Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-01-07
Union Farmers CLUB.

ult., the debate on the question "ls 1t Tor
the interest of our farmers to make
speciality of keeping cows and selling milk
in bulk, or in butter and cheese y was
opened by Col. SWEET, who said he bellev-
ed hay to be the king Of crops, and that
there was no way in which we could dis
pose of our hay to so good advantage as
in keeping a dairy. Cows are kept In
the barn all the time when not in pasture,
therefore more avsilable dressing can be
obtained from them than from any other
stock. No COWS equal to the Jerseys Tor
making butter. Had kept COWS and FUR
nished residents of villages with milk,
selling for FIVE cents per quart In winter
and four cents in summer. Believed COW
pastures could be changed and pastured
with sheep and be materially improved BY
it.
Mr. Rowe said he thought it made
great difference whether we wished to
make farm for few years or for lie
time and to 90 down to posterity. a dit
ferent course Of treatment should be pur-
sued in the two cases. In producing and
selling milk from farm large amount
of bone material is carried off which must
be supplied in some way. or COWS would
be continually chewing bones, shingles
and pieces of boards, and would fail to be
healthy. He thought changing pastures
and pasturing with sheep would work an
improvement in this respect.
Mr.. z. Thayer said he had had some
experience, both in making butter and
cheese and in selling milk. Found milk
selling much the more profitable under
the circumstances in which it had been
done by him, but believed dairying to be
very profitable branch of husbandry
generally.
Mr.. A. S. Thayer did not believe in
making specially of keeping cows, or
any other branch of farming to the ex-
cusion of all others, thought that on
some farms and in some localities it would
be well to make dairying a leading branch
of husbandry. Believed milk to be worth
three and three-iourths cents per quart to
make into cheese at home. Believed ruta-
bagas made the best feed for cows, in win
ter, made the best milk and the best but
ter Of any root crop.
Mr.. G.. +. Hammond thought much de-
pended upon the location aud other cir
cumstances one might do It to good
profit while it would ruin another Agreed
with Mr.. Thayer that it was not advls-
able to make speciality Of any one crop
or one kind of stock to the exclusion OF
all others. Believed the fertility OF :
farm could be kept up quite as well by
keeping a dairy as by any other course OF
management.
Mr.. S. Royal said that for the greater
part Of his lie be had been farmer; nc
believed it to be the most important OF ali
branches of industry.
Mr.. J. X. Hammond said some can
keep cows better than others; he himself
labored under some Disadvantages his
cows had to be driven at least one mile to
pasture aud living in village he could
not keep sheep. Came to the conclusion
that it was for his interest to keep cows,
was satisfied that it was better isr him 10
keep his farm in heart by keeping COWS
than any other stock. He said Mrs.
Hammond had kept an account OF the
dairy products for four years, and be
would now read them to the club. lie
stated that the butter was sold at from
% to 80 cents per pound, and the cheese
was made at the South Paris cheese fac
tory, and sold for such prices as were OBJ
tanned by that company. For the year
lisa ten COWS kept, three OF them tarrow