Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-11-30
BOARD BULLETIN FOR NOVEMBER
SHEEP NUMBER.

SHEEP NUMBER.
AUGUSTA, November 10, 1897.
We present our readers this month, In
sddition TO the sessonsble crop reports,
the views OF our correspondents on the
sheep Industry OF the state. The replies
have come from more than the usual
number.
We believe the opinions Of these men.
coming as they do from nearly every
section OF our state, and from those who
are familiar with the business Ia its
varioes branches, will be found OF much
value 10 our readers.
STATE DAIRY CONFERENCE.
The Board Of Agriculture will hold a
State Dairy Meeting In Bangor on We'd
nesday, Thursday aud Friday, Decem-
Der lst, "a and 81, 1897. There will be
the usual exhibit Of dairy products aud
of dairy machinery, together with va
rious special prizes which will be Offer
I'd Tor different classes Of dairy products.
There wtll be the usual reduction Of
rates over all railroads and st hotels.
The program and premium list will be
published In the newspapers Of the
tate, and copies will De sent on appllcs-
ton.
SUMMARY FOR OXFORD COUNTY.
Qusntiiy OF apples, IL per cent; quail
~, ~ per cent; proportion Of Water
varieties, 6s pee cent. Ten per cent of
the apple crop will be shipped a, once.
\ ield of potatoes, - bushels; the pota-
10 rot does not geovSslly continue; no
Bordeaux mixture used. Yield Of vel
low corn, - bushels: sweet, 1850
tounds. one hundred and ten per cent
10 young stock will De ~iDtered. Con-
diticn OF grass fields, lib per cent.
GENERAL AVERAGE FOR rHE STATE
Quantity OF apples, l6 per cent; quail
", - per ceat; sc per cent of winter
varieties, per cent OF the apple crop
will be shipped AZ once. Yield OF pott-
toes, ~ bushels; the potato rot has much
SoS,ed, although continuing 10 slight
1tent Ia many sections; the use OF
Bordeaux mixture has been limited,
only six counties reporting any instsn-
ces; {; but its use has Invariably been at
tended with very satisfactory results.
i-ld Of yellos corn, 39 bushels sxeet,
:, loo pounds. Ill per cent OF young
sock ~ill BE- wiutered. Condition Of
grass fields, los per cent.
OXFORD COUNTY.
PoRrER.-I think the sheep industry
10 many parts of this state, should De
encouraged and extended. Our hillside
pastures are just what sheep delight 10
through the grazing season. They make
fiue grazing land for them, sufficient.
without any soiling crop whatever, and
the sheep will not usually leave the hill
tops until cold weather Ia the fall.
think they should be grown both for
wool and mutton. They are very easily
aud cheaply kept through the winter re-
Quiring only small quantity of good
iodder-cloyer l. best-And n small grain
ration daily. | think they should have
outdoor exercise during the winter
both risht aud day. II they wish. Would
have the door 10 their compartment in
the barn left open 10 give them free ac-
cess 10 the yard, excepting In very cold
or stormy weather. Lambs, | should
say, should be dropped in March, then
they can readily be marketed, for what
We call early lambs, in June or July, at
high prices. We want breed that will
produce heavy cut OF good quality OF
WOOL and will raise large plump lambs
that will mature early for the market.
sheep manure is one of the most valus-
bic fertilizers for the soil which we can
have for our crops. A. III. MASON.
DIxFIELp.-Of late the sheep has
been neglected on the farm, conditions
making /, Improbable 10 keep IL, but
believe the interests OF the farm generally
require the presence OF good fock OF
sheep. Sheep are very serNiceaoie IN
the management OF an orchard. fertiIiz-
iug II ana disposing OF Affected fruit at
the same time. | do not believe sheep
can be kept for u single purpose alone |;
but that breed should DC kept that are
good producers of wool aud mutton
CON mbined, low price Of one product
being Offset by q profitable margin on
the other. The breed must be decided
py each Individual. 50 far as our own
experience goes, will say We have al
ways found the type of large, we'll built,
~ hiie sheep the most profitable. Have
the lambs taken from the sheep reason
ably early, and dispose Of old and worth
less sheep; feed good English hay,
turuips, ana grain st time OF lambs, and
with favorable surroundings We cannot
fail OF having good lambs. The earlier
the lambs mature, the higher the price,
but such matters, together With ways OF
di.posiug OF the products Of the sheep,
depend upon conditions which must
govern individual courses.
l.. l.. ToRREY-
BErHEL.-I think the sheep industry
should be encouraged by all means
The extensive railway systems OF the
country with their improved shipping
facilities and low rates, have brought the
products of the fertile prairies OF the
West in close competition with the
products Of our rocky and less fertile
lsnd. liz seems 10 me that many OF US
here Ia Maine, especially those who i've
among the rough hills and mountains,
will soon De forced to give up producing
for market many Of the staples that we
have relied upon In years past, and turn
our attention 20 such specialties as seem
10 US TO give nearly al even chance Win
oar western neighbors. IL seems TO me
that sheep raising and fruit culture give
IA nearer an equal chance than any other
branch Of farming offers al present
II. r. MAXIM.
P.Rrs.-I believe that the prospects
for the sheep industry are good, ana II
should be encouraged; that II it MAS ss
carefully mausged as the dairy business
in al its details, IL would be a. profita-
hIe: that IL does not require anything
liz. the amount Of labor necessary In the
dairy business; and that it would heip
solye the pasture problem by killing out
The bushes and increasing the amount OF
feed. Therefore II you have q good
range for feed, divide between the cows
and sheep and do not have all your eggs
- go h.stet HARRY FARRAR.