The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-22
MAINE AGRICULTURIsTs.
Meeting Of the State Board with
Gorham Grange.
Interesting Sessions Held Yestsrday-Pa-
pers Presented, etc.
IFrom our Special cOrrespOndent,l

lFrom our Special Correspondent
GoRHAM, Nov. 21.
At the meeting Of the State Board Of Agri-
culture with the Gorham Grange there was
qnits large attendance, considering the bad
weather. Secretary Gilbert and Mr.. Harris Of
Cumberland, of the Board, were present; also
Messrs. 1. N. and Ezekiel Dseriug, two large
and prosperous farmers from WATERFORD.
The meeting was called to order BY O. W.
Deering, Esq, Of Gorham, who after few
well chosen words of welcome called Rufus
Fogg, ESQ.,, Master of the Gorham Grange, to
the chair.
The chairman announced as the subject for
discussion Associated Dairying," and called
upon Secretary Gilbert. At the opening Of
his remarks Mr.. Gilbert made very favorable
impression, which was held Throughout his
discourse. He said that it was cheering to re-
ceive so cordial welcome, as it indicated that
the people here were desirous Of talking upon
subjects connected with agriculture, and the
greatest improvement was made whore such
meetings were held. There has been marked
improvement in agriculture during the last
decade, though efforts in this direction would
be mora apparent to the next generation, for 1t
must take time and in many instances long
time to mark the results. It Is not for us to
lament over the obstacles to our progress in
agriculture, but we must work diligently and
faithfully, and good will come.Ik We are apt to
hear the State spoken of as prosperous In LAM
bering and manufactures, with only tame
allusion to its agriculture, when as q fact, II
we examine results, we find agriculture out
weighs either of the other industries.
There is greater necessity for exhortation
than for instruction, for we are farther In ad-
vance with our knowledge than with our prac-
tice. To study agriculture Alright we should
exercise care in interpreting results. 1t Is q
fact fully established that this vicinity is well
adapted to grass growing, but like many other
sections Of the State, the sale Of hay In mar
ket has grown to be an alarming danger.
Where farmers stocked the farm with good
stock and depended upon stock husbandry,
they have built up the greatest wealth, sup
piled themselves with more convenences ami
Injuries, and have the largest bank account.
The subject of Associated Dairying is too
broad to allow of its full discussion in the
limited time of this session. You have wealth
enough, farms enough, hay enough, and the
market near at hand. to establish one Of the
most successful dairies in New England.
Our board has been instrumental in estab-
fishing one or two dairies in this State, a third
one is nearly completed, and another at Tur-
ner will be ready in a few days. The cream
gathering plan is considered the profitable one.
The milk must be set in o uniform manner.
The speaker, in substance, told them that the
cost OF an outfit complete need not be more
than $1,000. The building should be Of one
story, built on side hill IL possible, containing
power room 12x20 feet, work room 14x20,
or 12xA feet, and storage room OF sufficient
capacity to store the products; partitions to b
OF brick, double wall, filled with sawdust.
Each farmer should furnish himself with cans
8 inches in diameter by 20 inches deep, having
glass panel in the side, as upon the depth OF
cream in these cans depended the pay 70 the
farmer. These cans should be placed in Tub
with cold water surrounding them, as the tenn
perature OF the cream must be undsr perfeot
control. He said that the milk must not bo
closed in air-tight, but kept opan to the air, at
least until the temperature OF the milk and Its
surroundings were alike. He cautioned them
against building too expensive buildings and
employing too expensive workmen, acts
which made q failure in many instances OF
cheese factories. He made many other sug-
gestions as to the management of the details OF
the business, showing himself to be thoroughly
acquainted with his subject.
Mr.. Harris of Cumberland followed, in q
few we'll chosen and well considered remarks,
after which an adjournment fer dinner was
had.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
After doing ample justice to right good
dinner provided by the ladies of the Grange
the people gathered again at 1.SG p. m. when
the first speaker was Mr.. Holhrook of Bruins
wick upon Forage crops and how shall we
dispose of them" He said this meant b1zinsss
for the farmer for 1t had beeaIa question dig
cussed by farmers for q long time. In Maine
the basis Of the forage crop is hay. This is
much supplemented by other crops OF grain,
clover, Hungarian end other grasses. The
value OF hay depends upon its cultivation.
Clover 1s valuable in more than one way. It
is good feed, its roots improve the texture of
the soil and Its manurial properties are greater
than those of any other grass. Many farmers
have raised root crops, but it is not as popular
a crop in the light OF experiment By strict
analysis 1t is shown that corn Is Of three times
the value Of roots.
Mr.. Harris followed with some very interes-
ting remarks upon the subject. He had sown
rye to be cut in early June, then a crop Of Hun
garan was sown to result in a crop Of heavy
grass in early fall, in fact three tons to the acre
which was as good ton for ton as any hay he
cut.
Alonzo Libby followed with q relation OF his
experience with silos. he spoke highly in their
favor, saying that feeding one-third ensilage
he had noticed an increase in the flow Of milk
in his cows and marked improvement in the
condition of the COW from fall to spring. he put
III loOtonS OIL onSliago at an eStlmaso0 COdt OF
So 80 per ton. The yield of fodder CONFUSING
the Blond seed-had been on an average Of 20
tons to the acre. He built his silo in 1879
and every year since had strengthened his
conviction that i. was very profitable feed.
Mr.. F. johnson agreed with Mr.. Libby. I.
N. Deeriug, ESQ.,, of WATERFORD gave his tes-
timony as TO the silo in exact accordance with
that of Mr. Libby. With 70 tons OF ensilage,
he thought he had saved at least 20 tons of
hay. He had planted and covered for the fod-
der corn very cheaply. He planted it in drills,
covering it about three inches deep and using
Thomas's smoothing harrow. He had done
away with the hoe almost entirely. His exps-
rieuce had been that the ensilage had improv-
ed the condition of his stock very much.
From this the discussion was carried on by
Messrs. Holbrook, Harris, IGilbert and others,
as to the benefit of ensilage as feed. The
three gentlemen named regarded it as better
feed for milch cows than for COWS whose milk
was to be used in butter-making.
The discussion was not only interesting but
very instructive. All in all, it was very
profitable meeting to all who attended.
EVENING SESSION.
In the evening an eloquent lecture was given
by Geo. P. Sawyer, Esq, of wiscasset, secre-
tary of the Pathological Society, en- "Fruit."
o.