Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-01-21
From the Lewiston Journal
Maine Board Of agriculture.
Branch Meeting at Canton.

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Winthrop, d. j. Briggs, South Turner,
and II. A. Gilbert, East Turner. The
retiring member Of Oxford, Thomas Rey-
nolds Of Canton, was also present, and
rendered efficient service in conducting
the meeting, as he had before done In the
preliminary arrangements.
Canton and vicinity is an excellent
farming section, and among its farmers
are some of the best to be found in the
State. There is cheese factory located
here, which has done 4 good business In
the manufacture of cheese. At present,
however, it is not receiving the patronage
of all the dairymen in It's vicinity, and
for this reason the cheese product has
somewhat fallen of from that OF the first
year it was run.
The meeting did not open till afternoon
so the morning hour was spent by the
members of the Board accompanied by an
oscort of the farmers of the town IN look
ing over as best could be done in the WIN
ter season, some of the fine farms which
are TO be found in this vicinity, prominent
among which the celebrated HIiisdalc
farm, located two miles above the Vi lagt,
owned by Mr.. Ward Of New York city.
4 brief description OF this farm may be
given hereafter.
The meeting OF tho afternoon was called
to order by Hon. John p. Swasey, who
manifested lively interest in It's success
by some appropriate remarks, after the
subject OF associated dairying was taken
up As being one OF importance to the
farming Of tha, vicinity j. K. Nelson,
who is President Of the Maine Dalryman's
Association, opened the discussion IN well
chosen words on the general question
wherein he advocated dsirying as the most
profitable branch Of farming which could
be engaged in There is a good demand
for all the cheese aud butter We can pro-
duce. We do not nearly supply the de
mand for our own State. Nearly one-halt
the cheese consumed in the State is brought
here from other states Only one factory
-Houton-has sold cheese 10 20 out Ct
the State
The quality Of our make rules high
when put in comparison with that from
New YORK, Massachusetts and Vermont,
and readily sells IN Portland at hgure'
above that there found from other States
There is no trouble at any time in selling
our cheese. At present the largest part
of our make is sold for consumption in
the vicinity of the factories. The Win
throp factory has made little over thirty
tous the past season.
Il A. Gilbert continued the discussion
by abiding to the cloud that was hanging
over tue business OF associated dairylng
in the minds of many farmers on account
of the low prices, and claimed that prices
tor dairy products when compared with
those OF other farm products were as
strongly in favor OF the dairy Us they had
been Tor many years 10 the past, and so
We might righttuIly conclude they would
be- in the future. In an enterprise as
reliable and profitable as da'rylngiarmer'
should stick, and though prices might
be low at times. still in the long rnn they
would do better than to dodge from one
thing TO another As Is too often the case.
The cost of manufacture should be re-
duced to the lowest possible figure BY
closely looking after every expenditure
The season Of running should be extended
to embrace as large part OF the year as
possible. Patrons should aim to have
their season commence as early as possible
AS soon az the first OF April, for April
and May were two good mouths for max.
iug mix. They should also aim to keep
up the flow Of milk till late 10 autumn b.
thoughtful attention to a supply Of suit
able feed after the grass OF summer par
italy fails
D. j. Briggs referred to the advau-
tages of dairying in keeping up the fertil-
ity Of the soil, and brought up the fact
that there was very little soil exhaustion
by the sale of cheese from the farm and
that in the sale Of butter the loss was
reduced to almost nothing.
The subject was spiritedly discussed by
a goodly number Of the farmers present,
particularly in the direction Of feeding
the cows. in the course OF which their per
annum receipts which they had been able
to reach for the past two or three years
were given. These run from thirty 10
fifty dollars 20 a COW, exclusive Of family
consumption. The discussion Was con-
tinued TO a late hour with undated inter
est
In the evening the meeting was opened
with brief discussion OF the corn ques-
ton, in which the farmers OF this locality,
in common with the rest Of the State, are
at present much interested. Following
this, z. 4. GILBERT gave lecture 10 which
he underworld to show to the farmers
their lack of au active faith In themselves
as i class, in their business, and in these
organizations and institutions receiving the
patronage OF the State which are designed
TO promote the interests of agriculture
la closing, he exhorted farmers to a more
active support of these institutions and a
livelier interest in their prosperity.
The attendance throughout the meeting
was good, many ladies present, and the
interest manifested by those present was
highly commendable, and it is believed
that good results will come FROM this
drawing the farmers together.
The Canton brass band honored the
meeting by being present aud enivening
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