Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-28


writing from Kennebec county to the Coun-
try Gentleman, contributes very interest
Ing article and picture which he drew of
q fine pair of beef cattle that went from his
town to the Brighton market during the
recent beef scarcity. lie says: Beef
raising in the East has nearly become one
of the lost arts, the meat of the great
packing and shipping houses of the West
being found in almost every little Will
age in New England. But while this is
true, it is also true that the best class of the
meat trade in our large eastern cities-the
big hotels and the rich private famiIies-is
very susceptible to quarter of home-raised
beef, such as could be cut, for instance,
from one of the Herefords that started from
this place for Brighton this morning. In
fact, am quite sure that these quarters
will, before many days, be hanging in the
refrigerator of some Boston hotel. In fact,
such fancy grade of ox-beef is snapped
up very eagerly by the class of buyers have
mentioned, and that, too, when the finest
quality of western beef Is right at hand and
it is from this starting point that l wish to
argue the proposition that beef can be
raised in New England at profit.
"Itwould certainly be idle to think of raif
ing beef from common native stock, on the
stony pastures of New England, in COM
petition with the praires Of the West and
the present-day facilities for landing west
ern beef in good condition at the doors of
eastern consumers. There is no chance
for mediocre beef, that from the animals
unthrifty nature has been laid upon his
bones at no little expense, in competition
with the western article; but when a pair
of Hereford "steers" can be brought to the
magnificent size and beef condition at an
age of but three years, as was
shown in the case Of another pair that
went by my door today, to be shipped
at the railway station for Brighton, am
inclined to the opinion that there is some
money in raising them, and a good deal of
satisfaction.
Breed and good feed will make such
cattle, and make them rapidly. As to breed
am very naturally enthusiastic over the
Hereford. Now, early ma
turity and exceptional quality are pair of
characteristics that go long way toward
making profitable beef cattle, even in New
England. There are thousands of acres of
pasture land that are annually uncropped in
these states or If cropped at all, by 80 few an
imals that the grass stands as high as their
horns. With such surplus of pasturage
as most of our farms here have, half a
dozen steers might be turned off annually
and their places supplied with as many
more steer calves. Their feed throughout
the year could be m ide most inexpensivc
by feeding largely Of ensilage in winter, and
the farm would in the meantime be growing
richer in fertility instead of poorer year by
year, as is the case at present on many OF
them.
at may be said that the same feed in win.
ter and pasturage in summer could more
protitably be fed to dairy cows. This may
be true; but dairyipg is utterly impracti
cable on many farms, owing to domestic
and other conditions that
would not at all interfere with the feeding
of moderate number of beef cattle
One must adapt his farm operations to suit
his conditions, and these sometimes demand
the substitution of less remunerative fol
what may appear to be more remunerative
lines. I do not, therefore, argue for the
raising of beef in New England and othel
Eastern states as highly pro6tably bust
ness for the average farmer to engage in
but do wish to point out the fact that
even at present prices and in the face Of
present day competition, beefraising here
may, under proper conditions, be made
profitable for the farmer who wishes tt
maintain the fertility of his farm and doe'
not find dairy farming one Of the POSSIBLE
tiles"
There is good advice in what Mr.. Don
nell says. Many who had forgotten the
sweet nutty flavor of luscious home
grown steak came to appreciate it during
the grest railroad boycott. The tasteles'
western beef suffered by comparison, and
we are of the opinion that the demand fol
the best New England beef will improve a,
a result. There Is a dificulty-the dis
lance Of the farm, adapted to profitable
raising of such beef, from the market. II
in any way the attention of the consumer
may be called to the superior quality of the
home grown beef and to the conditions
under which that beef is raised the demand
will be large enough to insure good returns
Save the Stove Lining.
Powdered soapstope and salt in equal
proportions wet with water will make all
everlasting and fireproof mending for the
lining OF stoves 1t is much less expensive
and troublesome to procure and put in
place than new firebricks Don't let fire
spoil the stove because the brick needs