The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-29
AGRICULTURAL
Plain Talks.

E'la1n Eatkss
deserved punishment for pressing straw
at an expense of two dollars, and drawing it
to town at an expense of two more, and SELL
Ing it for eight dollars per ton, when it
might have been fed out to the dry COWS
now and then, and used as litter and absorb
ents. turned out early to fix off a jag
of 1t and found the old mare down and
with her head up so far under the crib as to
be unable to rise. The man who built my
barn wisely remembered that horse is I'M
able to put his head down TO eat and so
built the crib On level with his nose, leav-
ing vacant space below it that had never
become distinguished until the old mare
showed herself ahead into it. By taking the
axe and tearing away large part of the barn
she was got out. was born under Saturn,
and, owing to its present malign aspect to-
ward the earth, happened to be out of
nails when came to fix it up again. In
driving to the store for the required nails,
I drove over skunk, hence these tears.
Ghost of great Caesar, didn't that skunk an
nounce himself, as it were. If any one likes
the odor, he can procure ten-dollar-rather-
e-worse-for-wear-sui at bargain.
Seriously, the skunk nuisance should be
abated. To judge by their tracks after
warm night, there are hosts of them. I
counted the tracks of eight abreast recently.
After marching in that form half mile,
they struck into single file and made for
barn into which all went They enter every
out building and make every place reek with
insufferable odor, suck eggs, kill chicks and
break up setting hens. Legislative action
should be taken, and rigorous measures en-
forced to rid the land of pests, especially
skunks, foxes and hawks. "This last lit
tie cuss," as Artemus Ward remarked of the
kangaroo, destroys early chicks and cheats
us out of good revenue. The fox has
driven nearly every farmer out of turkey
raising.
Enough feed in the shape of bugs and meat
is wasted yearly in my town to raise hun
hundreds of dollars worth of poultry did
not the pests prevent its being utilized
When lived in Colorado, the state allowed
liberal bounties On skunks and coyotes ears
and hawks heads. Many people there make
coyote pronounced kiote) killing profta-
BILE business, recovering $3.50 each from the
state, and selling the peli for half dollar.
The farmers of Maine should raise the cry
of death to pests, and ask for law giving
liberal bounties. Then buy The boys good
gun and let them earn few cents, and at
same time do good thing for the neighbor-
hood. Offer an inducement for the hunting
of pests and the smaller game will perhaps
get a rest.
More law for radiance of pests, and less
bird and game laws, would be refreshing.
It's well enough to protect game but when
partidges are eating all the buds off ones
orchard it is a bit vexing to know they can
not be shot without violation of the laws
the land And such temptation too, as
they sit quiet and afford an easy shot, but
Mr.. Sport says it is ignoble pot hunting to
kill them thus and the farmer must let the
birds live and spoil his trees, SO that he and
his friends may have rare sport next fall
while the farmer is digging his potatoes
HAYsEED BUXTON.