:..--a
il more profitable 10 raise sheep. than
cattle; and that farmers would better
their condition by raising less cattle and
more sheep; or if not less cattle. GER
tainly more sheep. He tried to get the
premium for corn, offered In Penobscot
county last year, and he managed his
ground by using manure made from
sheep, thrown into his hogs and worked
over BY them, and his corn grew so tai!
that ii looked as # il needed propping
up.
John NJ. Hilton of North Arson said
he thought it depended very much upon
the kind Of land used for pasturage Ii
the land was easy and free from rocks
he liked TO pasture exclusively by sheep
until the feed became strong. and then
pillow up, raise grain. and seed down.
II the land is rocky and hard he liked
&c pasture with sheep and cattle at the
same time. II the land is wet he dis
carded the sheep altogether. as sheep
would not do well on wet land
Harrison Jaquith of China said he had
no idea that land could be exhausted by
feeding sheep upon il, but be was sure
it would be done by feeding cattle. II
he could be assured 40 cents a pound
for washed wool, he could pay $40 per
ton for hay, aud make money raising
sheep.
"Campmeeting" Joha Allen said be
had seen a great many more black sheep
since he had been on the ground here
than he hac ever seen before. He was
sure that the Yankees were inclined TO
60 10 extremes; he himself had been ac-
cused of going 10 extremes in attending
campmeetings.
j. o. Keys of Jay said the custom OF
stock raising ought to interest US all.
lie did not think that all should raise
sheep, or all cattle. lie thought that a
man should look his farm over and see
what it was best adapted to. The rails
ing OF horses, he discarded Some men
were better adapted TO raise sheep, 9th
ers TO raise cattle. lie did not think q
man ought to be Granger and 90 to
the west and buy his wheat and corn.
He thought man should make a speci-
atty OF some crop and then go for it
Rufus Prince, OF Turner. said he
thought that man should raise differ
ent varieties of stock, unless he had land
peculiarly adapted TO some particular
kind of stock.
Peter w. Aver said he had been un-
aerstood to say that sheep would run
out farm. He begged to correct the
statement,-nor was be booked to adj
vocate the raising of stock to the ex-
clusion OF sheep. He thought tina.
sheep would prepare a pasture TO be
good for cattle, but they would spoil it
for themselves.
Seward Dill of Phillips said he had
kept sheep but little, and felt hard
ly competent to speak upon the ques-
ton. He had been somewhat acauaint-
ed with the raising of cattle. He did
not think we could compete with the
West, in raising stock exclusively for
beef, but for breeding for all purposes
he thought we could compete with the
West. Farmers should breed from the
best specimens of their stock, thus
breeding up instead of dorm. If good
animals were produced they would sell
well in the State and out of the State.
Animals should be treated kindly and
well. He used q great deal of orchard
grass and clover and less herds grass it
would be millions of dollars of benefit to
the farmers OF Maine.
b. f. Hamilton, President of the
Maine State Agricultural Society, said
that according to the direction of the
discussion it seemed evident that Ma.
ture designed that sheep and the differ
ent kinds Of cattle should be raised at the
same time and upon the same land. He
thought it depended entirely upon the
character Of the soil and the location
what kind of stock he should raise.
He was glad TO see SO many present and