Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-31
Datlp kfnnebrl Jnurnal.

The ensilage congress at New York
Wednesday was composed mainly of
those who are extravagantly enthusiastic
on the subject. They claimed as gener-
al thing that the matter has got be-
yond the experimental stage. and while
estimates as to the cost of both silos and
ensilage differed widely, there seems to
have been no dissenting voice as TO the
profit to be made. Mr.. J. Y. Smith of
Doylestown, Pa. said he had made butter
on ensilage at cost OF 81 cents pound
which he had sold a; 81 cents pound. and
he further claimed that his milk cost him
less than a cent a quart-as of course it
must. to make his butter SO cheaply. Col.
Wolcott of the Hotel Nendome. Boston.
said he kept lO4 cows on ensilage, which
cost him but little over 81 ton. and he
sold 1000 pounds of ensilage butter a week
at 65 cents pound. His theory was that
a silo which could be filled in single day
was the best size. The highest estimated
cost ofensilage was 1925 ton, and the
lowest $l.40. At the former price it
would seem pretty discouraging work.
COtsWOld- -MerinOes.
Jonathan Talcott, a well-known farmer of
Rome, N. Y. keeps what are called Cotsw old
MernOes, the weights of which range from 100
lbs. for lambs to $50 to 300 for mature sheep.
He usually raises from % TO 80 per cent more
lambs than there are ewes in the flock, and
'au fit for the butcher at all times" Ii
was not ever thus, and how it happens to be
so now may be learned from the following
statement of experience, contributed to the
Manchester Farmer 1.-The writer in the carly
days o, his farming operations did As most
other flock masters did IN his vicinity, let his
sheep rough it late in fall and early in spring.
The result was like that of other farmers in
those days-or at the present time for that
Datter-tle sheep grew poor all winter;
many lost their lambs in spring; many died
of such treatment, and many of those that
lived lost a considerable portion of their
wool, so that there was little profit if not
actual loss, in such management. After a
series of years of such neglectful care and
feeding, began to think there was better
way. The first innovation was a shed fitted
for feeding under cover, with board windows
tnat cOulu ne opened lot 1gDt ana Nentliatlon
in pleasant weather, and closed during storms
and extreme cold. The result was plainly
an improvement on the old, no particular
plan The sheep did much better gained in
flesh during the winter instead of falling
away, as had always been the case in previ-
Gus years, without protection. Having start
ed in improvement, and thinking there was
room for more, began to feed grain during
the winter, although many old shepherds said
it was not good to do so, as the ewes cast
their lambs before their time; their lambs
would die ut birth also, so there would be
more loss than gain, if there was any gain
from such grain feeding, which they consid-
cred doubtful. In grain feeding | give the
preference to corn; have fed corn and oats
mixed about equal parts and feed daily about
half pint to each sheep. My sheep thus fed
are all breeding ewes. For fattening sheep.
would give one pint daily, or more if the
sheep were large ones. Since beginning to
feed grain, my sheep have improved in size
raised more Lambs and shear heavier feeces
three very essential items for the flock
masters profits and flock of sheep thus fed
are always in condition for the market,
whether the butchers stall or the breeders
flock. | have found by experience that it is
not necessary to sell fat sheep to the butch
er, simply because it may be fat, as | had
much rather have a fat eve for breeder than
a lean one, If both are equally well BRED