The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-11-27
Farmers institute.

The Farmers Institute .ield n this vii.
lage on Thursday of last week, WAS very
successful, though not 50 well attended
as 1t should have been.
The apathy manifesto ~ farmers
with respect to these in. flutes, the
grange and other organizations, Is sur.
prising, considering the benefits to be de-
rived from them.
The meeting was opened with prayer
by Rev. K. A. Harlow, pastor OF the Con
gregational Church. d. ". Mckeen,
menber of the Board of Agriculture,
from Oxford county, occupied the chair
Hon. L. A. Gilbert Secretary of the
Board spoke for few moments OF the
Board, the design Of Farmers Institutes,
the ben, tits derived from them, an then
took the subject assigned for the fore.
noon: Modern Sheep Husbandry." We
can only give few of the many points
made by the speaker of the day. Mr.
Gilbert took the ground that the time has
passed for raising sheep for wool, prin,
clpally, and that mutton must be the
chief object in the future. Merinos are
not adapted to this. SOME of the various
breeds known,,as downs" should be kept.
Breed SO that the best parts of the meat
will be most developed, Not the largest
of the breeds but medium sized are tho
most desirable. Better care and more
brain work are needed than for wool
growing. Sheep husOandry will always
have It's variations but II rightly conduct.
ed will always.pay. The speaker was cut
short by the arrival Of the dinner hour
All in attendance repaired to the Grange
Hail, where bountlful dinner was served
by the ladies of the kennebec Wal ey
Grange. In the afternoon larger num-
bar were assembled, and Hon. w. ID. Hay.
den was called to preside Hon. r. w.
Ellis, of Embden, opened the discussion
of The Dairy, by a very interesting adj
dress, drawn from an experience of forty
years IN the business. He likes dairying
First, because it Is the best branch OF
farming for keeping up the fertility of
the SOIL. Second, because 1t gives oppor-
tunity for more OF the other branches on
account of the by products OF the milk.
Third, because there is the least cumpe-
tition from the west; and fourth, because
it pays the best In dollars and cents.
Keep only good cows. Test each cow for
quantity and quality Of butter, not de
| pend on the amount of milk. The Chan
nel Island breeds best for butter. Feed
10 to 10 pounds OF hay per day, and =
quarts each OF coru meal, shorts and cot
ton seed as the highest ration of grain.
Feed only twice day. There Is little or
no danger from over production.
Mr.. Is. W. McKeen was the next to oc
cupy the floor, who in an interesting. man.
ner emphasized some Of the statements
OF the proceeding speaker and made sey.
eral new points; among them the import
ance of kindness to animals and REGULAR.
lty of feed.
In the evening.a very interesting and
Instructive lecture on Tax Reform" was
given by Hon. l.. b. bennett, Esq, OF
Portland. We give no synopsis of his
address because the most important
points have been widely circulated through
The State in the form of report made by
Mr.. bennett, as chairman of Committee
chosen for the purpose, before the Pc.
mona Grange of Cumberland County
Farmers, anu all other tax payers, read il
and throw all the weight Of your inhu
"nce on the side Of justice in the matter
of taxation
few stirring remarks were made at.
ter the lecture by Hon. K. w. Ellis, aud
the meeting was closed with singing by
the choir Of the Congregational church.
Madison Bulletin.