Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-03-06
MlowlsrtR sullsriN.
MANN .r,rr BOARD OF ,oncrlrrRr.

AUGUSTA, March I, 1set.
Our object In Issuing this bulle,in IL To
ascertain, u possible, What has been
done the past season, by Nay OF im-
proy,msnt. IN methods, anon. our
Farmers, and to learn the comparative
standing of the farms aud stock. Also,
% ascertain the progress that is being
made In the introduction of the silo, sud
other mean. Tor Increasing the stock car
ryIng capacity 10 our farm., the cost of
.sme, and the kinds Of fodder usually
grown for ensllsge. ss well as any iu'-
pro,smsuts that have heen made In
gro~ing, hiiibg. or feeding ensilsae or
other foddsr-. ALSO to compare notes
upon the general practice, In different
sections, snd by different farmers; for
pr,paripg for the work of spring, either
.. TO Forwarding the work, or AZ to the
different ela.se. of folders grown for
stock.
ror thi. purpose the following li.t OF
questions ~As sent out, Ia which hsNe
cone r.plie. from every county In the
state, to the number of t~o hundred
4. Give number sud value of farm
stock Ne compared With last YEAR,
2. Give amount 81 stock fodder
raised on the farms as compared With
last yesrf
Z. Give your opinion of the fertility
Of the farms In your vicinity as CON-
pared With former ycarst
4. How many In your vicinity put in
.llos the past season, aud how are they
pleased With the results'
5. How many seasons have YOU led
ensilsge. sud With What re-altsf what
do YOU raise for the silot How much
seed do you use per acre. aud al what
period of growth do you cut ~ u your
eu.ilsg. put In whole, or cutt IL cut, at
what lengthst
8. How did YOU build your sllo'
state sire. cost, etc.
:. Have YOU any suggestions To oiier
a. "a any improvements In silos, or In
feeding eusilage'
:. llaye YOU made any change In
your methods % feeding, kinds Of food,
either grain or cosrse fodder this ~in-
teri And n so, With What resultst
y. Give your methods of preparing
for the early springs II mixed grains are
.own, state what kinds and quantities of
each !. sown per acref
~. DO YOU practice making compost
heap., or botbedsf And II 80, please
give your methodss
n. Please note any improvements In
farm practices In your vicinity, which
nav have met your notieer
From replies 20 the first question we
are led 10 the conclusion that while the
number Of farm stock may have fallen
of some What, their value for work or
production has increased, by reason oi
better care and more liberal feeding.
This u particularly true In regard 70
dairy stock. The principal falling on In
numbers seems to be In sheep aud horses.
The sheep In numbers and horses In
value. We would say In connection
With these changes, that discoursg Cement
sbould not result from present low
prices. while perhaps, IL might not be
advisable TO urge an Increase In eitnei
line. it IL safe. certainly, b say thai
those animals on hand should be sacr''
iced at ruinous prices, for, with the
lower prices will Of necessity come
les. production, and this will OF course,
react upon the market. especially TOT
early lambs; aud for good road, and
driving horses. Therefore farmers
should make the most Of such animals
ss they have, and expect In the end. ~
evening up Of prices that will make the
business fairly profitable.
Replies To question two Indicate, that
not ot~ithstsnding the severe drought oi
l..t summer, more stock fodder was
grown than In 1891. The Increase being
principally caused by . greater variety
aud by growing more crops Tor sc'l'nx
The sowing Of mixed grains TO be cu'
and fed as hay, has also tended To thi.
result, and Will, no doubt, Be Increased
this season.
The almost universal reply To the third
oue.tIou IL that farms are producing
move than formerly. ar In other words
are gaining In fertility. This is fully
true except In some places where thu
prsc,ice of selling too much of the m
nnI.hed products of the farm in hay
grain, potatoes, etc., 10 still followed
and not enough attention paid to ~
turning the plant food taken out OF tbs
solI. The increase comes most, non
sections where dairying II most common
and where most attention II paid q
Keeping up q careful rotation Of crop'
which shsli WELD something for foddel
nearly, u not every year. The ide'
b>lue that when good crops are growi
" every year. the land must, Of pecessity
be Improving 10 fertility.
Replies to question -four show, tha
tbers have been sixty-seven silos cui!
the mast season In the state, Of vhlcl
an were In AndroscoGGsn County
. fourteen In Cumberland County, tyo u
fnnklin County, ooe " Hancock Coas
'tV thirteen u ksassess cesssN swe'