The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-24
MR.. BoDWELL's FARM.
A Glance at the vassaIboro Farm of
BurIeigh & BodweII-Some Mann
mouth Fat Cattle-A Mexican Steer
with Big Horns-Some Sheep Worth
Keeping-Their Fecundity.

comprising over three hundred acres of that
goodly town, is the fertile stock farm of Bur-
leigh & Bodwell. 1t lies just above GetchelPs
Corner, and the cleaning waters of the Ken
nebec lave its western boundaries. 1t was
formerly the Lang Farm" and had reputa-
tion before this generation.
The members of the firm owing it are Hon.
], r. Bodwell of Hallowell and Mr. Hall G.
Burleigh of Vassalboro, whose names are
80 closely identified with the industrial and
agricultural industries of the State and who
have by their importation of thoroughbred
stock added no little to the wealth of the cat
tie interest of the State and United States.
Mr. Burleigh was found at the entrance of
one of his barns and kindly exhibited some
of the wonders of the stock raiser skill he
entered the basement where the tie-up is
located Here were two long lines cattle,
mostly grade Herefords. Gigantic oxen
faced us which would handily weigh 1000
pounds to each animal They seemed ele-
phantic in statue and the beef that they
will make will be second to none in the
world. Something like twenty head will be
exhibited by the firm at the coming State
Fair and we saw several specimens which
are being fed for that show.
Among them was the grade Hereford COW
"Minnie" four years old. She is to be en-
tered for the fat stock prize. She is by all
Kansas fat stock show she took the second
prize, while another COW belonging to the
Burleigh & Bodwell herd took the first. The
animal can hardly see out of her eyes so pre-
ponderant is the fat. 1t is expected that she
will weigh ton or more. She is being fed
by Mr. Thos. Burleigh, son of Hall, who
is thoroughly in love with cattle. This
young man is also feeding yoke of yearling
Steers for the show. They already girth six
Oil cake is largely fed. Mr.. Burleigh said
that the thoroughbred fattened faster than
the grade and he could easily distinguish
the difference
The firm own about one hundred head of
thoroughbred stock.at the present time, Here
fords and Sussex, and are constantly selling
to farmers throughout the State. Thorough
bred bulls bring from 5000 to $1,000 apiece
They will not make any more importations
this spring
Il have one of the greatest curiosities in
the way of bovines," said Mr.. Burleigh, after
we had seen the fat stock. He led us into
the basement of another barn and exhibited
it. What was it, was the first thought. Could
il be of the bovine species. 1t evidently was
The animal stood six feet high, with horns
spreading nearly six feet, and body more re-
sembling that of a greyhound in shape than
anything else. He was exceedingly gaunt,
legs long, and color dun. He was a Mexican
steer, the like of which is not believed to
exist above the Rio Grande.
His history is a checkered one. He was
lassoed by moonlight in Mexico, taken into
drove and driven north on the trail 300 0mileS.
He then broke away and ran back, getting
into herd of cattle belonging to a Scotch
man. Bustenado, the great Mexican cattle
thief, with forty greasers, made raid on the
herd and drove off one hundred head, among
which was Mr. Burleigh's long-legged steer
This was in the neighborhood Of Jesse James
Mexican rancho The noted outlaw was away
at the time of the theft but on his return in
three days he took five of his most desperate
cow BOYS and followed the trail. On the
night of the fifth day the camp of the free
hooters was reached, and the following
morning just as the cattle thieves were at
breakfast Jesse aud his men rode in upon
them, taking them completely by surprise,
killing a large number of the band and their
noted chief. The steer was afterwards re-
turned to Texas and fell into the hands of
Capt. G. B. Millett, an ex-Confederate officer
and large ranchman, who took him up the
Kaw river in Kansas and exhibited him at
the Kansas City show.
Here Mr.. Burleigh purchased the animal,
but was obliged to take fourteen other prize
cattle with him. The steers name is Gingle-
rOnham. Fences and stone walls are mere
kindling wood in his path. One day young
Thomas Burleigh liberated him and the way
he strobe over the land was marvel; but by
a little strategy, using another OK to toll him
along, ne was TeGuIu6u W HIS qudIb6Io III tuo
barn. An endeavor has been made by Boston
parties to purchase him to put on exhibition.
''But | suppose l can tell the biggest sheep
story which you ever heard,'' said our con-
ductor. He took us to a small pasture in the
rear of the old Lang mansion, row unoccu,
pied Here was small flock of sheep and
lambs quietly browsing or reclining in the
shade. They were rather small and their
heads were armored with horns. "These are
Horned Dorsets.'" quoth Mr.: Burleigh.
'and were imported from England where
they are employed to breed lambs for the
London market. Eight ewes dropped six
teen lambs last November, fifteen of which
were raised. The following May the same
sheep brought eleven more lambs, or total
of tWenty-six in less than seven months.
One of the ewes dropped triplets each time,
six lambs in six months. Talking about big
lambs, and rapid growth; one of these ewes
dropped twins on the Fourth Of July, weigh
ing twenty-eight pounds. The 11th they
tipped the beam at thirty-eight pounds, and
the 18th at fifty"
An examination of the hay mows showed
that they were stuffed full from ridgepole to
foundation stone. Haying had been COM
pleted, and one hundred tons were harvested
A few years ago when Mr. Burleigh took the
place the total production was but fifty tons,
and but one or two tons of that was English
hay. Mr.. Burleigh believes that the hay
crop is being set too high this season-as
much as 10 per cent.