Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-03-15
~iowtsrtR eullIris.
MAINE .r,rK BOARD or .smcrlruHr.

AuGUsrA, February n, ls93.
In presenting this "Midwintsr Bulle-
tin" I wish, first, Ia thank the farmers,
fcr their very prompt and definite ~
Pile. 90 NV clrvulars % inquiry, thi.
work has hc-n wholly gratulious on
your part aud has brought Ia thl. ofiice
items ot much general interest. know
ot no bitter wsy Ia grt al facts relating
o. the farming Interests % the state,
thsn Co ~ upon the farms aud Into the
homes ~ cur active. Intelligent farmer.
/ The questions have bern framed, not
only for the pur,o.e ~ Ascertsining all
the fact. possible. hut Ia .et "a. to study
ing on some ot tie problems of the dsy, (,
By lsying out to view the common prac-
tic,s.
The Balletin will be mailed To every
farmer whose name Ne are able to Oh
tain, II any one rrCelying copy knows
of parties Ia their vicinity Who have not
rccciy~i one, he will confer favor by
sending their names 90 thl. Office on =
postal card.
Il l. principle which holds good
eVeryw here, Ia all organizations, that
the guod 10 the greatest number should
D. sought. Therefore Ne SEX To reach
each and every man la cur state Who
may take an Interest In our work.
One hundred aud flfty replies have
hc-n reviewed. from one hundred aud
thirty tosns, and from every county,
they show thought and study. aud arr,
b.li,,e, worthy of CAREFUL consideration.
The rvplies 10 Question sem to in-
dicats a general advance In the uumhef
aud quality ~ the coN. aud YOUNG
stock. while in many sections horse. ar
taking the plAce of oNcu Tor the ~csk oi
IN. farm.
The rvplie. 20 Quesiion ,, iadicSt. =
gain In priges ot coNs and usat stock
and q slight decllne In the market value
20 horscs. Prom some sections come
complaints that importAiions of hor-es
hs,r crusdei out the home raised, and
80 glutte,i the market that u l. impos.i-
blr % .sli good Young hor-ss al snN
pricr. Thi. would seem a. Indicate that
Our horse rsi.srs are not brc.siing Ia the
right linss Tor profit. for u must D.,
that While thetv y market for import
"a hor.,s, AZ pric-. which pay for handl-
log. thsr, shouli D. room fOr tho,s
grown In our o~u state.
The rvplics a. Question q show that
farmer. arr gvncrslly feeding such grain
a. will bring 90 Ia the farm clcmsnt. ~
fertility. such Purchas~i grain. ~
cutionseed meal, gluten meal, wheat
bran and oil meal are lei, While th"
home gruNu consists of corn. oats. bar
icy, cat. aud pc..e, aud pcss- alone. II
.. an encouraging fact that the praciic.
~ growing grain l. on the incrvAsc, and
that farmer. afr turning their attention
to such crup. a will t.-.t t.ke the plaCc
- the most expensive grain purvha.ed.
The rrplie. o. Question ) show quite
variation Va the product. .old frum ogr
isrms, aud pt..sut fuod Zoe thought, IN
that ~ find 49, are capable of supply
ins The market to a Certsin extent ~th
many of the necsssities aud luxurie. oi
hfc. II Noald s~~m, though, that too
Uttle thought !. given to producing fof
sale. such articles a. will not make =
heavy drain upon the fertility ~ our
coil. IN too mauV sections the practice
~ selling hay .,ill exists, AMI !. pro
ducing evil effects Ia Withdrawing afgr
quantitic. % fertility irom the farms.
The proportion ot COW. fresh In ~in-
Tor sho~s that our dAirymsn are grasP-
log the fact. that ther. =. n~c-..ity f"r
producing the products 20 the dairy al a
.sa.on ~hen pfices rule hishe.t, and
ahsn the cuNs can D. CAr~i Tor without
extra labor. and the markets can D.
rrach.d 90 the bsst ad,antagc.
Esplis. % Questions :, aud 10 are.
20 cnurs-. largely made az from the
opinions of the writers, bat must of ne-
c,-..ity show the facts, approximately.
Il s~,m. Ia b. admitted that, asa whole,
our farms are vapahl. 20 carrying morr
stock than Formerly, although therr l.
much ruom Zoe improvement still.
IN. prevailing methods of husband
ing and applying manur, from our farm
snimals, although .till capable oi much
improvement, srr bstiSr than Ia the
pact. .hoNing In many Instances, a
know ledge 20 It. value.
In several iustancc. report. show .
marked Increase In the number and value
Il the sheep upon our farms, ani u may
- proper a. ell attention "a the fsci
that there sesms to he room for q siill
/ further incrrssr 60 great advantage.
4 can 80 10 reason % make any radl-
cal change In eur farm crOps, the los
m.rsrt value - POTATOES, sud spplr-
nav have a discoursgins Tendency. but
another year will, no doubt, bring higher
pri,--. aud the man Who keeps Ia work
/ In his chosen line, learning % cheapen
ro.t 20 production, aud Improve hls
methods. will suc,eed In the end.
N these low prices carry a lesson Win
them. n l.. that Ne must SEX Ia makT
our farms more sslf-.uststnins, and thus
h.cpm- more independent of outsli'
conditions. Too many 90 "a. have mt
taken cs.h returns from crop. sold, fof
n.t income, when yearly all of IN"
money thus obtained has gone 20 pur-
.h..e foods which should have been
grown upon our farms.
OXFORD COU~rN.