The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-01-11
THE PLANTER AND FARMER,
USEFUL NOTES OF INTEREST TO
AGRlCULTURlSrS.

A Visit to Milk Farm I'm Duiches'
County, New york-uow the Fluid Il
Conveyed o the Factory Interest In the
Breeding Of Fine Poultry.
In many sections Of the country, espe-
cially near large cities, it has been found
that "milk farms" are quite profitable, and
| also increase the fertility Of the soil, causing
hay and Kindred or jps to become more pro-
life every year. While on visit last week
TO Duchess county. New York, about ninety
miles from New York city, the writer found
some excellent farms, and in one section
within a radius Of about twelve miles from
a condensed milk factory, the farmers were
deyOting almost exclusive attention to milk
production. delivering the milk daily to this
factory, and receiving 81 cents per quart.
The farmers keep from thirty TO two hum
dr.d mixers, and the number OF vehicles,
bob-sleds, &C., drawn by horses and oxen,
and employed in conveying the milk to the
factory il very large. Every vehicle one
meets, often even the family carriage bears
the insignia Of the chief industry OF the sec
tlOu-milk cans. The farms present every
evidence Of thrifty people and thorough
farming. OF course, the principal crops are
nav, clover, and com. ahe numerous stacks
Of hay and clover, put up in symmetrical
proportions, are picturesque evidence Of the
soii's fertility, and add 10 the beauty
Of the undulatng farm land. The
factory refuses 10 receive milk from
COWS fed on cnsilage. The corn grown
there, however, is the small grain
Kind usually planted i'm Northern climates,
and while yielding fairly well Of the grain,
produces stalks not hear as coarse As the
cOrnstalks grown Ia the southern states.
These stalks are generally cut, and hardly I
any waste results rs even the tuttes pass
quite freely through tn cutting machine.
The cut fodder is dampeEed slightly and
th,n freely sprinkled with wheat bran or
buckwneat bran. oats grOunt and corn
cOirsely ground are also among the feeds
given, besides the everyday ration of clover
or meadow hay.
Some farmers feed whole corn, which
Is not only lazy mans method, but
an expensive one. as the amount OF
whole corn visible in the drOppings gives
evidence The COWS did not digest over fifty
per cent. of the corn when il was fed
whole. The cows are mostly natives
with here and there few grades showing !
evidence Of a remote cross with JERSEYS. |
ilOlsteins and AYRSHIRE. Besides being !
b lily, the section j. quite rocky. and ma /
JUrlty Of the fences are stone walls, with |
single line Of barbed wire suspended a COu-
pie OF feet or so above the walls on posts
st long distance apart. This makes a
very lasting and effective fence. Another |
notable feature Of this milk farming region |
are the many apple orchards OF large old |
trees that have received such excellent care |
That they are yet thrifty and healthy look
lag. In bearing seasons, the farmers say |
the fruit Weld renders these orchards "a |
Ource OF great revenue ana prOnt, as /
many OF the orchards are Of the choice VA.
rieties OF apple. In many Of the fields, both |
the pasture and meadow lands, are leil |
grand specimen maple and elm trees, some
II which have wealnered the blast, of per
haps century or more. some Of these |
lands are in places quite rough. and sheep |
keeping in such places would probably !
rr0yc more profitable than keeping COWS.
Ca several OF these milk farms there is con-
siderable interest shown IN raising pure
bred poultry, and also the common stock
for market purposes. In connection with
the mich COWS AMI orchards the p0ultr!
are found % Dee valuable accessory, aus
when given li.iia attention are exceeding
ly profitable.
ON some oil the large farms many locks
for tse holiday market, and the big prices
which they bring at this season. swine
ldisiug is also carried on in this SAM
vicinity quite extensively, and SO much 81
that a lard and sausage factory il local
feature which has used as many as 5000
h.gs in a season the hams and shoulder
being. Of course, cured as usual. tn" com
MnatiOn OF these different interests iu enc
community, 50 10 speak, should suggest L.
other sections inquiries Is 10 whether co.
not due advantage is taken Of all the
opportunities the locality affords. Sections
isolated from the railroads could often cs-
tablish similar cooperative methods that
would enable the farmers 10 readily dispose
f their farm products at better prices than
they usually secure when hauled some dis
lance 10 q railroad station and shipped 10
the cities. These ideas are we'll worthy of
thoughtful consideration, and if practical
ly carried out in many localities where
farming is now decried as "don't pay"
occupation, would doubtless soon make
many converts that would gladly admit
that the change did bring proft.-Batimore
sun.