The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-08-19
Burnham's Cattle King and Burnham
Farms.

The Maine Farmer has published a long ac-
count of a visit to Mr.. i. &. Libby, of Burn
ham. with notes on some of the farms in that
town Mr.. Libby has been frequent contribll-
tor to the journal, aud his farm has been de-
Scribed, and the details of his large cattle busi
ness given, in the columns of this paper. Some
of the facts and figures in the Farmer will,
however, bear repetition Mr.. Libhv's home
is west of the railroad station at Burnham with
the residence and farm buildings in sight of the
passing trains. lie has Il farm of 400 acres,
with - acres under tillage in one field. and the
remainder is used for pasturage. The barn is
~ by l20, with sheep barn attached 60 feet long.
ON one side are the stalls and tie up and on the
opposite, the room for carriages a large wool
storing room and the sections where the hay is
stored. The farm yields one hundred tons of
hay, with ten or twelve acres of grain. The
hay cut ON the farm is all fed, and, in addition,
over loo bushels of grain annually. Through
out Central and Eastern Maine, Mr.. Libby has
thirty men who buy cattle, Ncals and sheep on
joint account. During 1885 over five thousand
head of cattle, three thousand vcals, and thir-
teen thousand sheep were bought and sold, the
sheep and lambs coming almost entirely from
Aroo>took. In addition to this, and in connec-
ton with T.. W. Shaw and G.. ii. Merrill, of
Newport, Mr.. Libby last wear bought over 100
ton. of wool. This wear the volume Of bllsi-
ness will I've increased. Already 10000 sheep
have been bought in Aroo>took, and over 150,-
600 lbs of wool stored. Mr.. Libby has family
Of eight boys and one girl, growing to man
hood and womanhood. Four of the SONS are
in business with the father, one, c. f.. living
at Houlton another, A. p, at Fort Fairfield,
while two remain at home, one of them going
to Brighton weekly. The younger boys take to
the cattle business ducks to water. The
farmers of the state are under obligation to
such men as Mr. Libby, who, if he is realizing
a profit from the product of our farms, is sure
~ bringing the prices of the great cattle cell
tres TO our very doors and paying better prices
than could be secured i'll any other way With
the magnitude of his business he is able to
market stock at Il minimum cost, and pay
the highest price.
Other Burnham farmers noticed by the Farm
er are those of y. L. Murray. who has 300
acres. He cuts 1000 tons of hay and winters 80
head Of cattle, 100 sheep and 10 horses. He be
litVc> in high feeding and 0nSumes all the hav
cut on his place. G.. J. Dodge has 800 acres.
cuts 100 tons of hay and keeps 40 cattle, 30
sheep and 6 or : horses. He does not sell his
calves. but add, ten each year and sells ten s.
yrar-old hccVeS. He seeks to mature his stock
rapidly, and thus makes farming profitable.
Sidney Dodge has Il farm of POO acres. with
fine orchard. cuts 30 tons of hay and winters 20
head of cattle. His practice is To fatten sheep
and lambs. and put them on the market in
March and April when they command Il round
price. Edward Davis, with a farm of 400 acres,
keep. Il splendid head of 40 Dcvons. He cuts
- tons of hay and grows 900 to 800 bushels
of turnips on which he fattenS Il flock of sheep
each winter. Finds turnips profitable to raise
and feed in connection with grain. James
Bralcy Il Sons own one mile square, and are
progressive farmers. having good stock and
feed all their hay with grain.