Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-02-28
FARMERS, INSTITUTE AT TURNER

FARMERS INSTITUTE At TURNER
A farmers institute Was held by the
Maine Board Of Agriculture, by invita-
ton Of the Turner Grange, at their hall,
Turner Centre, Thursday OF last week.
This grange Il always on hand in secur-
ing to Its aid all advantages that promise
to encourage, aid and promote that
interest with which Its members are
identified, and they are always willing
to do their full share In aid OF such
work. so at this time II did everything
called for on their part to make the
meeting a success. IL opened Its hall to
the public, gave them stabling for their
teams, spread their tables and served
them for all In attendance, and extended
TO them hearty and cordial reception.
Prof. True, with his grange choir, dis
pensed excellent music day and evening,
much TO the enjoyment Of all present.
The attendance Was fairly good, and
Vas made up In good measure OF farmers
and their ladies from the surrounding
towns interested In the programme OF
exercises, and who came to the meeting
for the purpose of gaining knowledge.
Among them were many OF the PROM
ineut farmers of the county, and Others
w.re also present from adjoining coun-
ties. OF the Board Of Agriculture there
were present only the secretary OF the
boar,i, the member from the county,
h. =. Briggs, Auburn, and the Oxford
member, v. 4. DeCoster OF Buckheld.
Mr.. Briggs presided, and opened the
meeting without formality.
HON. u. W. ELLIS
was the speaker of the morning session,
With the subject, "Some Other Things
In Dalrying." The farmers Of Turner
and vicinity are interested In dairying.
They haven't built up their creamery To
a business Of a hundred and t~ent,
thousand dollars a year without lnteili-
gent atteutiou-in short, without know
ing something about dairying. such
men always want To learn more. so the.
came together with much Interest In
this particular subject, aud with ear
Nide open TO hear ~hat Mr.. Ellis had Ia
give them toward adding To their stor,
of nowledge of their chosen work. n
more wide-awake set OF people never
assembled at an institute.
The speaker prefaced his lecture with
the remark that II Was with exceeding
reluctance" that he came before the
meeting with an attempt To speak on
any matter relating to the dairy, for hr
we'll knew that the dairymen of the
vicinity knew as much AS himself In this
direction therefore he should make no
attempt In this direction, but would
refer to some Of the by-products anu
their disposition, for possibly In that
direction some may have failed To give
them the attention their Importance
warranted. SO Instead of dairylng, nv
spoke mostly of "some other things.
lhls was no little disappointment to
many present.
Had been dairyman for many years,
and had learned that what he wanted
was COW that would make him the
most butter. Was now milking Ii cows,
,ud the average l. that III lbs. OF their
milk make pound of butter. Through
proper attention To the use oil the oy-
products, and the judicious management
of the resulting manures, he can make
every three acres of land carry two cows.
Had experimented In the use of skim
milk. Took three pigs aud fed them
eight days, and got gain OF lo pounds
from 20 quarts Of milk. This paid, but
IL pays still better To feed To calves.
This leads into the question OF the use
of the manure. Farmers have been
farming for grass. lie believes In grass,
but In many cases can do better by
rotation. lie Is satisfied that he can get
his corn crop without any exhaustion OF
manure. Plants corn on sod land with
manure spread on the surface anu
plowed under In the fall. The next
year follows with grain, which Is fol-
lowed by grass. Can get as good grass
la follow Ing years where the corn crop
aud the grain are both grown, as where
he has grown only the one grain crop
and then follows with grass, the same
application of manure In each case.
Question-whst do you do with the
straw
Feed IL, mostly to young cattle aud to
horses not at work, and occasionally 10
cows In milk. =,
Ouestion-IIow will Il work to feed
the skim milk To the cowsi
Have not experimented with that, but
should not thiuk IL would work well.
Ouestiou-Haye YOU ever compared
the blowing In of manure with working
IL into the soil from the surfacer
Yes, and it will In many cases do
better plowed under. Some wet seasons
the surface manuring will do as well.
AZ makes little difference how applied
when there IL plenty Of moisture In con-
ne,tion with Ii, but this Il not always
the case. The corn roots I'LL the soil
full In every direction, AMI there IL no
trouble but they will tiud the manure.
Oue,tion-what Is the most profitable
feed for dairy cowsy
Am now feeding one quart corn NEAL
two quarts cotton seed, amt two quarts
shorts day.
Question-why do you feed shortss
IL takes feed TO sustain life. There j.
no feed so good to sustain the life OF the
COW as shorts. Do not get but little
butter fat from shorts. Can't leave Out
the cotton seed meal. DO not Ike
gluten as well. Butter Il not as good.
Questiou-would you feed grain In
summerr
Believe IL L. quite as profitable In sum
msr as In winter. stock the pastures
heavily, and make up the deficiency Win
grain.
GOOD ROADS.
Prof. Hamlin has been making a special