Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-05-23
A NOTED MAINE DAIRY.

NOVeO MAINE OAiNv.
Through the kindness Of Mr.. +. A
Filley of Hebron, we have been places
In possession OF the following, frou
Hon. L. A. Gilbert Of North Greene
Me-, In regard To his valuable dairy:
Your letter Of recent date Was duly
received In which you refer to my dairy
record for the past year as published IN
the editorial columns ofthe Maine Farm
er and copied In part, with compliments,
In IIoard's Dairyman. Allow me u
saw here that the Dairyman made an er'
ror In my name, giving initials as NV
H., when they should read Il. A. Gilbert.
II the results secured by me are In any
degree encouraging to an extension oi
the business Of dslrying among New
England farmers, I shall be fully com
pensated for making them public, for
have long misunderstanding the
opinion from my own experience-thai
dairy Ing should be made q strong feat
ure OF our agriculture, and that it offer
ed, under intelligent handling, an Id
yiting opportunity for our farmers to
make their farming = success.
Ny herd of cows has varied during
the year from sixteen up tn the present
number of twenty-four. The year for
which give you the receipts herewith
began Feb. I, ls92, and ended the last
day Of January, 1898. In justice 10 the
business, IL should be known that during
the first half Of the year the herd con-
talned several Inferior animals that were
not paying their way, and which later
We're culled out and their places filled
with animals that promised better
things. There Is, however, room Tor
still more wedding, which will he at
tended to "a opportunity offers. IA now
made up, IL Il no better than many
other herds around me, nor IL 10 superb
or In natural capacity to the herds as
found on dairy farms In general where
this Il made speciality. The number
averaged for twelve months, emitting a
fraction, twenty-oue. Among them
were four two-years helfers AMI three
that were three years Of age. The
monthly checks paid by the Turner Gen.
ter butter factory for the cresm taken
at the farm we're as follows: February,
ls9s, sl3..ll: March, slsl.lO; April,
slOO -: MAY, siO7.2l; June lilo;
July, III. -; August, III %; September.
s92 2s; October, $3.50; November.
sllO.1O; December, sl26.l5; January,
lsaJ. sl6l ~; total cash for cream, ST.
39J.s .s6; yesls aud young calves sold,
sla 2J. Total cash received direct and
free from all estim,tes, 81, tE.5l; aver
age per COW, including heifers, s,is.l5.
In addition To the above, butter was
made for the use Of two large families,
of which no account WAS kept, and
milk aud cream freely used. The skim
milk was used for feeding pigs and rear
ing calves, the value Of which made no
attempt to estimate.
A mart of INV cows were kept on an
adjoining farm In the care OF hired
man. From this herd there was much
less Of uncounted discounts made dur
ing the year than from the home herd |;
hence the receipts make better show
ing than Il given In the other case. The
average number for the twelve full
mouths was twelve, three OF which were
three year-Olds and two OF them tSo-
year-olds.
The monthly checks from the factory
for the cream at the farm were M fol-
lows: February, ls92. ssj.Ol; March,
AZ. 40: April, ssl.l7; May, sG0.3s;
June, $50 %; July SO; August, sIl. W;
September, sT.iS; October, sss.os;
November, sS3.3l; December, so5'sO' !
January, lso3, ll2.9l; total for cream
made, s9l2..S; yeals sold, s?i; total
cash direct, s93G.1s; average per COW,
including heifers, s.s.Oj.
A fair valuation for the skim mix
would Of course properly raise the
figures above those given; but l leave
that for others To estimate. These
figures, 4 am fully aware, are nothing 10
brsg OF; vet call them large enough To
show that dairying Il n good business
for those who will take hold OF IN
earnest. There are smaller herds with
In the circuit of our factory that can
make a better showing than mine.
There l. nothing about my herd or my
management but any dairyman can
match II he will but give Intelligent aud
diligent attention to the business. The
cows are Jerseys, mostly pure-ored,
Maine State Register. They run to
pasture In summer, aud In fall and WIN
ter are fed on hay, corn fodder aud some
cat straw.
The usual grain ration for cows In
full milk has been four quarts day OF
a mixture of equal parts corn meal and
cottonseed meal, with one quart day
of linseed meal added during the past
winter months. This ration IL varied as
Judgment dictates, and Is reduced In
quantity az cows shrink In milk aud
dry of. when running at grass In sum
mer about half the winter ration OF
grain Il fed, and hay each night II they
will eat it. The study IL to give them
about what they need, In quantity and
quality, each day In the year. when
the pasture falls to furnish it, it Is sup
nliei from some other source. The
COWS are stabbed nights all summer, aud
,,re IA exercised spring and fall that
they are not left out during cold storms.
In winter they are turned daily into a
ward 10 drink, and when through are
returned To their quarters In the barn
'rhis affords measure Of needed exer-
cise without uncalied for exposure.
Lastly. the cows are kindly treated
M all times. There IL deal of Import
,pce attaches to this. IL accompii-hes
that which nothing else can supply,
NY rules Of practice may be briefly
rerapitulated IA follows:
I. something good to eat every day
In the year.
4. Attentive care as to their comfort
at all times.
4. Kindness on all occasions.
1 take small stock In the claim msde
by so many writer's aud speakers that
two-thirIs OF the COWS among us are
only ilt for slaughter. Feed, care aud
Kindness will show M more good COWS
than the owners now have knowieige
OF. The defect Il not 80 much with the
cows as with the owners.-Mirror and
Farmer.
The cows cud L. q quantity OF ths
s,o.i that Ia brought up from the firsl